LGA Conference in Harrogate. Streets of Change session highlighting the power of storytelling in raising awareness of homelessness has really stuck with me. It's in West Northants but could work for any area and any emotive issue. We need more story telling.

My head is full of all the wonderful individuals I've met in the last couple of weeks. There are some great people working in and for Councils. People bringing different experiences and skills to the aid of a stretched and challenged system.

Every Head of Service or Director I have spoken to in the last few weeks is going through a restructure as a result of budget pressures. This is now a constant for councils. Budgets are fixed in Feb and then the next round begins.

Speaking about a recent event to a PAS team member today. A third of the audience who had signed up and were asked if they were coming a few days before still didn't attend. It was an online event but does that make a difference to the principles of politeness? I would always send apologies