As a former employer of Andrea Hill I know her well, for she spent over 2 years as the CEX in Bedfordshire & she was, it has to be said, single minded in her approach to improvement. Under her watch Bedfordshire achieved 3 stars in CPA terms - a significant milestone given the zero star rating given only a few years earlier.Mrs Hill has huge strengths as a manager & I would write a her a reference tomorrow as a turn around CEX, but & there is always a but, Andrea also has a few blind spots. A biggy for me was what might be rather grandly termed 'emotional intelligence'There were times when I passed her in the corridor & as one does, said good morning - one was surprised when there was any response or even acknowledgement that one existed!Some commentators this evening have been understandably outraged at the deal done around her departure, but I am of the view that Suffolk got off quite lightly. Ok a years salary is a lot of money, but has this gone to court the bill would have been several times that.A much bigger issue here is the damage done to an essentially sound local authority & it's reputation, both locally and more widely to that of local government - it's been a quite sordid affair that needed to be dealt with quickly.Suffolk will move on from this undignified episode, but there are some lessons which need to be taken on board - Mrs Hill may feel rather hard done by, but the bottom line is when any senior functionary loses the confidence of politicians it's time to move on - sharpish.Some of the jibes aimed at Mrs Hill have been sexist in the extreme, but when you have been labeled the Emelda Marcos of local government there really is no way back.I wish Andrea well in the future, but there has been serious damage done, but a line can now be drawn.
