How to save £100,000

Combine the chief executive posts at both Cornwall and Isles of Scilly councils.  And make sure the new job carries a top salary of not more than £200,000.  You know it makes sense.

First as tragedy, then as farce

I do hope that urgent leak inquiries are underway at both County Hall in Truro, and at Wellington, New Zealand, to find out how the news escaped that Cornwall Council's chief executive Kevin Lavery has not only applied for a job in the antipodes but has been offered one.  Kevin says he's thinking about it.  Hmmm. 

Unless we know all the facts, cynics might think the publicity was all just a cheap negotiating tactic.  According to the New Zealand press, Kevin's been offered NZ$420,000 (about £213,000).  Wellington thinks it's a done-deal, albeit a controversial one, with some locals describing Kevin as a "slash-and-burn" CEO.

The truth is, four years is a relatively long time for Kevin to stay in one place.

Rewind 11 years.  Kevin had just announced he was quitting as chief executive of Newcastle City Council.  His departure followed months of political wrangling over whether or not to privatise (sorry, "enter into a strategic partnership") with BT.

The shockwaves from Kevin's 2001 departure have passed into local government folklore, and are now the stuff of academic study.  After Newcastle, he squeezed in a couple of other jobs before going to work for, er, BT, in 2005.

Did I imagine it?

I'm sure I saw a Tweet recently that congratulated Cornwall councillors Steve Double and Scott Mann on their elevation to the lofty status of prospective Parliamentary candidates.  But on checking the author's list of Tweets, the message seems to have been deleted.  I've asked Cornwall Conservative Party organiser Bob Davidson for clarification.
STOP PRESS: My thanks to Bob, Steve and Scott for all clarifying with admirable speed.  Steve and Scott have indeed been accepted onto the list of possible PPCs, but won't face any constituency-specific selection meetings until next month.  Tories in St Austell and Newquay, and North Cornwall, are getting very excited.  And I guess this is clear evidence that the next general election will indeed be fought on existing boundaries, rather than any Devonwall-malarky.

Plenty more where that came from

One of my favourites at this time of year is the Ministry of Defence annual report, particularly the section on losses and liabilities, pages 157-162.
The £1.3 billion cost of withdrawing the Harrier fleet we already knew about, but £13.8m on 153 "smaller" gifts, £23.6m on a waste treatment plant that didn't work, £10.5m on overpayment of war pensions, £1.5m on damaging helicopter engines due to faulty packing, £2.8m on body armour that "failed to meet required safety standards" and nearly £1m on disposing of missiles "damaged in a road traffic accident" suggests there might be more scope for saving the public purse.

Tory ladies at odds over gay marriage

It looks as if the only MP from Devon and Cornwall who is openly campaigning against the government's plans for gay marriages is Newton Abbot's Conservative Anne-Marie Morris.  At least, she's the only one to sign this letter to the Daily Telegraph.  Should make for an interesting relationship with her neighbouring Tory, Totnes MP Sarah Woolaston.

Retiring democracy

Some local councillors work harder than others.  Some are good value, some are not.  But this latest government wheeze seems designed to turn the clock back to the days when rural squirearchies controlled everything, and only those with time and money could take seats in council chambers.  Will government ministers and Members of Parliament also be asked to surrender their pensions?

A very British coup?

Last night's Channel 4 News was just a treat.  Did the Met conspire to fit up the government chief whip?  It certainly looks like it.  And as we await today's verdict on Saville-gate, Newsnight-gate etc, perhaps the Beeb should order another inquiry into itself to find out why it ever allowed the brilliant Michael Crick to leave.  Last night's Channel 4 News was also a reminder as to how the post-Hutton BBC is no place for investigative journalism.