Log, December 2004

Here’s a quick summary of news, events and casework for December 2004 (Some reformatting to do) 30 -th Priorities, Performance, Personnel and Finance panel; 30 -th Earthquake in the Indian ocean creates giant waves that devastate coastal villages and resorts; 26 -th Meet Audit Commission to review progress on performance management;  23 -rdExecutive Board; Financial report shows Council to balance budget despite extra cost pressures faced by Social Services (e.g. looking after an extra 100 elderly people this year); shows Council is set to meet or exceed 66% of its targets;  new procurement strategy adopted to drive for better purchasing and more effective working; 21ststPerformance report52% of indicators are showing improved actual performance compared to 12 months ago;  - Annual Garden competition; 20th - meet representatives of business to discuss the Council's budget for next year; 16 th - show officials from and students from Shangai, China around the Council House;  Nottingham's links with (south of Shangai) are set to grow as Nottingham University develops a new university for the city; 20th Antalya, Turkey Ningbo- ; 16 thPhillip Whitehead MEP writes on David Blunkett's resignation- Audit Commission award a higher score in its continuous service assessment of the City Council; 16 th- Special full council debates the future of the evening economy and its new licensing policy; Lib Dems and Tories say there isn't a problem with anti-social behaviour in the evenings in the city centre; 15 th- ; 14 thNET, Nottingham's tram, continues to carry more and more passengers- SIGOMA meeting welcomes financial settlement for local government, but shows not all of the cost pressures are met; 14 th- see Dick Whittington at the ; 11 thTheatre Royal- by Cllr. Mo Munir; 10 thnew sports hall at Elliott Durham opened - speak at LGA's finance conference, highlighting despite above inflation increase;   10 thpressures faced by local government- attend funeral of former Cllr. John Scoffings; John served as Vice-Chair of Social Services for Nottingham City Council and Notts. County Council in the '70s; 9 th- Mapperley Branch Labour Party meeting; 8 th- Notts Local Authorities meet ODPM to discuss the challenge of the Gershon Report - demanding big increases in efficiencies; 6 th- Launch of the BBC's "Peoples War" exhibition, at the Lakeside Centre, Nottingham University; 3 rd- annual meeting; 2 ndGreater Nottingham Partnership's - Financial Settlement for next year's budget includes increases at roughly double the rate of inflation for education, social services and youth services; welcome news for the people of Nottingham, although some of the Council's cost increases are not covered by the settlement; 2 nd- chair the Annual Meeting of the Student Union of Nottingham Trent University; 2 nd- attend talk at Jubilee campus, Nottingham University; "Corporate Social Responsibilities & the media"; 1 st- Opening of new Experian computer centre, Fairham House, at Ruddington Business Park; 1 st Elliott Durham performs vibrant end of year concert and says farewell to Steve Clamp, Deputy Headteacher;22 -nd