Illuminating local authority performance!

Our annual performance networks seminar takes place in Blackpool with 450 delegates in attendance. It always annoys me the way local government officers and members are portrayed in the media when I see the enthusiasm and hunger to learn that exists at this type of event.

We always work the delegates hard with a mixture of plenary sessions, strategic and service specific workshops. We have tagged the event as the x factor and some of the speakers theme their presentations around the television show, which keeps every ones attention.

Colin Ranson from Sunderland delivers a 30 minute slot about how they are engaging with the local community and it shows Sunderland Council are at the cutting edge of thinking in this area, by linking up with the local football club and using their celebrities such as Niall Quinn and Roy Keane to encourage kids to take healthy options in school meals. Colin has built in video clips of him singing on the x factor and despite a few technical hitches the audience love it. What a great character.

The annual awards dinner is hosted by Diane Louise Jordan and it goes really well due in the main to our excellent staff who have events organised with precision. Our 22 award winners are ecstatic.