29th May

For the first time in a while the trains are messed up. They've overrun something or else its bad weather in the channel and the ferry trains are running late - they have priority over our trains.

I'm told that there is a problem with transferring the people from one company to another. The procedures haven't been followed and the new company want us to take some of the financial risk. This is a non-starter and is liable to stop the whole process in its tracks. I can't believe that we're facing this problem at this stage of the implementation. I pass the news on to Cherie and start checking on options for us to retain the existing company! This is nerve-wracking stuff as we have a clear steer from our directors that there must be no risk associated with the tax-payers for this transition.

We have a get together with the new company, Capital, to discuss the types of reports we want to see monthly. There's much to'ing and fro'ing but we eventually reach some decisions on a baseline. We recognise that this is a variable situation and that it will settle down in about six months.

I meet with the Essex County Council project manager who's overseeing their move into the building. I show her around the floor and check out some of the issues which have been raised. I think there's more to come on this.

In the afternoon we have a meeting with the other 3 councils involved in the new ICT contract to discuss issues, progress and future links. There are a few real problems which have started to surface. They're not insurmountable but could get out of hand if we don't manage them.

We segue into a meeting with Capital where we flag the problems we've identified and discuss the issues they are starting to see. We're all keen to make this work and can see a way forward but have to make sure that our senior managers are behind us.