Minister delivers his end of term report

摘要

There was an end-of-term atmosphere at the ODPM this week as ministers wound down for their holidays after what has been a gruelling few weeks dealing with the spending review, balance of funding and dropping of assembly refer-endums. In his own office at what was once the Admiralty, and is now the ODPM, its walls decorated with naval scenes ('Well I do represent Greenwich after all') local government minister Nick Raynsford was completing his last duties before the summer break. These were to launch, with John Prescott, their 10-year 'vision' for local government, as well as a prospectus for local area agreements, in which councils are invited to bid for nine pilots. The relaxed atmosphere was exemplified by the later guided tour for the assembled journalists of the Admiralty Room, conducted by Mr Prescott, a former ship's steward, plainly proud now to be the custodian of the nation's naval heritage.