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Local government minister, Bob Neill, this week dismissed claims that the coalition's plan to extend the use of ‘executive leaders' – ditching council chief executives in the process – would ‘politicise' town hall officials and expose accountability problems. Mr Neill told The MJ the CLG's planned overhaul of town hall management, under which more councils would also be encouraged to share chief executives, would ‘not affect the democratic functions of councils'. The minister was responding to a letter sent by former communities secretary, John Denham, to his successor, Eric Pickles, last week. Mr Denham warned the coalition's proposals would ‘politicise' independent council managers, undermine public probity, and could even breach existing laws. The three-page letter, obtained by The MJ and sister website Localgov.co.uk last week, has reignited debate over Mr Pickles' claim the role of council chief executive was a ‘non-job'. Mr Pickles wants to get rid of many authorities' ‘doppelspitze' leadership model, and believes local politicians prepared to assume management responsibilities to direct service delivery and save cash could ditch chief executives. He is also working on plans for elected ‘super mayors', combining leader and executive roles, through his forthcoming Localism Bill. Shortly after Mr Pickles urged wider use of ‘executive leaders' in June, Rugby BC announced its leader, Cllr Craig Humphrey, would become responsible for key elements of its vacant chief executive's post. Citing Rugby BC's decision, Mr Denham said: ‘I am deeply concerned that the well-understood boundaries between the non-political and impartial chief executive and the political leadership of local authorities are going to be thrown away by Mr Pickles. ‘This has huge implications for staff who work for local authorities, who will now be expected to act in party political ways that they have never previously been asked to do, and which chief executives have protected them from.' His letter even questions the legalities of a full-blown executive leader. Mr Denham has asked the CLG to clarify whether the role breaches the 1972 Local Government Act, which appears to prohibit councils from employing someone who has been a councillor within the previous year. Rugby BC last week said its arrangements did not breach any rules. CLG sources rejected the legal concern, arguing Mr Pickles had, in reality, suggested councils should hand-over the statutory functions of the chief executive's post – such as head of paid service – to other senior managers or directors, allowing senior politicians to direct policy strategy and perform ‘ceremonial' aspects of the chief's role. Mr Neill added: ‘Sharing chief executives would cut out duplication and allow councils to protect frontline services – something I am sure Mr Denham wouldn't be opposed to. ‘It is breathtaking hypocrisy for him to claim the coalition is trying to politicise town halls. Labour politicised the civil service, spending a whopping £540m bankrolling a vast spin machine.' But Mr Denham's letter has gained local government support. A senior local government source told The MJ ‘few' council leaders approved of Mr Pickles' plan, with many keen to retain the services of independent chief executives they trusted to provide management oversight of complex services. One said: ‘Could we really expect politicians to make tough management decisions – such as the decision to take a vulnerable child into care? They often want and value independent advice and decision-making on sensitive issues – they like to have a buffer between themselves and the decision.'

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WHITEHALL

'Party spin' fears over executive leader plans

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