I did not realise it had been so long.

Had to rebuild PC in the meantime.

Talk about bleak New Year. It has been an interesting start to the year at council as the Tories very clever scheme to decimate council services has started to work.

Phil Williams (con) cabinet member for housing sent a Christmas card to all in the housing directorate, this must be a sour note now, as employees transfer to Capita (only to have their working conditions subtly changed, for more money but with less entitlement) and employees leave to avoid the privatisation or the threat of the axe under the so called budget proposals.

Leader of the council has been appropriately Machiavellian in publishing a budget long before the government settlement was known, (by the way, this was 2million extra than expected). The result of the publishing a budget early. is that those threatened find other jobs leaving vacant posts, which are much easier to cut than occupied ones………

So what will 2008 hold? A couple of predictions, if I may be so bold?

1, a tough and acrimonious local election in May
2, the council have benefited from a greater funding from central government. So with a cuts and Capita running services, expect a big spend on a big potential vote winning project from the current administration, funded by a suddenly appearing pot of money…….
3, the proposal to change local government; from yearly elections to four year administrations led by one leader over that period.
4, the most surprising and long winded budget setting ever, in February.
5, Southampton economy changing considerably as new industries dominate the local economy.
6, the Libdems wither on the vine of local democracy.


What ever the coming year holds I know my party is committed to Southampton’s future, as I am sure the other parties are. However their visions are of course not the right ones. I know what you are saying you politicians always to think your right. Well it kind of comes with the territory unless you believe in your own political product you can not sell it or deliver it.