The revelation that some local authorities have dispensed with their chief executives because of personality clashes between chief executives and leaders of councils or cabinet members is bad enough. Even worse is the size of payouts being made, up to £500,000 in some cases. For that money I would make myself obnoxious!
There should be a creative tension between the CEO and cabinet members as they have different functions. Cabinet members are elected to make political decisions. Chief officers are employed to carry out the decisions of councils and to give impartial advice, advice which the politicians might not like.
Unfortunately there are councils which are run by the officers as the politicians just aren't up to the job. Conversely, there are councils where the officers are regarded as merely being there to give effect to the whims of members of the cabinet.
The danger is that by effectively politicising officers a council will not receive the best advice, but the advice councillors want to hear and that is not good news for the public.
KENT COMMUNITY ACTIVIST: acerbic, carping, caustic, curmudgeonly,critical, cynical, grumpy, moaning, sardonic and plain speaking.
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