Camden Chief Executive Steps Down

After eight years in post the Chief Executive of Camden Council, Moira Gibb CBE, has tendered her official resignation. Her 'reign' has been regarded very highly all round, both by residents surveys on council performance, and official performance reviews. Leader of the Council, Nasim Ali, publicly praises her leadership, stating that: "Moira has been crucial in steering the council through one of the most challenging periods of financial uncertainty and risk", and insists that "Moira will leave Camden in a much stronger position to continue to the delivery of services to our residents".

Reading between the lines this does seem all about budget cuts. Her letter of resignation to the leader of Camden Council highlights almost exclusively the budget restrictions faced in these "more austere times", and despite her assurances of leaving "the Council well placed to handle the harsher times ahead", I'm sure I'm not the only one worrying about just what her final "three year plan to adapt the Council's expenditure to the significantly reduced resources available" will mean for local services, residents and businesses in Camden, despite the assurance that the plan is being delivered "steadily and collaboratively across services to minimise impacts on our communities". I'm sure also, reading her letter, that I'm also not the only one speculating that this political double-speak is her way of grinding an axe at frustrations with budget cuts from the council, and that this may be the real reason she is stepping down. An alternate reason is put forward by communitycare.co.uk in their Social Work blog, that she is preparing for a run at the putative new post of Chief Social Worker, which seems likely to be created soon, now that it has received governmental backing.

Whatever the reason behind her stepping down, we do all share in thanking Moira for her years of dedicated service and for her many achievements with and for the Borough of Camden. It remains to be seen how this programme of budget/service cuts will impact on our lives over the next few years, but I hope Camden Council can remain proactive, inclusive and supportive of the communities in Camden, as it has been under Moira's leadership.

I'd love to hear how service changes may be affecting where you live and work in Camden, and your views on the direction our local politics is going during these 'harsh times'. If you have any gripes to air, any p****s to laud, or anything at all you want me to investigate deeper, then please do get in touch or give us a piece of your mind by replying to this or by posting up a article or discussion yourself.