Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Is this what the government wants of the new unitary authorities?
John Healey MP said: "The new councils are a big shift in the way local government and services are delivered in these areas and local people will have wholly different expectations of their new unitary councils.

"New senior officers with fresh skills, experiences and new perspectives will be vital in creating a successful future for these councils. That is why our Regulations also require the chief executive of each new unitary council to be recruited by open competition by April 2010 at the latest, and why we expect the majority of top posts also to be subject to open competition".

So how is the county council responing to this advice? Basically, it's choosing to ignore it and seems to be re-appointing known faces to the new top jobs.

The post of corporate director (transport, environment and leisure) has gone to George Batten and the post of corporate director (economic development, planning and housing) to Mark Boden.

Mr. Batten is currently the director of environmental services at the county council whilst Mr. Boden is chief executive at Kennet District Council!

Together with existing WCC employees Keith Robinson, (chief executive), Carolyn Godfrey (corporate director children and education), Sue Redmond (community services) and Carlton Brand (resources) they will be the corporate leadership team of the WC.

Not quite what the government envisaged, is it? (But it is along the lines of what most councillors have been expecting!)