29th June

My first time in the office for two days. I was asked by the head of HR to move our Accommodation Project Board earlier as she has another commitment. I set it to start at 9.15 even though she asked for 9.00 as I know she's never in at 9. She doesn't get onto the office until 9.30, has forgotten about the meeting and doesn't attend! How silly!

We get though the business which mainly focuses on the problems we will have with parking when Essex County Council staff move into the building with us. People are really emotive about this. They see parking as a right whilst its considered to be a perk in most parts of England.

I check round the second floor and find that the electricians have been in and fixed a number of the snags I raised. I also find that the vents have been put in for the ventilation system but the fans aren't connected.

I just hope that all the rest of the outstanding work will be done tomorrow. I won't know until Monday.

I spend some time with John going thought the last stage of the refurbishment. He is project managing it as a development exercise and I'm mentoring/coaching him. It promises to be interesting.

I check with the IT team that we are ready for then ISP switchover tonight and put a reminder out to the people in the council to let them know its still on target. Another one that I hope goes OK. The feedback we've had from other councils is that this could be a fraught week or two.