Mary Reid

Roy Taylor (Kingston's Director of Community Services) and I have today welcomed two visitors from Minnesota to Kingston. Scott Neal is the City Manager (ie Chief Executive) of Eden Prairie, a suburb of Minneapolis, and Griff Wigley is an web consultant from Northfield some 40 miles away. Both are key people in the Civic Leadership Weblog Project.

Scott is a keen blogger and his Blog from City hall is, as far as he knows the only one by a City Chief in the States. He has been acting as a role model for all of us.

Griff is a real blogging evangelist - full of insights and good sense. He is acting as our tutor, encourager and critical friend.

Griff is also blogging about the whole trip to England in the ReadMyDay Project Blog.

(Holly, with Scott, Roy and Griff)

Scott and Griff met Holly Robertson, who is our e-Democracy Project Manager at Kingston. She has done an excellent job over the last year, embedding our e-petitions, online surgeries for young people and developing our work with BBC iCan.


(Griff, Scott, Roy and Bruce)

Kingston's Chief Executive Bruce Mcdonald happily chatted with Scott about the differences and similarities in their roles. Fire and Police are the two key services in Eden Prairie, but education is managed by a quite separate School Board.

We were all fascinated to hear that Council over there consists of an elected mayor and five council members. The council members are all politically neutral, and are not allowed by law to form political groups.

In fact, they are not allowed to meet to discuss anything outside the Council chamber. "What, not even at parties?" I asked. Apparently not - if they are all due to attend the same function they have to declare this in advance. This is to ensure open debate and transparency of decision-making. But it doesn't sound too sociable - can't see it going down with the Lib Dems of Kingston. Also, I'm not sure how it would impact on the two couples on the council here (including me.....).

A quick meal in Wagamama's, then on to an Executive meeting in the Guildhall. Scott presented our Council Leader, Cllr Derek Osbourne, with a key to the city of Eden Prairie. Derek was rather hoping it would open a large American car.......

Scott Neal, on right, presenting the key to Eden Prairie to the Leader of Kingston Council, Cllr Derek Osbourne. (Photo nicked from Griff Wigley)