As the last few days have revealed, the middle ranking staff at Bexley Council has a pretty low opinion of their overpaid bosses and it’s hard to disagree.
Malcolm, as a current employee of the London Borough of Bexley I must warn you
and other residents of the borough of big changes. Unfortunately the current Chief Executive [Jackie Belton] and Directors which she brought with her
at varying times are determined to undermine the hard work of officers. Some have been played to such an extent that they cannot continue to work
for the authority as it’s got so bad. I’m afraid it will go downhill rapidly.
It is only two years
since Bexley’s former Chief Executive, Gill Steward, who achieved nothing in
Bexley apart from depriving journalists of their desk at meetings managed to
scramble into a job in Cumbria after her £94,000 pay off was spent.
Many in Cumbria were unhappy to appoint someone who had failed in both Bexley and Hounslow and the story was picked up by both
Private Eye and the local press.
“Steward’s role in restructuring has been described as
chaotic, four non-executive directors resigned. One felt “behaviors have crossed
the boundaries of inappropriateness and unprofessionalism” and complained of
bullying. A recruitment drive for replacement directors promoted an organization
with a “warm and supportive culture. A Company Group that has the feel of a
Family Firm” – which was news to several departing directors. This leads to
questions as to whether we are going to face similar issues in our Cumbrian reorganisation.”.
[The ‘Company Group’ was Hounslow’s equivalent of BexleyCo.]
Gill Steward left Cumbria soon afterwards.
Bexley may have a history of recruiting other borough’s cast offs but it pays
them well. Last year the Chief Executive was given a rise of £3,842 and
Directors received up to an extra £11,000. Who did the Director of Place upset
to be awarded only £2,400 in extra pay? Never mind, £182,9710 is not a bad
salary (including pension) for supervising potholes.
Even if you do a reasonable job, if your face doesn’t fit in Bexley you are in for a hard time…
Extract from a Director’s resignation statement.