Shake-up at NAC

There are signs that the new balance of the parties is resulting in some changes. It’s never easy to read the runes of what goes on in a local authority, but a press release about re-structuring talks of ‘streamlining the organisation and development of Council services’. Clearly, a shift of power is going on. The dual function of Head of Planning and Monitoring Officer, for instance, will now be split between two people, ‘to improve governance.’ It causes some wonder that the Head of Planning was previously charged with doing his or her own monitoring.

There will be a new Development and Environment directorate to oversee Roads, Lighting, Transportation, Planning, Economic Development, Trading Standards, Grounds Maintenance and Waste Services.

With the practicalities taken care of, that leaves the financial sector. Heads, it seems, have rolled. The Solicitor to the Council and General Manager of the Chief Executive’s Service are both to be removed. In their place will be a Corporate Director of Development and Planning, coupled with a Head of Democratic and Administration Services.

Has there been a night of the long knives? We will never know, but it is clear that the old order has to some extent been broken up. The runes have never been so full of interest.