Meeting Jon House
Author’s Note: Essentially, while this article may seem like a ramble from me, about floor-filming, things cowboys would say and other general nonsense, the main content of this article is actually very important and exciting. So read on…
For those of you who don’t know, there are these things called ‘councils’. Basically, a council looks after the place it governs… as far as I’m aware. Cardiff has a council. And it takes your bins for you, maintains your roads and provides street lighting. But you know this already I’m sure. What you may not know is what else the council does. In all fairness, neither did I until Holly Morris and I went to along to County Hall to meet Jon House. “Who?” I hear you ask with a tone of concern in your larynx. Worry not! Although he’s the Chief Executive of Cardiff Council, he’s much nicer than you might imagine.
Many of you will maybe have a negative perception of the council and you’d be forgiven for having such views. Not because the council perpetuates those impressions, but because you haven’t been educated on what the council does in full. Yes, they take your bins etc. but they do so much more that you aren’t aware of. They were in charge of the redevelopment of Cardiff Bay and they are in charge of almost everything that happens in Cardiff.
When is the next election? How many people are robbed each night? How many houses burgled? How is the council formed? All these questions hadn’t even crossed my mind before our visit, but now looking back, they seem like such important questions that young people should know the answers to, although very few actually do. We felt communication between young people and Cardiff Council was essential and what better way to communicate with young people than through theSprout. So Holly and I set out, along with Arielle (our editor) and David, the Young People’s Information Officer, to meet the Chief of this organisation.
We drove to County Hall, where the reception was filled with flags from different countries and provided a sense of unity while simultaneously seeming somewhat uninspiring. The only inspiring thing I could see in the reception area was what looked like a large canvas picture about Welsh history and the first line of the National Anthem. We soon found ourselves greeted by a lovely woman called Sarah who escorted us to Jon's office. While Arielle admired (and filmed) the carpentry in his office, Holly and I prepared our preparation. I swear Arielle’s not normally like this!
Soon, we encountered a tallish man with black hair, slick glasses which, although unusual for many glasses wearers, actually suited his cool, easy-to approach face. Although Holly and I had been worried we’d be met by a stiff, sixty-something year old grouch, he was actually a very down to earth man who, being a very skilled communicator, instantly put us at ease. Oh and not nearly sixty either.
We soon began chatting about the relationship that the Cardiff County Council has with young people in Cardiff. Jon seemed to understand that young people in Cardiff are very important and that the council should be trying harder to get across information to us ‘young-uns’. With this in mind, before we’d even started the bulk of the interview, the miraculous happened.
Jon House, the Head of Cardiff Council, agreed to write for theSprout as a way to try and improve communication with young people in Cardiff. This, not only left Holly and I but also Arielle and David stun-worthy.
Jon seemed to be aware that many young people don’t seem to understand the services that the council provides. Did you know that the council provides the education you are in? They provide highways, the building of the new city centre and the redevelopment of Cardiff Bay. All these things are provided by the Council but nobody seems interested. We discussed some of the problems that we felt young people were facing from things such as street crime in Cardiff to litter. Jon then informed us that young people are able to get in contact with their local councillors to talk about any issues they have. I for one did not know that. Did you?
The majority of the interview consisted of both us and Jon talking about the council communicating with young people. We could tell that Mr House was really keen to improve this. He offered us access and interviews with different people in different sections of the Council and he even agreed to let us come back and interview him in about six months' time. He offered to write a monthly article for theSprout in the hope that the young people can start to take an interest in the people who dedicate their lives to making sure Cardiff runs as smoothly as possible.
So, keep your eyes out for further council updates from both the council themselves and your Sprout interviewee team because I think we have a new Sproutlover in our midst. I’m aware that sentence makes no sense.
If there is anything that you'd like to ask Jon House to write about in his coming articles, please leave your comments below.
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2 Comments – Postiwch sylw
Tyezer
Rhoddwyd sylw 15 mis yn ôl - 14th February 2011 - 09:03am
I'd like him to write about the cuts. It's all very confusing. Great article by the way!
Stormer007
Rhoddwyd sylw 14 mis yn ôl - 28th March 2011 - 01:51am
Am I the only one who's noticed that theSprout seems to be lacking Jon House-ness.... Hmmm. maybe we shoudl explore this?