My new book, ‘Leeks from the Back Benches’ was launched on 6th November 2007 at the Welsh Assembly, Cardiff. Written almost exclusively from my diaries, it covers the reaction of the Welsh Assembly to the war on Iraq, the sensational resignation of First Secretary Alun Michael and my own week-long suspension from the Labour group for defying the Whip. This is a colourful and fascinating account of the first four years of the Welsh Assembly.

You can buy your copy from the publisher, Jeremy Mills Publishing Limited, for only £14.99.

Visit the website: www.jeremymillspublishing.co.uk

Telephone: 01484 421674

Fax: 01484 421696

Write to:
Jeremy Mills Publishing Limited
22 Occupation Road
Lindley
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD3 3BD

At a recent Community and Housing meeting, I was cross to learn that progress was behind schedule when rolling out a computerised means of council tenants reporting faults which, when up and running should make big savings and speed up the maintenance service. When visiting Canton, the Housing and Maintenance HQ some weeks ago, we saw a system that seemed to be working well and I was impressed. Tenants are issued with a computerised manual to make reporting a fault much easier to identify so that the fault can be fully logged and agreed without the need to send work people to identify the problem before a repair can be effected. The reason for the delay to this project was not made clear and we also learned of slippage on a system designed to track the whereabouts of all council transport. Again, the reason for the delay was vague! This scheme also has the potential to make big savings and so any delay in introducing it is regrettable. (more…)