Quote:
Originally Posted by gynn
One of the other changes I've seen is the responsibility taken by cabinet members that usually fell in the past to chief officers. Nowadays, press releases always refer to the portfolio holder, rather than the Director of Health or the Director of Housing etc. Officers have gone from being high profile to being virtually anonymous. In the past, the Chief Executive was as well known locally, and quoted as often as, the Leader. Now, he or she is virtually anonymous.
I'm not saying that's a good or a bad thing, I'm just making the observation
|
That's one thing I am in favour of unless it has been discussed with the officer in question beforehand. Councillors sign up for a life in the public eye, council officers generally just want a job and I don't see any reason for them to become the focus for something which may end up being an unpopular move. If they're simply carrying out the instructions of the Cabinet then it is for the council to decide whether they are doing a good job, not for the public to decide based on the popularity of a policy.
In my view, civil servants enact policy, councillors take the credit or the blame for their own ideas.