In a bold move aimed at bridging the gap between councils and their constituents, Sheffield City Council bosses have teamed up with their local newspaper The Sheffield Star to recruit their next chief executive. Council bosses will invite five readers to sit on the panel which will decide who gets picked for the £180,000-a-year post. The readers will be encouraged to question the candidates to replace Sir Bob Kerslake on their plans for everything, from local job creation to schools. The move will find favour with communities secretary, Hazel Blears, who wants to see more local authorities using ‘community engagement' and ‘empowerment' to reconnect with voters
