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BEST Leader Conference - 6 October 2010

Wednesday 6 October saw hundreds of BEST Leaders attend the BEST Leader Conference to share their views on how Birmingham City Council needs to change in order to meet its challenges. The half day conference was hosted by Cllr Rudge, Cabinet Member for Equalities and Human Resources and Chief Executive, Stephen Hughes. It was an opportunity for BEST Leaders to hear an update on the budget position and changes affecting the council. BEST Leaders were able to ask their questions directly to the Chief Executive and received an honest and open response. There were also workshop surgeries and officers on hand to answer questions and share information about what will be happening both with the BEST programme and more widely, in the council over the next 12 months. BEST Leaders were able to tell us what is happening in their service area and improvements or suggestions they wish to make.

As part of the morning there was a live “BEST Dragons’ Den”, the Forward for Work Team, from the Development Directorate, were bidding for funding for their sensory garden project. The team wanted to transform unused garden into a sensory garden; the area was being used as a dumping ground and needed a great deal of work doing.

They wanted to create a space for students and employees to be able to relax, to stimulate activity and provide a training area for the students to practice their gardening skills. The team gave an excellent, well researched and innovative presentation which impressed both the Dragons’ and the audience. The funding required for the project was granted and the Dragons’ also offered additional support to the project. Tarik Chawdry offered support to revamp their online presence, Raffaela Goodby and Andrew Potter both offered support to help organise their fundraising day which they wish to hold to raise extra funds for the project and promote their services. The audience felt moved by the presentation and also wanted to help this council project; two BEST Leaders offered their services to lay the slab paving for free.

The Lord Mayor Len Gregory attended the conference, showing his support to the programme and promoting his charity appeal. The Lord Mayor and Stephen Hughes presented the BEST ‘Living it Awards’ and the Dragons’ Den Awards to this years winners for all their hard work and commitment to BEST.

The conference was a huge success with the evaluation showing the Chief Executives Budget Update to be one of the most useful parts of the morning.

One Leader commented “I really enjoyed today, it was great to hear how BEST is working in other parts of the council. I now feel more motivated and inspired to continue in my role as BEST Leader”