CIO Blog

Signing off

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:01:00 GMT

Today is my last working for Newham and so, for now at least, after well over 300 entries since starting at the beginning of 2007, it's time to retire my Blog. Many thanks for the many warm wishes and compliments...

Under a cloud

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:23:00 GMT

Wednesday started with a self-inflicted headache after I attended, on Tuesday evening, 2e2's annual reception hosted by Lord St. John of Bletso on the House of Lords Terrace. I'd decided to leave the car behind - bad move - and...

Continuing my Swan Song

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:04:00 GMT

Geoff asked me to review ICT pay and allowances in the light of the present economic environment, so that's what I've been doing, this week, and have arranged to discuss the prognosis and recommendations with managers next week. Socitm's Events...

Too much flexibility

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:03:00 GMT

On Monday Glyn Moody wrote in Linux Journal of his having agreed with Microsoft to cancel the planned discussion of the OXML ISO standardisation process. He says this was because the meeting was only being held for my benefit. Actually,...

Reinvigorating public sector unified communications

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:29:00 GMT

There's been a lotin the computer press, this week, about Google's announcement that it will launch its "Chrome Operating System". E.g. "Google OS a worry for Linux". Whilst there's an interesting debate around who's threatened more - Microsoft or other...

Mobile Media Is Key

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:56:00 GMT

Capital Ambition's "London Mobile Portal Event" at Prospero House (241 Borough High Street), on Tuesday, was a "sell-out". There were excellent presentations from Geoff Connell on the PSMP (which I understand is to be rebranded "MyLoBo"), Gill Elderfield on Mobile...

Moving on

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:23:00 GMT

Friday's combined Central & Local CIO & CTO Councils meeting was mainly about ICT and the Operational Efficiency Programme. How can we cut 20% from all Government ICT spending? In a series of mini workshops we considered the decisions we...

Dining with the father of the web

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:53:00 GMT

I've had one or two conversations with Microsoft and Buying Solutions colleagues about what was to happen to the PSA09 licensing deal. The introductory offer was initially available until 15th June, which was always going to prove challenging for some...

Help beat this Microsoftie

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:41:00 GMT

Here's an interview with Phil Pavitt, who will shortly be moving to the HMRC, which I'm expecting will be one of the most transformative events in Government IT this year, if not decade! The Local CIO Council is meeting at...

Investing in our future

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:08:00 GMT

Earlier this week, Richard Carde (by teleconference) John Stockwell and I were involved in a discussion with Andre Tytheridge (2e2) about progress in the NTC programme. Richard is working on the updated business case, as part of which we...

Short enough to be a tweet

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:29:00 GMT

It's great to see that Martin Ferguson and others are continuing a lively Socitm Blog. For me, this represents the best means of keeping up-to-date with Society developments, although I also like the format of the new weekly newsletter....

Information, innovation & improvement

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:52:00 GMT

The problem with e-Government was always that Government somehow created the impression that this was the opportunity for a supplier "feeding frenzy" whereas, as I commented on many occasions, the reality should be quite the opposite; it always had...

An important customer service channel

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:59:00 GMT

On Tuesday 7th July there's to be a London Public Mobile Portal event at Prospero House (241 Borough High Street), which will include presentation of the TfL/ Newham Public Sector Mobile Portal (PSMP), with Phil Pavitt as a keynote...

All change

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:27:00 GMT

The racing at Le Mans was great, with Peugeot diesels winning for the first time, and a great performance from a new Aston Martin LMP1 Team, but my travel arrangements were a bit of a disaster. After having spent...

Another sleepless night please

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:48:00 GMT

We're used to the occasional story of how, after 50 years, a war-time letter eventually finds its way to the intended recipient. Well I think I've just experienced the e-equivalent. A Socitm e-mail, sent at 16.07 on 09/06/2002, turned-up in...

Musical chairs

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:39:00 GMT

Congratulations, Phil Pavitt on your move to the HMRC. Thanks for the great work at TfL. I hope we can sustain and build on that, and continue a productive relationship in your new role Tom Watson may have resigned his...

Taking a break from strategy...to strategise

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:35:00 GMT

I see that the Government has committed to funding research into ultra-fast broadband. This can't be about squeezing still more capacity out of copper, so we are talking about upgrading the equipment connected to our fibre? It's all about photonics...

Safety in numbers

Fri, 29 May 2009 22:26:00 GMT

Today, along with a number of other Newham colleagues, I was at the funeral of Paul Bull, our Printing & Reprographics Manager who had bravely fought cancer for the last 14 months. Gary Sussex a eulogy, mentioning Paul's vision for...

Onwards and upwards

Wed, 27 May 2009 22:12:00 GMT

Well, I completed a first draft of updated Newham ICT Strategy, yesterday, but I'm anticipating a lot of feedback requiring more work on detail... The Socitm Board of Directors met today. Steve skilfully chaired, keeping us to topic and time....

Please don't put the kibosh on transformation

Wed, 20 May 2009 08:53:00 GMT

The Cabinet Office published its annual Transformational Government Progress Report, last week. It has produced this useful poster to highlight examples of progress made in 2008. I do think that last year saw some real progress, but I am by...

Not 'nil points...'

Sun, 17 May 2009 07:49:00 GMT

There were several good news tidbits to round-off my week. On Thursday, I was at an IAEAB meeting (which I'm not allowed to report) and was heartened to find signs that the requirement of pan-Government security vision is starting to...

More engagement please

Wed, 13 May 2009 22:31:00 GMT

There are often complaints about late distribution of papers for meetings but, I'm sorry, Andrew - 1.00am for a meeting later in the morning takes the biscuit! :-) The meeting, at Admiralty Arch, was the second meeting of the Public...

Showing off Newham Dockside

Tue, 12 May 2009 18:44:00 GMT

On Monday I attended an Equality Impact Assessment Training course, in the City, with other colleagues from across Newham and Waltham Forest Councils. The main case study was on the EQIA conducted for Newham's proposed Queens Market redevelopment. This morning...

Back to the council

Mon, 11 May 2009 09:20:00 GMT

On Thursday, I took a day's holiday to attend Linda Griffith's funeral. It was "standing room only" at the moving service for this lovely lady who will be sadly missed by many, many people. Newham colleagues who saw me in...

My Generation

Fri, 08 May 2009 07:22:00 GMT

On Thursday evening I attended a BCS "Thought Leadership Dinner Debate", on "IT Futures: the death of the IT Profession, as we know it?" - at the Royal Society, in Carlton Terrace. I argued "yes"; IT is a one generation...