Wow! How did that happen?

Nothing personal, but once again these things make me sick.

He gets paid £140,000 per year to do a job.
I don't think that the organisation that he is in charge of is managed as efficiently as it could be and that costs me money.

Who is he?

Susie
xx

who is he, what did he do and why did IT happen??

hmmm...interesting post. :confused:

Bob Kerslake
Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council (Town Clerk)

From: http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home-page

Knighthood for Chief Executive

Council Chief Executive Bob Kerslake has received a knighthood in the New Years Honours List. Sir Bob joined Sheffield in 1997, and has been a leading figure in Sheffield’s regeneration.


Reacting to the news, Sir Bob said: "I am thrilled and delighted at receiving this award. It has been a big year of success and achievement for Sheffield and the City Council and I believe this honour is in recognition of the progress we have made."

Originally posted by jgharston
Wow! How did that happen?
So we could:

a) See this as recognition of a job well done, and a pat on the back for the whole city and the improvements it is making (thus potentially attracting national/international investment).

or

b) In a typically (lib-dem councillor) knee-jerk anti-anything way, wonder "why has Sheffield even been noticed, we're rubbish".

Which do you favour Cllr Harston.

Oh, I just noticed, you already answered that above. :rolleyes:

Mmmm does nothing gets paid loads gets made a sir after a short stint---where do I apply--jobs for the boys
when are we going to get decent roads sir bob

Originally posted by jgharston
Wow! How did that happen?

As I said in another thread on the same subject, he merely does a job that he is more than handsomely paid to do. What I am more than intrested in is who exactly nominated him? surely not Jan Wilson ??????. Mr Kerslake is supposed to be non-political.

Originally posted by Mo
Mr Kerslake is supposed to be non-political.

And there was me thinking that he was personally installed by Tony Blair before being moved to a senior Whitehall position.

Bob Kerslake is a VERY political appointee. He is there to keep 'Old Labour' in its place. That said, he is also VERY good at his job.

a knighthood ha wat a joke only thing this man has done for sheffield is to close all the public loos i no where i would like to knight him

In my opinion he has done a very BAD job.

His leadership has seen the city lose a several potential large investors due to their "we know what we like and we like what we know" attitude to developments and planning pernission, while at the same time backing several white elephant schemes...


Who remembers when the city was going to be...

The recycling capital of europe?

What has happened...

As ever... lagging sadly behind the rest of the country with half hearted and arsed schemes which are not fully supported or policed.

Poorest roads I have seen in any 'major' city in Britain.

Only major city in Britain not to have an airport - don't blame Peel Holdings and the Finnigley fiasco for this - lack of council backing made this a non starter from the word go - no radar cover, an ill thought out geographical position etc etc etc

The man should have at least had the decency to decline the honour saying I don't deserve it...

</rant>


Any happy new year to all my readers

I thin that you will find that Kerslake post dates the schemes that you are talking about, in which case he would be managing the existing situation, not creating it.

Bob Kerslake arrived in Sheffield at about the same time as 'New' labour got into power, and promptly privatised services such as housing, which was such a success. :rolleyes: Maybe that 's where the knighthood came from?

Originally posted by algy
Bob Kerslake arrived in Sheffield at about the same time as 'New' labour got into power, and promptly privatised services such as housing, which was such a success. :rolleyes: Maybe that 's where the knighthood came from?


All to do with the achieving of govt targets (eg .75% increase in adoptions) etc by fair means or foul!

Demolished more houses than he ever had built
A building site for a city centre
Roads worse now than after the luftwaffe last visited Sheffield
More traffic jams than Mexico City
And an unrecoverable debt similar to all the continent of Africa
What a man
:help: :help: :help: :help: :help:

Originally posted by jwbeatsonbnp
Demolished more houses than he ever had built
A building site for a city centre
Roads worse now than after the luftwaffe last visited Sheffield
More traffic jams than Mexico City
And an unrecoverable debt similar to all the continent of Africa
What a man
:help: :help: :help: :help: :help:

Do you have the stats to back up your claims? seem a bit excessive, even for Bob Kerslake!

please ask a councillor in the town hall and have a walk through the city centre

you might have a shock of the debt sheffield is in

ask a car driver about the state of our roads

perfect housing demolished

filthy streets with litter

never since the second world war have the sheffield people had to exist in this enviroam

I assume we have to take that as a no then...

