12 December - Cowardice in the face of the enemy
I was unable to attend the meeting at the council offices last Thursday where
a representative of the minister for Local Government, Eric Pickles, was due to
address the council and interested members of the public. A few days earlier I
had received the following email from a correspondent who had phoned the government department
so expectations were high.
Dear Mr. Bryant,
Thank you for your telephone call and email. I would be happy to set out
the Government’s position on senior pay in local government, if I am asked a
question about this on Thursday.
Best regards,
Richard Harries,
Deputy Director (Local Government Efficiency),
Communities and Local Government,
Zone 5/E2, Eland House,
Bressenden Place,
London SW1E 5DU.
Tel. 030 3444 2089
Mob. 078 9435 1390
I am told by someone who was at the meeting that when asked to do what he had
promised Mr. Harries refused. Perhaps he had been ‘got at’
by Bexley council, they made their opposition to Eric Pickles abundantly clear at the last
full council meeting on 17th November.
Mr. Harries did however say that it is an issue which should concern local M.P.s.
Mr. Brokenshire promised to nail his colours to the mast, maybe the other two
will follow his lead - assuming he eventually gets around to fulfilling the promise of course.