Spoke this morning at a conference at the QE11 centre in London on Outsourcing and Shared Services - except I spoke about the failings of outsourcing over the past twenty years in England and why so many authorities are now insourcing services. I have got to say I was pleasantly surprised that the audience were very receptive to my message and the nine key lessons if still outsourcing services which I mentioned.

Participated in meeting of Greenlink today in London. This is the body bringing together organisations involved in the parks and open spaces sector, an area that is being particularly hit hard by cuts at present. Many of the organisations present where third sector and social enterprises, who depend heavily on local authority funding and contracts to survive. This is a point the group has pursued at a recent lobbying meeting with DCLG Minister Andrew Stunnell, along with concerns on skill erosion and a reduction in perceived Government supportiveness for the importance of quality green space.

Chaired APSE's Innovation forum at Elland Road Stadium, Leeds today on income generation opportunities for local authorities.

Engaged in a roundtable discussion with some of APSE's main contacts in Wales today at a lunchtime meeting in LLandrindnod Wells.

Met today with the Chief Executive of the Institute of Management of Sport and Physical Activity, Sean Holt and a couple of his board members at their headquarters based at Loughborough University.

Got this article published on the Guardian's website today on the back of the debate I took part in last week.

With latest ONS figures showing more than 132,000 jobs were lost from the public sector last year and councils grappling with unprecedented budget cuts, green issues are in danger of slipping down the priority list. But in my view, it would be an economic error for local authorities to take their eyes off the environmental ball now.

Spoke today at APSE's Northern symposium on 'Avoiding the road to nowhere' at Formby Hall.

This was the latest event in our roadshow on discussing with our membership the financial challenges they face and debating some of the solutions around efficiency, income generation and innovation.

APSE held a strategic forum at Parliament tonight to discuss the opportunities created for local government by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

The guest speaker was Dr Alan Whitehead MP, the Chair of PRASEG, the Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group.