Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Barnet boss takes on Haringey top job

Barnet Council chief executive Nick Walkley has been hired to take on the top post at Haringey Council.

Mr Walkley takes on the post following the sudden departure of predecessor Kevin Crompton in July. Prior to his role in Barnet, he gained extensive experience at the Department for Communities and Local Government and at the Improvement and Development Agency.

The appointment is subject to ratification by full council, which will meet on Tuesday, October 16. The remuneration package is yet to be announced, but his salary is expected to be similar to Mr Crompton's, which was in excess of £175,000.

Earlier this week it emerged that auditors in Haringey only signed off the council accounts at the eleventh hour, following the discovery of multi-million pound errors on the books.

Tags for Forum Posts: haringey chief executive, nick walkley

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Permalink Reply by Seema Chandwani on October 10, 2012 at 13:09

Its incorrect in YOUR view... I am very firm and clear with what I believe and you have not convinced me otherwise, despite the personal insults (which I love by the way!).

I believe this is one where we have to agree to disagree... I have put my case forward, so have you and the rest can decide.

I will say one thing, that is around conduciveness of policy. If Walkely and his 'skills' are what the council have deemed what the council needs, then I await to see this policy direction from cllrs, as it stands our council has closed and sold two childrens homes, is closing and selling Apex House for housing, has watched as Primary Schools are privatised, has leased our cemetries and lesiures centres. Therefore, their actions and Walkeys 'Skills' appear to be .... conducive.

Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on October 10, 2012 at 13:55

Seema, I wonder why some people prefer to believe the myths rather than see the reality. Like the pretence across government that officers simply carry out policy set by politicians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FRVvjGL2C0

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Permalink Reply by David Barry on October 28, 2012 at 18:59

responding to Billy's point about Headteachers it is precisely because a head makes a multitude of day to day decisions that taken as a whole, create the climate in a school, that making sure you appoint the right one is so crucial.

In this case it would seem the new Haringey CEO has a special expertise in outsourcing council functions, so one must presume that is why the councillors on the appointments panel chose him over others. They must have outsourcing in mind.

Whether one thinks that a good or bad thing is a different issue.

Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on October 28, 2012 at 23:14

Responding to your point, David, I agree with you that that the skills, experience and qualities of a headteacher are crucial for the success of a school. I say this having been a governor of primary schools and the chair of one governing body. With this experience I'd add that the relationship between the chair and headteacher is often a key one.

In several ways it can mirror the relationship of a Council Chief Executive and Leader. Though of course the latter is usually in an explicitly party political context. Which is where in practice the neutrality becomes fictional. Because, while senior local government staff are politically restricted, they still need political "antennae" - with a small 'p' - to ensure an understanding and sensitivity to the programme of the Majority political group.

But let's try to take the discussion on; and consider what we're now learning about Mr Walkley's Barnet. In only the last couple of days Barnet Blogger "Mr Mustard" wrote about the impact of outsourcing their Parking tickets to NSL - previously NCP. He claims that: "Since NSL took over the [Barnet] results have been in free fall." He gives the figures if you want to see for yourself.

In another parking-related blog he pulls apart a letter sent by NSL to a driver. (Scroll down to his comments in large print.) He suggests that saving money on "back office" functions can be a false economy.

Further afield, David, have you been following events in Cornwall? If people want to understand some of the underlying thinking behind the "big-bang" "Joint Venture" arrangements under discussion in some councils, this Computer Weekly article is well worth reading.

Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on October 29, 2012 at 8:32

Like the pretence across government that officers simply carry out policy set by politicians

These apparently sage words say more about our local council than being of general application. And perhaps, they reflect the competence of majority group governance, with a continuous 40 years of too cosy relations.

The impression given on several occasions is that it is difficult or cripplingly expensive to sack the competence-challenged or the wrong-doers in council employ.

The example I'm most familiar with (AP) saw a middle-ranking council employee (now disgraced) *allowed* to run one of London's major charities as a personal fiefdom for many years. Fortunately - but after great waste of time and money - that awful era is behind us.

Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on October 29, 2012 at 11:21

"These apparently sage words say more about our local council than being of general application."

Only to you, Clive, only to you. In fact they are very much "of general application".

If you can bear to put down the Daily Mail, you might enjoy reading "One of Us" Hugo Young's biography of Margaret Thatcher. In it you'll find an account of her treatment of and views about civil servants. Hugo Young describes how at the top of the Civil Service there was "a clear out" and how a "conviction Prime Minister" created "something closer than usual to a conviction civil service".

Look around for a second-hand copy. We got ours in a charity shop.