Andy Coles

And now to work…

We held the formal launch of the local election campaign this afternoon in Peterborough with supporters, candidates, our two MPs and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

On graffiti patrol today after a local resident contacted me. Why is it necessary to deface a local charity’s property and a couple of bus stops like this?

@JuliaBall Thanks Julia - yes, a bittersweet day.

@CllrAndyColes I wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday but it must be a sad one today xxx

@ellymelly Has it changed so much? I remember visiting the AFPs imam based in Lakemba and also went to prayers in a workers’ mosque. A lot of surprise and cautious looks from the Muslim men attending, but I sensed no threat. However, I have no yardstick to measure the female experience.

How do I make moral judgements on a culture? It's pretty simple. I can walk through St Ives - one of the largest Jewish populations in Sydney - late at night as a young woman and feel perfectly safe. ...but I can't even walk through Lakemba - a large Islamic population in Sydney - in the late afternoon without being heckled, followed, and intimidated. Late at night? Not a bloody chance. Cultures in which women are SAFE are cultures worth supporting.

@RevRichardColes Are you visiting the sphinx? Egyptian pronunciation of the word can cause a snigger…

Yesterday I launched the Council's budget simulator at Cabinet. This is an online tool which enables residents to have a go at balancing the council's budget by deciding how best to share out the money we have to pay across our services. peterborough.gov.uk/council/budget…

I enjoyed the Bondholder Breakfast meeting organised by @OP_Peterborough at the Town Hall, where local businesses come together to network and to learn. Sustainability was the theme this time, with speakers from @SustainablePECT and @PwCclimateready.

I was delighted to welcome Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman to Peterborough who attended a care sector job fair in the town hall today. The minister was much taken by the assistive technology cat our team had brought to the event.

@TheEconomist Not a bad film, but the short story of 1966 is better, predicting climate disaster and population overload in August 1999 … another wildly inaccurate climate prediction #fiction #MakeroomMakeRoom!

It is impossible to watch the film today without weighing up how accurate its predictions of environmental catastrophe turned out to be. Read more: econ.st/3O4IN6s Photo: Alamy

@Culture_Crit Whoever it is will now live in mortal fear of employing a fastidious cleaner…

@prwhittle Never forgotten. I came down to London 7/7 on the same train as the bombers. Luckily took the Victoria Line - emergency call to get to Gold London, didn’t go home for 6 weeks. Lucky to have missed injury, but will never forget the superb linked up services that responded.

On this day in 2005, 52 people were killed in London by Islamist terrorists. Yet it’s faded from the public memory. In an age when the media marks seemingly all and any anniversaries, but it seems not this one, we must make sure never to forget.

Is it Whither the World or Wither the World? The tough times for economics and politics ahead #publicfinancelive23

I am attending the CIPFA conference with public sector finance specialists. I learned a great deal last year and I’ve had interesting discussions already over a nice bit of dinner. Managed to get the Bond costume out again. Looking forward to some helpful discussions ahead.

Armed forces day in Peterborough this morning and a view from the stage as the parade is inspected. Lots of stalls and events, linking up later with the Pride event.

I attended the peterborough city council staff awards on 11th May and was delighted to see the great work our staff have been doing. I was particularly proud to see the finance team winning two awards - much deserved.

An incredible level of support for growth in the city - Paul’s been instrumental in bringing these opportunities to Peterborough.

@RevRichardColes I remember vaguely from my degree course that they shoot each other with calcified darts to get in the mood. 180!

@RevRichardColes Goo Asda frozen veg aisle meduck. Plenty here.

@sarahbrown2601 @RevRichardColes Infamy, infamy! They’ve all got it in for me!

@RevRichardColes @CllrAndyColes 😊