Liverpool City Council - a law unto itself?
This interesting advert was mentioned to me the other day.
I say interesting because I find it strange that the council would essentially be saying "we are a law unto ourselves".
The advert is for a new city solicitor - a position that has been vacant for a couple of years.
The council has already advertised the ã115,000 (plus 15% performance related pay) job a number of times.
Michael Kenworthy, a council employee, had been performing the role of acting city solicitor until the autumn before Charlie Adan was brought in as interim city solicitor.
The council is very keen to portray an image to business that the authority is not a law unto itself, that it can be trusted, and the city is a safe place for investment.
Indeed chief executive Colin Hilton is currently trying to improve "ethical standards" at the council.
In council jargon: "Short-term expediency, pandering local media and over reaction are actively discouraged by the leadership to gain a better balance against longer term objectives and consistent organisational culture."
In other words the council is desperate to clamp down on leaks and portray a united front - precisely the opposite of people being a "law unto themselves".
What do you think?
Click here to view the advert.
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Dale Street Associates
David Bartlett
City editor of the Post and Echo covering politics, regeneration, and urban affairs.
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It's difficult to believe that Warren Bradley actually said this: "All political parties are committed to this initiative and support the work to drive up standards of behaviour and governance more generally."
Did he have a straight-face at the time? Why then did he refuse to suspend a member of his own Lib Dem group who was facing a criminal charge?
And why did he refuse to take any action when the said councillor was found guilty? Hardly driving up the standards of behaviour and governance, is it?
As for the city solicitor, any legal eagle worth their salt wouldn't be seen working within a million miles of a local council, never mind one as bad as Liverpool.
They are, truly, a law unto themselves.
What DB overlooks to mention is that this absurd advert is Liverpool CC's FOURTH attempt to fill the post. Previous short-lists have been too weak; and the acting incumbents unappointable.
Then, on the last occasion, an appointment was made, but the 'successful' candidate asked for time to consult his family. The Council waited three weeks for a reply, but despite efforts to contact him, the Council's calls were never returned. So, in typical Council fashion, they've upped the money (after all, it isn't their money), and will now pay over the odds for a third-rater. That's what happens when no one wants to work for you: the Council spends more of our money getting worse appointments.
It is vital we have a city solicitor with moral backbone.
There are two basic forms of governemt,
one where the civil service supports all elected members or one where the civil service believe they are above the elected members and self serving-
-this second system is well represented in former soviet union countries. Liverpool has too often leaned towards the soviet model. The raiding of councillors e mails, leaking to presss of internal investigations to blacken opposition councillors, abuse of standard board procedures to surpress legitimate critical comments and forcing opposition councilors out of public meetings et al where all hallmarks of the previous cabal
Whatever the pay rate , what we need is a city soliciotr who is prepared to stand up to councillours and senior officers and defend the law of the land, freedom of information and rights of all councillors and residents.
It is vital we have a city solicitor with moral backbone.
There are two basic forms of governemt,
one where the civil service supports all elected members or one where the civil service believe they are above the elected members and self serving-
-this second system is well represented in former soviet union countries. Liverpool has too often leaned towards the soviet model. The raiding of councillors e mails, leaking to presss of internal investigations to blacken opposition councillors, abuse of standard board procedures to surpress legitimate critical comments and forcing opposition councilors out of public meetings et al where all hallmarks of the previous cabal
Whatever the pay rate , what we need is a city soliciotr who is prepared to stand up to councillours and senior officers and defend the law of the land, freedom of information and rights of all councillors and residents.
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