Since the 1st of December 2023 CCC has been led by Mary Richardson as “Interim” CE. It has been a tumultuous period for the Council over the last period.
Now is the time for the CCC staff to be settled down through good internal systems and better accountability to them and to the Council table. In acknowledging the increasing uncertainty and disillusionment felt by staff about the ELT over the past period now is the time for everyone and everything to settle down. There’s a Long-Term Plan to get out. The administration is miles behind with this. Other cities are already debating theirs publicly. There’s so little time before Christmas encroaches that a lot is falling on the very small ELT.
It sent a good signal to both the staff and the ratepayers when Jane Parfitt was called back into the institution. I worked with Jane for years and she has exactly the skills to assist in rebuilding the organisation I personally remain deeply committed to.
I did not know that Mary Richardson had been a manger for punk bands. Like many people I grieved at the death of that great punk leader Shane MacGowan. One of my favourite Irish singers who died last week. He was 65. His body was a testimony to how much alcohol and drugs a body can take and still survive. Here’s a great link to his best hits via the Guardian Punk, human spirit and a Christmas classic: Shane MacGowan’s 10 greatest recordings | The Pogues | The Guardian.
The Catholic Church announced that Shane had received the last Sacraments before his death. Just shows that anybody can be forgiven for a badly lived life.
I could have told him that I had been to Paradise, and it was cold and bleak:
Its good to have you back Garry..,I like being kept up to date