Originally posted by jwbeatsonbnp


ask a car driver about the state of our roads

......... who has also spent time studying traffic conggestion in Mexico city.

Perfect housing demolished?
Where. What do you mean by perfect housing?

This man has done to Sheffield what Hitler failed to do. Where ever you look in Sheffield you will find this man's mark, brand, or scar call it what you will. He is a nasty excuse for a politician like many more in Sheffield. If you do not agree with him you are his enemy. He is to put it very politely the worse thing to happen to Sheffield. As someone mentioned he destroyed the housing stock and is still doing so. He is a lacky to " New Labour ". I would never lick Blairs boots to get a knighthood, This man licks somewhere else. Just the mention of this man's name makes many people angry.

Originally posted by Rodgers
He is a nasty excuse for a politician like many more in Sheffield.

Who, exactly, voted for this politician? He's an employee of Sheffield City Council.

And, while I'm here, who are these other nasty excuses for politicians? Names please, not just the usual 'that lot'.

Originally posted by jwbeatsonbnp
please ask a councillor in the town hall and have a walk through the city centre
What should I ask them, according to you they are all corrupt?
Originally posted by jwbeatsonbnp

you might have a shock of the debt sheffield is in

Nope not shocked at all, but please tell me what your party proposes to do about it?
Originally posted by jwbeatsonbnp

ask a car driver about the state of our roads

No need I drive a car myself, and find that the roads in some areas do need attention, however please give us your partys approach to this and how you intend to fund it.
Originally posted by jwbeatsonbnp

perfect housing demolished

You might want to speak to the residents of shirecliffe, many of whom are glad some of the housing has gone which were previously used as drugs dens and attracted crime - housing is no good if nobody wants to live in them.
Originally posted by jwbeatsonbnp

filthy streets with litter

not all of sheffield suffers from that, again please put forward what your party would do, and how you will fund it.
Originally posted by jwbeatsonbnp

never since the second world war have the sheffield people had to exist in this enviroam

I would have to disagree, I'm sure many verterans will tell you otherwise.

Max
as you should know, Naming politicians is a very dangerous thing nowadays. To name anyone on a public forum is asking for trouble as the rules say, I believe the same laws apply to forums as to newspapers. I have in the past named politicians in the Star, The story goes in, Not the names. Who for instance would be liable were names allowed to be published on this Forum. There is one certain site that is in trouble for this reason. They have printed names, meetings , dates. Of other Councils. It would be good to be able to do this. But have you ever tried to fight a sitting politician in County Courts. I have it is a costly job.

Originally posted by max
Who, exactly, voted for this politician? He's an employee of Sheffield City Council.
Come on Max, you know perfectly well that he was appointed directly by New Labour.

I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but Central Government made darned sure that they had their own man running Sheffield, not the local politicians.

Originally posted by Tony
Come on Max, you know perfectly well that he was appointed directly by New Labour.

I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but Central Government made darned sure that they had their own man running Sheffield, not the local politicians.

Tony, even you know there is a world of difference between a politican and a political appointee. Look at Chris Patten, for instance, ex-tory minister now in a senior, appointed, role.

At least this administration sees past political hue and looks at people's ability.

Well Max, even lil' ol' me recognises that the Labour Government doesn't (didn't?) trust the locals to run Sheffield.

I actually think BK is doing a reasonable job, though I wonder how long after the general election it will be before he is elevated into a very senior position in Whitehall? Has the date for his replacement been set yet? You apparently nearly lost John Mothersole (another good appointee) last year, so I'm assuming BK's exit will be more organised.

I don't think Sheffield is a bad place.
The town centre is cleaner than it's ever been and it looks better.
Sheffield is becoming the modern city that it should have been for years.

Originally posted by Tony
Well Max, even lil' ol' me recognises that the Labour Government doesn't (didn't?) trust the locals to run Sheffield.

I actually think BK is doing a reasonable job, though I wonder how long after the general election it will be before he is elevated into a very senior position in Whitehall? Has the date for his replacement been set yet? You apparently nearly lost John Mothersole (another good appointee) last year, so I'm assuming BK's exit will be more organised.
It's a matter of opinion, but even if he is, he's paid a very nice salary for it, so why the knighthood?

Originally posted by algy
so why the knighthood?
Because he has done what the politicians have told him to very well.

If you don't like the policies, take it up with the politicians, not the employee.

The *leader* of Sheffield Council is Jan Wilson.

Bob Kerslake is *in effect* CEO.

Sorry foo, but BK is really in charge of Sheffield. JW does as she is told for the most part.

Originally posted by Tony
Sorry foo, but BK is really in charge of Sheffield. JW does as she is told for the most part.
Tony, I know your a mod, and I know the site rules say no one line responses, hence this first bit, but my response to the above is quite simple.

You are wrong !

How can you take matters up with Jan Wilson, All she is interested in is feathers in her hat and all the good publicity that she can get. Like most in politics she is into Politics for her own satisfaction and ego. Not for the people of sheffield. Most of the good Politicians have been driven out, died. or retired. Many of the good one's are tired of fighting a corrupt system.

Originally posted by LBoogie
I don't think Sheffield is a bad place.
The town centre is cleaner than it's ever been and it looks better.
Sheffield is becoming the modern city that it should have been for years.

You are right the centre does look good in parts while there are parts that are an embarassment eg down by Commercial street and markets area.

The other side of the coin is the neglected, filthy suburbs where MOST people live. I put this question up for Jan Wilson but it wasn't chosen to be asked.

Also lets not forget the main route into Sheffield from the motorway ie the Parkway. What a mucky, rundown first impression of the city that gives visitors.

At least when the LIb Dems were in they made some attempt to brighten up the Parkway by undertaking bulbs at the verges.

Originally posted by foo_fighter
Tony, I know your a mod, and I know the site rules say no one line responses, hence this first bit, but my response to the above is quite simple.

You are wrong !

Unless you are talking about the hierarchy foo I have to disagree. BK runs Sheffield. It's why he was appointed. If the another party were to come to power in Sheffield they would find it difficult to perform because of this.

When Bob Kerslake took over, Sheffield was in such dire straits he was the only one willing to do the job, and the council were so relieved he was given more or less a free hand. This more or less coicided with New Labour getting in, and it was made clear to the council there would be no bailing out the situation, despite Blunkett and co having got us into it in the first place. So ever since BK has been the saviour of the Sheffield Labour Council, and has called the shots.

Did you know that the Sir Bob Kerslake is a Director of the Office of the Deputy prime ministers office. I wonder if this is why he got the sir.

Originally posted by chrisg
Did you know that the Sir Bob Kerslake is a Director of the Office of the Deputy prime ministers office. I wonder if this is why he got the sir.
Very interesting; I wonder how he finds the time?

Did he really say this?

As a stand-alone statement it does seem somewhat strange.

HERE (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/cgksheff/Sheffield%20Forum/kerslakeStar003.jpg)

It is an odd comment - it shouldn't make a blind bit of difference whether people born in this city are black, brown, white, green or blue with pink spots.

What matters is what they contribute.

I noticed that and thought what a crass thing to say.

What a stupid thing to say. Who was he talking to and what was the context?

Well spotted, cgksheff. I'd skim read that article but perhaps my attention wandered when Sir Bob started talking about Sheffield emulating Barcelona and Milan.

Here's the online version:

Sheffield Star article (http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2052492&SectionID=5079&ArticlePage=2)

Would I be right in surmising that Sir Bob is Jewish - anyone able to confirm this point one way or the other?

It does seem quite an odd comment, what does he mean anyway? Unless it was taken out of context as part of a larger point he was making.

How can anyone forecast what difference for either good or ill a change of that magnitude will make in the long term.

As for the jewish question, why do you ask? Of what relevance is it?

my attention wandered when Sir Bob started talking about Sheffield emulating Barcelona and Milan.

We've got 2 football teams and a cathedral that's still not finished?

It does seem quite an odd comment, what does he mean anyway? Unless it was taken out of context as part of a larger point he was making.

How can anyone forecast what difference for either good or ill a change of that magnitude will make in the long term.



I thought the same. I'm afraid it sounds like a bullish attempt put a positive spin on the changing face of Sheffield.

We've got 2 football teams and a cathedral that's still not finished?

It would be rather nice if the Graves was stuffed with Picassos and Dalis! Oh well. Perhaps Barcelona in return is envious of our cheap, clean, efficient, friendly bus service... :help:

As for the jewish question, why do you ask? Of what relevance is it?

As a student of the views of American academic Kevin MacDonald I'm alert to the possibility that some (not all) Jewish people in public life have an agenda of encouraging western societies to become multi-racial.

One example of this way of thinking is a quote of Miriam Faine, an editorial committee member of the Australian Jewish Democrat saying:

"The strengthening of multicultural or diverse Australia is also our most effective insurance policy against anti-semitism. The day Australia has a Chinese Governor General I would feel more confident of my freedom to live as a Jewish Australian".

Did he really say this?

As a stand-alone statement it does seem somewhat strange.

HERE (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/cgksheff/Sheffield%20Forum/kerslakeStar003.jpg)


When he says we have have improved the efficiency indicators and the way the council is managed, you just know he a lying git

As a student of the views of American academic Kevin MacDonald I'm alert to the possibility that some (not all) Jewish people in public life have an agenda of encouraging western societies to become multi-racial.
One example of this way of thinking is a quote of Miriam Faine, an editorial committee member of the Australian Jewish Democrat saying:
"The strengthening of multicultural or diverse Australia is also our most effective insurance policy against anti-semitism. The day Australia has a Chinese Governor General I would feel more confident of my freedom to live as a Jewish Australian".

Even thinking it is quite anti-semitic, imo. Although having regard to the figures someone posted on here on another thread about the increase in anti-jewish attacks carried out by other religious minorities, I can see where you might be coming from. Although surely, it'd be vice versa?

He appears to be just spouting figures without putting it into any context or giving any meaning to it - typical politician speak. :rolleyes:

I don't see, from the online article, what the context is.

Was he just talking to this journalist?...not making a speech to some or other group?

When he says we have have improved the efficiency indicators and the way the council is managed, you just know he a lying git

Actually, we have to give credit where due, he's an excellent Chief Executive and IIRC has been headhunted on several occasions by bigger and more 'successful' cities ... certainly in comparison to some of the previous CEOs we've had here, he's bloody great :hihi:

You have to remember he's hampered by the millstone of the Labour hacks he has to deal with ...:rolleyes:

blue with pink spots

I don't mind them being born here, but I wouldn't want my daughter to marry one.


:D

what a dangerous statement to put out. equal rights statements is one thing but to put out a pro ethnic statment like that wouldnt score any points with the majority of this city.

In what way is it better if we are all equal ? is he infering that people of ethnic origin are better than me in some way as im a white english man ?

dont vote for the idiot, I never liked him anyhow before he wrote this crud.

Perhaps he means they won't automatically vote Labour and that's a good thing.:hihi:

By the way: it's reported speech, you really need to interview the bloke to find out both what he actually said and what he thought he meant: is the Star best known for it's impartial and perfectly accurate portrayals?:suspect:

Actually, we have to give credit where due, he's an excellent Chief Executive

This is true. He is an excellent CEO, which makes it all the stranger. :huh:

Even thinking it is quite anti-semitic, imo. Although having regard to the figures someone posted on here on another thread about the increase in anti-jewish attacks carried out by other religious minorities, I can see where you might be coming from. Although surely, it'd be vice versa?

That's an interesting point. With regard to Europe (including Britain) - though not North America - there's been an unfortunate irony that many immigrants have been Muslim and, because of tensions over the Israel-Palestine situation, Muslim youths have been behind a lot of the anti-semitic attacks.

dont vote for the idiot, I never liked him anyhow before he wrote this crud.

What are you talking about? The journalist wrote the crud, surely?

When do you propose we'll be voting for him? He's an employee of the City, not a politician ... unless you know something we don't?:suspect:

I don't see, from the online article, what the context is.

Was he just talking to this journalist?...not making a speech to some or other group?

I think he was giving an interview to Star journalist, Martin Smith.

:suspect: Maybe it's a provocateur ruse to sniff out 'racists' and 'anti-semites' on Sheffield Forum.:suspect: :o

We should have learnt by now: Nobody should ever take any notice of anything Sir Bob Kerslake ever says.

Why has he been pursuing American city strategies for the past seven years?
60sqm slap em up rabbit hutches and economic zones and clusters.

He doesn't know what Sheffield is or how it might be made better.

In Barcelona, the city centre is full of 3, 4 and five-bedroomed appartments occupied by families (often for generations). He probably doesn't even know this.

In Sheffield, his city-living strategy places families in the suburban fringes - not great for transport or other imminent issues.

He doesn't REALLY know if Sheffield should become like Stuttgart, Marseilles or Barcelona (He doesn't know that they're entirely different to each other). He REALLY doesn't know that Sheffield is a British city. He REALLY doesn't know it's culture.

Cities become successful (and trendy) because they offer good employment prospects and not the other way round - Sir Bob really doesn't know this.

Our civic leaders are fed vacuous soundbites that unfirl easily around their ankles - 'the emperor's new clothes' - We REALLY shouldn't ever listen to anything Sir Bob Kerslake ever says ever - and to think - after all this time...

In Sheffield, his city-living strategy places families in the suburban fringes - not great for transport or other imminent issues.


Cities become successful (and trendy) because they offer good employment prospects and not the other way round - Sir Bob really doesn't know this.



I think the trend for the better off families to move to the suburban fringes is common to all British cities and had started in Sheffield yonks prior to Bob Kerslake. People are choosing to live there, it isn't a council strategy forcing them to live there.

And regarding your second point, perhaps that's way the council has put a lot of emphasis in attracting new jobs to the city - and given the rise in employment it seems to be pretty succesful.

IMHO I think Kerslake is somewhat better qualified and succesful as CEO for SCC than the collective "knock / rubbish the council at every opportunity" lobby that appear on the forum.

As a non-native of Sheffield I'm not entirely sure who Bob Kerslake is (I'm aware he's CEO of the council...) or when he became part of the council. I have to say though that over the past few years I've noticed a massive change over the city, and when I first came the city centre itself was such a horrible place, and now it's a place I'm happy to recommend my friends come to visit - judging by what is still happening I'm pretty sure it's only going to get better - and this can only be a positive thing?

Maybe it's easier for an 'outsider' to see the number of positive things happening.. I dont know..

Im glad that Sir Bob has finally come out so we can put a face to who is responsible for our rapidly changing City. If i was responsible for the current face of Sheffield I wouldnt be advertising it.

As a Major European City with an Envious Past we have little to show for it. The transport system is expensive, chaotic, compilicated and over duplicated with unispiring road surfaces for goods, cars and bikes.
We have lost what any real City needs for the 22nd century, The Airport.
All major industry has been bought out by foreign investors to be stripped.
New companys setting up are looking for cheap labour out of the collapses.
Hundreds of office buildings being speculatively built with no one to move in.
City Centre buildings built with little thought of what Sheffield people need.
Temporary building investments that are left to rot within years.
Olympic standard Sporting facilities accessible only to the the most afluent.
A two faced environmental policy that is poorly heeded or enforced.
Immigration standards that cant be followed with skilled workers going abroad.
Safety and security so poor its a ministerial issue.
Housing maintenance that is being made a song and dance over that should be routine.

Wow, how crap has Sheffield become, cheers Bob.

Can someone explain to me how the council are responsible for everything that happens to the city - like private investment building office blocks, city centre apartments - private foreign capital taking over the steel industry??

Can someone explain to me how the council are responsible for everything that happens to the city - like private investment building office blocks, city centre apartments - private foreign capital taking over the steel industry??

Psychic Mind Waves ;)

Can someone explain to me how the council are responsible for everything that happens to the city - like private investment building office blocks, city centre apartments - private foreign capital taking over the steel industry??

It's annoying I agree, but you have to accept that some people just have no concept at all of how the world works ... and yet they're allowed to vote and even cross the road by themselves :help:

Hey Longcol - loads of people in Sheffield seem to be mid-range anaesthetised.

How much did it cost to bid for a super casino? What were the chances of success? (Really)? Who decided to bid?

Which city's primary schools came 340th out of 345 Local Authorities last month?

Which city relies upon the Public Sector for 30% of its employment?

Anyway, this list could go on and on, but I do agree with you: of course there are national and global 'trends'. What I really object to however is conmen who talk out of their hats.

There has been no real 'scenario planning' carried out in Sheffield under Sir Bob's tenure; everything's been driven by political expediency (Labour dinosaurs and Freemason cabal) and the need to consume the Objective 1 money. In terms of the future of the city a 'do nothing' option may have been preferable, but it just wasn't possible. Because of this we've ended up with a new city-centre that may not be sustainable in 20 years time - a terrible (catastrophic) wasted opportunity.

External agencies are not fooled by the ministrations of the Telegraph, Sheffield First, Common Purpose and Sir Bob. He's a complete opportunist - like the property developer (sparrow) who lives in the country and s*its in the city - he'll be off soon enough now. More and more people are begining to see through the blind.

Las Vegas or Barcelona? What a thrillingly uninformed debate. More psychic waves please - make mine a double!

Which city relies upon the Public Sector for 30% of its employment?

Anyway, this list could go on and on, but I do agree with you: of course there are national and global 'trends'. What I really object to however is conmen who talk out of their hats.

There has been no real 'scenario planning' carried out in Sheffield under Sir Bob's tenure; everything's been driven by political expediency (Labour dinosaurs and Freemason cabal) and the need to consume the Objective 1 money. In terms of the future of the city a 'do nothing' option may have been preferable, but it just wasn't possible. Because of this we've ended up with a new city-centre that may not be sustainable in 20 years time - a terrible (catastrophic) wasted opportunity.

External agencies are not fooled by the ministrations of the Telegraph, Sheffield First, Common Purpose and Sir Bob. He's a complete opportunist - like the property developer (sparrow) who lives in the country and s*its in the city - he'll be off soon enough now. More and more people are begining to see through the blind.

Las Vegas or Barcelona? What a thrillingly uninformed debate. More psychic waves please - make mine a double!


a) Please give some stats - I'd reckon many cities have large numbers of people employed by "the state" seeing as it's the largest employer nationally. Suppose you'd rather these people were unemployed?? (I'm not a "state" or council employee BTW).

b) Let's see your "scenario planning" - and who are the Freemasonary Cabal when they're at home?

c) Can any city centre give a cast iron guarantee it will be viable in 20 years time - would you have preferred a do nothing option?? If the private sector is prepared to take the plunge in investing in Sheffield then that's their outlook - I'd reckon they've done their research, market analysis etc - their risk if they don't deliver to their shareholders.

d) The partner agencies have brought investment and jobs to the city eg. Polestar, Braun, high tech spin offs from the universities - would you rather they didn't?

e) The casino was neither "nowt nor summat" - The council would have been damned if they hadn't bid for it and cost us pennies from our council tax. Chances of beating the other competitors pretty small and we were told officially that we'd been rather too sucessful in regenerating the city to get the casino.

To me the biggest conmen are those that pretend all would be suddenly rosier overnight - it takes a lot of hard graft to turn a city round given the decimation of industry / jobs this city went through.

Show us all your magic wand (or plan) to transform Sheffield - we'll listen.

I think his comment is absolutely shocking, it is effectively a rascist comment as it effectively means that this city will be far better off with fewer whites. If he said this about any of the ethnic minorities people would be baying for his blood.

I think his comment is absolutely shocking, it is effectively a rascist comment as it effectively means that this city will be far better off with fewer whites. If he said this about any of the ethnic minorities people would be baying for his blood.

Indeed, though it is an interesting insight into the mindset of our Labour rulers and their apparatchiks. 'Out of the mouths of babes and council chief executives' as they say.

I was slightly surprised that the proportion of black and minority ethnic births was already up to 30%. I'd guess that within the lifetime of someone born around 1990 the proportion of Sheffield's population which is white will decline from around 95% to 35%.

Perhaps Barcelona in return is envious of our cheap, clean, efficient, friendly bus service...

