Humour
Live and kicking
Red-faced officials at North Somerset Council apologised to local resident Ena King recently, when a letter arrived in the mailbox informing her of her death.
You never can tell
Ordinarily, the fact that a councillor shares his or her name with a famous person is not enough to merit space in Diary, although it does often make us giggle into our lunchtime sandwich.
Coup de grâss
Councils have been blamed for many things in recent years – but are they now responsible for England’s failure to win a football World Cup since 1966?
The pick of Pickles
Diary has long been unashamed in its appreciation for former communities secretary Sir Eric Pickles.
White Van Man on . . . social care
Let’s face it, old people run this country ‘cos they’ve got nothing better to do in the day than go and vote, and the canny little sods make sure they vote for a party that feather beds their endless old age.
All the fun of the farm
Is feeding defrosted rodents to a python called Cuddles your idea of fun?
Reading the signs
Council directors stepping up to be chief executives for the first time are always grateful to receive help and advice.
I heard it on the radio
These days Local Government Association chief executive Mark Lloyd is used to kicking up a fuss on behalf of the sector.
Talk of the town hall
Liverpool City Council recently revealed that it has started to include non-disclosure clauses as standard in staff contracts.
Companies’ show of Force
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
Gerry’s definitely not here
Twitter gaffes are 10-a-penny nowadays, but North Norfolk DC did perform a fairly spectacular one last week.
DCLG’s Royal appointment
The country is currently in the chaotic grip of General Election and Brexit fever. But there is one event that would surely blow these out of the water - the death of the Queen.
4 Wheel Drive Woman on Eric Pickles
Gosh, Tarquin, this talk of a General Election is absolutely exhausting.
Blue sky thinking
The ongoing battle over council boundaries is likely to be put on the back burner for a while after the calling of a General Election.
Almost a shore thing
Redbridge LBC, being a hundred miles or so from the nearest sea, is not exactly renowned for its maritime activity.
It’s more than a feline
Diary had not previously heard of a morale officer before so our whiskers twitched when we heard Tewkesbury Town Council had one.
4 Wheel Drive Woman on . . . the General Election
No Tarquin, a snap election doesn’t mean it is exactly the same as last time.
’Stow many opportunities
Diary hears whispers that Waltham Forest LBC chief executive, Martin Esom, is keen to make more of his area’s links to 1990s boyband East 17.
It’s McFloatface mania
News reaches Diary of another twist in the long-running saga of the public naming of the Isle of Wight’s Floating Bridge Number One.
Without reservation
Let’s face it, nothing winds up members of staff and junior officers more than their bosses’ reserved car parking spaces.