That Friday Feeling: Talking Cure

Day 77 and Tony is sitting with the powers in the land.

The scene:

Deputy Leader's Office, Reading Borough Council

==

Councillor-Geezer John Ennis: "Do what, come again, do me a lemon?"

Dave, Chief Executive, Reading Borough Council: "It's really very simple, councillors. The programme "We Need to Talk About Labour" is a directed programme of engagement, designed to elicit a wide range of opinions and use them to shape the public's interface with the Council"

High Councillor Tony Page, Deputy Leader, Reading Council, Lord of Us All: "I see"

Dave, C-Ex: "Through aligning with our communities, we can seek synergistic win-win outcomes in a focussed way, consequently delivering our financial and service objectives"

Cllr-G Ennis: "Strike a light, lumme and no mistake"

Hi Cllr Page: "I understand"

C-Ex: "In short, by extensive engagement, we can ameliorate the impact of budget reductions in the front line slash community settings, while nevertheless achieving those reductions with due regard to quality of service metrics. Does the Leader have anything to say on this?"

Hi-Cllr Page: "I have consulted her, and she remains concerned at the impact on childrens and youth provision, and wants us to maintain focus on it."

Hi-Cllr Page: "Or more precisely, she asked was anyone thinking of the children?"

Cllr-G Ennis: "Ah, yer a geezer, intcha, yer a geezer."

C-Ex: "Very good, High Councillor, we certainly consider the impact on youth provision. Oh well, if there is nothing more..."

Hi Cllr Page: "Thankyou Dave, you are dismissed"

C-Ex: "Thankyou"

C-Ex leaves

Hi Cllr Page: "So what do you think, John?"

Cllr Ennis: "I think by communicating and developing an explicit alignment of public resources with the expressed needs of working class people, defined in the broadest sense, we begin to create a vanguard. It could be a vanguard for widespread revolutionary change, bringing in elements both of the proletariat and the petty bourgeoisie, such that we can begin to combat the over-weening influence of capital in our society."

Hi Cllr Page: "All shall behold our power, and despair...as I always say"

Cllr Ennis: "It could be a vanguard we could lead, old friend."

Cllr Ennis stands.

Cllr Ennis: "I shall set about the task with a will, our class enemies shall be eliminated. Oh well, back into character."

Opens door, steps outside

Cllr-G Ennis: [Distant, to passer by] "Alright geezer? Is that your bird is it? Is that your bird? Geezer!"

===
And that is exactly how community engagement is managed at Reading Borough Council.