A bright spark, or just plain dim?

Southampton City Council leader Richard Williams is certainly a brave man, setting aside half a million pounds in these times of economic crisis to fund his energy-saving pet projects.

As this paper reported yesterday, having discovered they had almost £6m more in the kitty than they originally thought – but still facing £15m-worth of savage cuts – the City Council’s ruling labour group met this week to decide where not to swing the axe.

Amid the services to be spared, came the decision to put part of the money, some £500,000, aside to fund what is described as the leader’s “Getting Our Economy Moving “fund.

When questioned, Councillor Richards explained this was to enable him to put into action his pet project to boost jobs in the area by backing something called the Energy Company Obligation.

I know, sounds exciting doesn’t it. But Councillor Williams did explain this to me a few months ago, and the way he puts it – with great enthusiasm and not a little expertise – it comes across as an exciting, imaginative project that dramatically cuts fuel bills and creates work in home insulation and fitting solar panels.

I hope it works. So obviously do his City Council cabinet colleagues as they have backed the plan. The fact that the fund is clearly referred to in council documents as belonging to the leader – you don’t, for instance, see funding for schools labelled as the director of child service’s Better Exam Results fund – would also indicate that either Councillor Williams wishes to take all the credit, or his colleagues want to clearly distance themselves from what they may see as a risky enterprise, swallowing up scarce cash.

Personally, I wish Councillor Williams all success with his scheme. There’s nothing wrong with bold leadership, especially when the leader nails his colours to the outcome, sink or swim.

If only more would follow his lead in public life.