Joint executive plan sparks row

11:21am Friday 18th July 2008

THE leader of Bromsgrove District Council has hit out against Redditch MP and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith after she condemned plans for a joint chief executive with Redditch council.

In a statement, Ms Smith criticised the decision to appoint Bromsgrove chief executive Kevin Dicks to the new position from August 1 saying it was the "first step" towards a Redditch/Bromsgrove merger, which she described as a "bad idea in itself."

“Redditch is a previously well run council now to be run on a part-time basis from Bromsgrove, one of the worst councils in the country.”

Redditch MP and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith

Ms Smith said: "Without any formal process of selection the job was created by the Conservatives.

"Bromsgrove Council has been one of the worst performing. The Audit Commission says it is poor value for money - without shopmobility, no dial a ride, its bin service is rated worse than Redditch and its bus pass scheme is worse too.

"Redditch is a previously well run council now to be run on a part-time basis from Bromsgrove, one of the worst councils in the country."

But Councillor Roger Hollingworth, (Cons-Alvechurch), the leader of Bromsgrove, said the council runs a "very successful" shopmobility scheme and had a waste collection service ranked in the top 50 in the country, and the highest in Worcestershire. He also stressed the appointment was for a temporary trial period of 12-months then, if successful, it would be turned into a permanent post.

Cllr Hollingworth added: "While we were ranked poor' last year, this was based on performance before Mr Dicks came to the top of the tree'. We have since been dubbed the fastest improving council' nationally and will undergo a further re-inspection later this year.

"I hope the MP reconsiders her unfounded judgement of this council and looks to support this project in line with her own government's policies."

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