Within days of Boris Johnson taking over as mayor of London, there have been some big people changes. And, no doubt, there will be more movement of the deckchairs – all with claims that this is not a witch-hunt.
One observer wryly commented: ‘If it looks and smells like a witch-hunt, then maybe it is.'
Senior staff in local authorities are used to people moves as a result new of political administrations.
While at one council which changed political control, I was called in by the new leader and asked to sack the chief executive and most of the top team and, by the way, ‘could I have them out by Monday?'
I took a deep breath – luckily for me, I had just found out I had been appointed to a new role in another organisation, so had nothing to lose – and told our new leader there were just a couple of things he needed to consider. For example:
The emotional residue is often the most difficult to put right. Most senior staff in the public sector are realistic folk – they know that sometimes their face doesn't fit with the new administration, and they have to go. It is, however, extremely important in doing this that they are:
