Forum Topic

Ealing's Chief Executive, Martin Smith to leave in the New Year to "pursue other interests'".

Well, Good Riddance.I've only been back in the Borough for about a year but from what I can see, and have heard, he was ineffective, achieved nothing, and sucked up to the Labour Administration.Happy to be corrected if my observations are wrong.............

Brian May ● 3948d5 Comments

I agree with Vlod here.  He has a history of challenging a crooked Council and I thought he would be the man for the job of challenging the right-wing-branch-of-Labour-dominant Council.  One has to read into this that something is amiss if he's not got another job to go to.

Angela White ● 3947d

I wrote to Martin Smith recently to tell him that one of the Officers had sorted out a seriouscomplaint with speed and compassion and that I wanted to thank him.Bit to my surprise I got a personal note back thanking me for mentioning it. He said that in his role he usually heard when things went wrong and it was nice to read of really good service.I liked him.

Maire Lowe ● 3947d

I wonder why he hasn't sorted out Two Houses, Two Jobs, Two Faces then??

Brian May ● 3948d

Can't agree with your assessment. I may be biased as I was a councillor on the selection committee that appointed Martin Smith. He is a very capable administrator, but it's not his job to make policy; he can only really object where it would be illegal to do something, as he may have done when he was Chief Exec in Tower Hamlets under Lutfur Rahman (which Martin left with a big payoff linked to a confidentiality clause, not difficult to draw one's own conclusions). Mr Rahman was found guilty of corrupt and illegal practices early this year relating to an election and had a history of alleged favouritism to his friends and supporters.It is rather odd that Martin Smith should leave with no other job in place. Hardly the action of a man content with his working environment.

Vlod Barchuk ● 3948d

All council staff suck up to the Labour Administration, so no need to be corrected.

Bob Little ● 3948d