You call what we have a service lol :)

I'm sure you'd agree that I never suggested that things could be rosier overnight - although it is interesting to note that it was between twenty and thirty years ago that the city suffered catastrophic job losses (70,000 were lost between 1977 and 1987). 20 - 30 years is hardly overnight.

I'm certainly not going to tell you where the Tubular Cabal is located - Voldermort might find out that I'd told you and in any event, I'm sure that Arthur Dunworth, our next next Mayor, might be able to tell you (ho! ho!), why not ask him?

Your comments about shareholder value are wide of the mark. Remember that 60% of City Living appartments are currently unlet and there is no sign (or, in my view hope), of any market that could demand what is going to be supplied by developers over the next three years. Might it not be the case that developers/investors look for a balanced portfolio in order to take advantage of the taxation system; thus a firm with successful developments in say London, Edinburgh or Cardiff might look for a 'loss' elsewhere (Sheffield). They, therefore, develop their capital asset base whilst remaining tax neutral globally.

Strategic change can only be achieved if the pervading mindset can change. What worries me is that our civic leaders are pursuing tactics that obscure (possibly deliberately) that end. It is just not proven that a trendy city - green, safe and cultural - will necessarily attract good jobs. A good quality of life can only be created and sustained if good employment prospects already exist. They don't in Sheffield (our best years to-date (Sheffield Economic Activity Vs UK average) were 2002-2003 (at the height of Objective 1!) and we currently employ 5.8% less than the UK norm in the 'Knowledge Economy'. In light of this, it is my contention that we are building a cardboard city - a sham - and we all know what happens to cardboard! It rots in the rain and is bad for the environment.

We are 8% (!) below (!) the UK norm in terms of 15 year olds achieving 5 GCSEs (A-C) and our primary schools rank 340th out of 345 local authorities. The mindset just hasn't changed and all this mediocre city centre renewal stuff just deflects and diverts people and issues.

Your comments about sustainable city centre's : well, you'd be suprised what other cities are up to... they certainly aren't all rushing to build deep plan air con blocks like we are... cf Bristol, Hannover, Milton Keynes, Madrid etc

Anyway, I don't really think that there's any point in saying anymore to you. I haven't left my wand at Hogwarts and I do have a plan, but, I'm not going to share it with someone who deploys 'shoot to kill' as a strapline to their posts. More psychic mindwaves please - I think I need them - make mine a triple x

I'm sure you'd agree that I never suggested that things could be rosier overnight - although it is interesting to note that it was between twenty and thirty years ago that the city suffered catastrophic job losses (70,000 were lost between 1977 and 1987). 20 - 30 years is hardly overnight.

I'm certainly not going to tell you where the Tubular Cabal is located - Voldermort might find out that I'd told you and in any event, I'm sure that Arthur Dunworth, our next next Mayor, might be able to tell you (ho! ho!), why not ask him?

Your comments about shareholder value are wide of the mark. Remember that 60% of City Living appartments are currently unlet and there is no sign (or, in my view hope), of any market that could demand what is going to be supplied by developers over the next three years. Might it not be the case that developers/investors look for a balanced portfolio in order to take advantage of the taxation system; thus a firm with successful developments in say London, Edinburgh or Cardiff might look for a 'loss' elsewhere (Sheffield). They, therefore, develop their capital asset base whilst remaining tax neutral globally.

Strategic change can only be achieved if the pervading mindset can change. What worries me is that our civic leaders are pursuing tactics that obscure (possibly deliberately) that end. It is just not proven that a trendy city - green, safe and cultural - will necessarily attract good jobs. A good quality of life can only be created and sustained if good employment prospects already exist. They don't in Sheffield (our best years to-date (Sheffield Economic Activity Vs UK average) were 2002-2003 (at the height of Objective 1!) and we currently employ 5.8% less than the UK norm in the 'Knowledge Economy'. In light of this, it is my contention that we are building a cardboard city - a sham - and we all know what happens to cardboard! It rots in the rain and is bad for the environment.

We are 8% (!) below (!) the UK norm in terms of 15 year olds achieving 5 GCSEs (A-C) and our primary schools rank 340th out of 345 local authorities. The mindset just hasn't changed and all this mediocre city centre renewal stuff just deflects and diverts people and issues.

