Lambeth diaries, the Service Plan

So Lambeth Council starts the infamous Service Plan at the end of 1989. Joan Twelves takes over as leader from my good friend Linda Bellos a very capable and some times misunderstood politicians who had great potential.

So Reg Race is brought in to 'evaluate' the organisation and propose drastic changes. So I am faced with negotiating with the Leader and others for an appeals system which will allow those affected to either claim assimilation or be given 3 different job choices. The system introduced those who were under the green form or pink form. At the end of the 3 month period we did not suffer many casualties as voluntary redundancies option was taken by many members....



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Lambeth diaries? Why here?

I have been asked a few times to explain why I am bothering to write 'my diaries' about my time in Lambeth NALGO/UNISON my answer is because the 23 years I was there and 22 years during which I held positions of responsibility I went through a lot and witnessed some difficult and good times with people and activists that have become good friends. At the end of the day they are my diaries and I will write them if I want to! lol


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Lambeth diaries

The reorganisation is called ‘the service plan’ and it’s aims are rather brutal. The chief executive, John George is no where to be seen. The politicians are, in the meantime killing each other and the Labour Party is threatening Joan Twelves and others with disciplinarian. It all looks nasty!

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Lambeth diaries

So almost a year, in fact less than that, since my arrival and I am facing the prospect of taking on the responsibility of representing people in DMS during the brutal reorganisation. Soon realised I had no choice so I get on with it and start negotiating with the Director who was John Muwale.

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Lambeth diaries

So why so why do a diary? Simple, to remember and describe events as saw and experienced them. More of a chronicle.


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Lambeth diaries

So why do a diary?

Lambeth diaries

Lambeth diaries

So why do a diary?

Lambeth diaries

Lambeth Diaries

Lambeth Council under the new administration of Joan Twelves and Greg Tucker (from the RMT) wanted to take the government on. This was of course an impossible task but the idea of rebellion appealed to a 20 something man who came from the dark corners of the civil service where nepotism ruled the waves. The vampire government of Thatcher wanted to make an example. So Joan Twelves who took over from D Serabji and before that the great Linda Bellos (she was very misunderstood) was ready for battle. So they broght Reg Race to do a report to change the culture etc and of course make changes which would see the deletion of many jobs. NALGO had to organise and fight..



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Lambeth Diaries

The government was obsessed with destroying the rebels in Lambeth and the vampire from up north (Thatcher) came up with new ideas and new ways. In the mean time the people who worked there providing vital services kept loosing their jobs. I could not honour the promise I made to myself and my partner to keep out so I accepted the position of Shop Steward for NALGO a Trades union with great values and forward thinking, or that's how it looked like on the outside. I just hated seeing injustice and thought that if I took a low level job I might be able to help without getting too deep into the shit...






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Lambeth Diaries

So I arrived on the 1 April 1988 in my mid twenties. Fresh and ready for some peace and quite or so I thought. Responsible for sorting out (or trying to sort out) the LAFIS system that was unquestionably out of date. Managed a team of 4 stuff and tried to avoid getting involved with the politics of the place, but this was impossible as I was seeing a lot of injustice being done. The borough was under attack by the Thatcher government (the vampire from up north) I was determined to stay out of it but the new people I met and the new people I made would make me jump in..




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Lambeth diaries

So I am now in Lambeth and was given a project to manage which involved sorting out the LAFIS system. Interesting challenge but I enjoyed the Byzantine methods Lambeth were using for its accountancy system. LAFIS was straight forward if you had the right frame of mind. So I wanted to just get on with it and stay out of the politics of Lambeth, but of course this proved to be impossible... Dick Serabji became the leader taking over from Linda Bellos who was a friend of mine. I wasn't happy with that. Thought Linda was a great leader. He didn't last long and Joan Twelves took over with her partner John Tucker. Joan was sweet but... it was becoming obvious that I would be drawn into the Trade Union politics as people who started to know me realised I wasn't someone to stand back and not get involved. I thought long and hard but at the end I knew I had to get involved to help out. I was attracted by the principles of NALGO that I always loved so agreed to become the Shop Steward for my area (MS) that changed the wholes history as there was no way back from then on. But I could not sit back and just watch the chaos taking over I never stayed out of trouble. Not sure that's a good virtue or a massive negative. But who cares! Who Dares Wins or at least tries.




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Lambeth diaries

I arrived in Lambeth as a Finance Officer (accountant) on SO2 grade. My first office was at Olive Morris House. Nice enough building. Immediately felt at home. I had 5 other officers to manage which would keep me busy, 3 more than I supervised when in the Civil Service.

My manager, Jim seemed nice (we later developed a great friendship) He was wondering why my interview was conducted by two Directors, Peter Gould and Dev Ponoosami. Well I had no idea why but I did well and was given the job. I could see that the challenge would be enormous. This is because at the time Lambeth Council was under attack by the Tory government ( Thatcher and co) but I wasn't scared and was glad to get away from the idiotic habits of the civil service and the old brigade there who were in control. This is what a 25 year old would have thought I guess irrespective of whether it was true or not. So the fun and games started!

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Lambeth Diaries

So I got shortlisted for an interview and an assessment. I scored 100% at the test and was waiting for the panel to get together but the meeting was cancelled twice because a female member who was from HR could not make it.



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Lambeth Diaries

So I decided to leave the Secondary Examinations Council and the civil service and join local government. I lived in Streatham at the time so the nearest location to my flat would be Lambeth Council. So I applied for jobs there and got short listed twice. The job I was successful with was the one in the finance section of the Directorate of Management Services. I knew that Lambeth was going though huge changes at the time but wanted to take the risk as the place of work so so much nearer home and commuting to Notting Hill Gate every day from Streatham was a big problem for a 25 year old.. that's how I justified the move.





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Lambeth Diaries

So I arrived on the 1 April 1988 was with the Secondary Examinations Council before then which was part of the Department of Education and Science. I was an Executive Officer dealing with the new GCSEs and AS examinations. I didn't enjoy working there, I guess I was too young to appreciate the workings of the Civil Service.



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Lambeth Diaries

Decided to make a chronicle describing events as they happened for the period 1988 to 2010 when I was in Lambeth.

Arrived on 1 April 1988 after a written assessment and an interview. There were 3 members of the panel but the third had to be removed. I was determined not to get involved with Trade Unions or seek any positions as I had enough of that in my previous role in government service, Research Council, Dept of Education. So the long march starts on the 1st April 1988.







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Martin Lewis

Fully support M Lewis taking Facebook to court. These media giants must be made to be more accountable!! Same applies to google!


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St George day

Happy St George day



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Boris Johnson

Rather embarrassing having someone who thinks everything is a joke represent us on the world stage. The media love it though so we are stuck with him.

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Ant and Dec

Ant did something wrong but he has accepted the mistake and he should be left alone by the press now!

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Ant and Dec

The press should leave Ant alone now to sort himself out.

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Trump and Puttin

Trump treats world affairs as a game and unfortunately Puttin is much more clever so he sees an opportunity to move in and he has!!


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Cyprus commonwealth medals

excellent results for a small state like Cyprus coming 10th in the league of medals just below Scotland Wales and Nigeria!! Well done guys! You may be bullied by the invading troops of Turkey but you stand your ground! A victory for the EU!

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