05 November 2004
The London Borough of Ealing is in the grip of crisis with the impending departure of its entire senior management in the wake of a series of setbacks.
The council has suffered a combination of financial problems, rapid turnover of senior staff and difficulties in implementing its flagship e-government one-stop shop project Response.
Council leader John Cudmore said a new corporate board would be recruited to take forward Response.
Chief executive Gillian Guy will leave next June after 12 years in office and the other three corporate board members will depart between March and August next year.
Guy said: 'The plan is to hand over the baton during an eight-month period to people who we will ensure have the same emotional investment and passion. The council is bigger and more important than any individual. It's not about personal ambition, but what is best for the council.'
The London borough has had a year of upheaval as it tried to implement Response. In February, it cut its corporate board from seven to five members, one of whom later left, after the unexpected departures of two directors.
It also slashed its second management tier from 36 posts to 15 and three director posts were filled only on an interim basis in June. Cuts of some £10m were announced ahead of its budget process for 2003/04.
The Audit Commission gave the council a 'fair' Comprehensive Performance Assessment but noted that it 'continues to face a difficult financial position and the level of balances is not adequate'.
The Conservative opposition has demanded an emergency council meeting. Group leader Jason Stacey said: 'Ealing council is in absolute crisis. Officers are departing in droves [and] staff morale is at rock bottom.'
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