This week I:

• Attended a briefing on the council’s use of AI. There were some positive examples (e.g. an AI image used to help a person with autism visualise an appointment that they were concerned about) but I remain sceptical about its potential and the claims that it will contribute to a £2m saving.
• Asked officers about the potential for a citywide landlord licensing scheme like the one they have in Nottingham.
• Contacted Coun Samad, again, about the answer he gave me about the Mercury Prize at the council meeting in November. He said that ‘the financial return on investment will be shared in the findings of an independently produced impact assessment’ but the council has refused to say how much it spent so that wouldn’t be possible.
• Received a response to my revised FOI about Leazes Park and NUFC. I reduced the timescale to Dec 2024-Dec 2025 and now told that could include just over 20000 emails…
• Supported residents with housing, ASB and littering issues