At Leicester Adult Education College this morning, for the latest weekly meeting of the steering group for Leicester Speaks (AKA Local Democracy Week). Our group today consists of Bipin Anand (TouchRainbow Productions), Parmjit Basra (Project Officer, Leicester City Council Adult Skills and Learning Services), Max Boden (Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce), Peter Bradley (Speakers' Corner Trust), John Coster (Citizens' Eye Community News Agency), Bez Kileen (Active Involvement Youth Worker, Leicester City Council), Irene Kszyk (Head of Equalities, Leicester City Council), Chris Minter (Head of Leicester City Council Adult Skills and Learning Services), Alison Taylor (Drugs and Alcohol Team, Safer Leicester Partnership).
Our discussions have been lent a new urgency, reflecting local concern over the demonstrations by the English Defence League (EDL) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF), which are hardly more than a fortnight away now. We're already talking, in practical terms, about the legacy of this week-long event and about continuing the Leicester Speaks initiative beyond Local Democracy Week.
One of the items on today's agenda is appointment of a Chair for the event. Much to my surprise, Parmjit proposes me! I can't accept this in good faith, as I won't be in Leicester for the final two days. When I say I'd love to be Chair, but ... I'm asked if I'll be Chair on a joint basis with John Coster. We're glad to assent to this proposal.
Find out more about Leicester Speaks:
http://www.leicesterspeaks.org/
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