The Rich List...
With almost freezing weather throughout December we were basking in temperatures hovering around twenty six degrees in Tenerife at Playa la Arena near Los Gigantes. For the first time in many years we had two mornings of atrocious weather with clouds down to sea level. When it lifted though Mt. Teidi was covered in snow.
The Christmas pudding and mince pies are but a distant memory. In my stocking came a mobile sat/nav. I had previously thought these were pretty naff. but having used one now I can see it is much more than just a navigation aid.
New Chief Executive
Although I’m dismayed to learn there is no-one living in the borough of Bexley qualified or capable to take up the vacant position of chief executive I must admire the fortitude of Will Tuckley (48) who used to be with Croydon Council.
Will was chosen by consultants Odgers Ray & Berndtson and put on a list of twenty nine people who applied for the advertised job. This was reduced to a short list of four applicants following interviews by Odgers.
The four were then subjected to a rigourous two hour structured interview and personality questionnaire and a ‘psychometric’ test and a personal interview with the council leader. They were then subjected to a mock cabinet exercise presenting a complex issue in the role of chief executive and answering members questions. Then references were considered. Only heads of departments seemed to have been missed out on the selection process!
Taking all that on board Will must be quite a guy with the patience of a saint. The Chronicle wishes him well and hopes he gets to like Bexley so much that he might move here from Lee.
Will was previously Chair of the Amicus Horizon Group Board, Vice Chair and an Independent Board Member with Amicus since 2000. His career has been in local government, in housing and other services. He was Director of Policy and Corporate Services and deputy chief executive for Croydon Council. Chair of Group Nominations and Selection Committee. He is expected to take up his duties in April.
According to the Tax Alliance Rich List 05/06 Will can expect to take home pay at least the same as Nick Johnson the previous chief executive which was £3,519 a week. Bexley Council is quite generous to its senior staff. Peter Ellershaw, Director of Environment & Regeneration Services earns a cool £2,788 a week and Deborah Absalom, Childrens & Young People Services £2,769 a week and David Berry our Deputy Chief Executive gets £2,596 a week. What do senior people like planners earn? See next issue.
Top pay for top people...
Will Tuckley £182,999; Ellershaw £144,999; Absalom £143,999; Berry £134,999
Kings garage
Most readers who drive will know there is only one garage in Sidcup selling petrol/diesel/ Loyal customers have been causing havoc in the main road turning in to fill up only to discover when it’s too late that the place is closed for three months for refurbishment. It’s a pity the management haven’t the wit to place a large notice that passing motorists could read or even afford to place an advertisement in one of the local papers. So please avoid Sidcups only garage until they tell us its open again.