As leader of any council you can sometimes feel a little cut off from the people you got into the job for in the first place. Just as with any large organisation, particularly one as complex and with as many services to provide as a council, if you are not careful it is possible to lose track of the only thing that really matters – the views and opinions of your customers or residents.

I decided I needed a new way of talking to and learning from the people of Barnet. I wanted to balance out the day job of running a large organisation with getting out and about around the borough listening to what people had to say first hand. I wanted to hear what people love about the borough, the area in which they live, the people they share that area with – and perhaps most importantly what they would like to change to make their lives better.

That is why back in 2006 I began Leader Listens, a series of regular meetings out around the borough in places more convenient to our local residents (school halls, community centres and other local venues), getting away from more traditional ‘Town Hall politics’ where we expect you to come to visit us in Hendon (or our temporary new home in Barnet House in Whetstone).

I won’t say any more here. There’s a fuller explanation in the ‘about’ page of this blog.

In fact doubly lucky you as the focus of my blog among other things will be to share video highlights of me speaking at Leader Listens events as well as responding to audience questions. The idea behind this is that while these events are far more accessible than most, I recognise that not everyone is able to make the meetings themselves.

So I wanted to give anyone who couldn’t make the meetings themselves a chance to see what went on, what your neighbours were saying and what I had to say in reply. There is also a chance for you to leave a comment at the end of each post so you can get involved whether you were able to make it or not.

So go on – get involved. I’d love to hear from you.