Your comments about sustainable city centre's : well, you'd be suprised what other cities are up to... they certainly aren't all rushing to build deep plan air con blocks like we are... cf Bristol, Hannover, Milton Keynes, Madrid etc

Anyway, I don't really think that there's any point in saying anymore to you. I haven't left my wand at Hogwarts and I do have a plan, but, I'm not going to share it with someone who deploys 'shoot to kill' as a strapline to their posts. More psychic mindwaves please - I think I need them - make mine a triple x

Somewhere among all that weight of verbiage there might be a coherent argument trying to get out- however when I see "Arthur Dunworth" and "Tubular Cabal" in the same paragraph I tend to have my doubts.

You still don't seem too keen on investment and jobs being brought into the city, but you do have "a plan", well if you'd like to share it with Sheffield denizens I'm more than happy to change my strapline if that makes you feel more comfortable - it wasn't aimed at you - anyone with a mere modicum of knowledge would recognise it as a line from "Star Trekking" by " The Firm".

It's life Jim, but not as we know it........................

BTW 30% of jobs in Manchester are in the "public sector"....I'll look for stats from other cities mentioned - pretty sure that Edinburgh and Cardiff will be higher given that they're "capital cities".

A MEMO sent to the House of Lords has prompted one of Sheffield's leading politicians to complain about his own council's chief executive.
Lib Dem Leader Coun Paul Scriven is furious over a memo about casinos that chief executive Sir Bob Kerslake sent to the House of Lords Merits of Statutory Instruments committee last month.

In it, Sir Bob said: “Sheffield Council strongly believes that one single regional casino pilot is insufficient to undertake an effective analysis of the impacts of regional casinos.”

But Coun Scriven says the council has never discussed how many casinos there should be and has no official policy on the issue.

He has now sent his own memo to the Lords which reads: “I wish to point out an inaccuracy within the evidence. This is not the policy of Sheffield Council and the council never, through its democratic political process, made a commitment on the number of casinos the Government wished to have as a pilot. Therefore any suggestion by the chief executive that this is Sheffield Council’s policy is factually inaccurate.”

http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2624781&SectionID=58

However it is the Council Policy to try to get a Regional Casino for Sheffield and in writing to the House of Lords Bob Kerslake is doing his best to achieve what the democratic decision of council called for, unlike the Lib Dem Leader Councillor Scriven

However it is the Council Policy to try to get a Regional Casino for Sheffield and in writing to the House of Lords Bob Kerslake is doing his best to achieve what the democratic decision of council called for, unlike the Lib Dem Leader Councillor Scriven

I think you will find we vote for councillors to make policy and it is for the staff employed by the council, to carry out that policy.

The council has a policy to ask for the ONE regional casino to come to Sheffield (we now know it is going to Manchester). The council has no policy for the number of regional casinos the Gov't should have in the UK.

Sir Bob is not there to make up policy on the hoof.So you are happy that staff make up the policy and councillors just sit by and don't make it clear thats what we elect them for.

It would be nice to know what jan Wilson thinks about this Is she happy that the senior officer of the council is now doing her job too?

It seemsd that The Star also agrees Sir Bob has over steped the mark

http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2628723&SectionID=4730

Don't always believe what the Star says do you? The fact is that Sheffield Council democratically decided that a Regional Casino in Sheffield would benefit the City and create jobs. It was Bob Kerslake's job to try to impliment that and not just sit back and allow Manchester get all the benefits without a fight. Well done Bob!

Don't always believe what the Star says do you? The fact is that Sheffield Council democratically decided that a Regional Casino in Sheffield would benefit the City and create jobs. It was Bob Kerslake's job to try to impliment that and not just sit back and allow Manchester get all the benefits without a fight. Well done Bob!
That's not the point though, is it?

The Chief Executive does not get to make up policy on the spot. It may be a fairly minor point this time, but it sets a dangerous precedent - one that has the capacity to fatally undermine our local democracy.

It also raises the question of whether there are any other areas of policy where the Chief Executive has been allowed a free rein!

In my opinion Councillors are increasingly being used to rubber-stamp policies without any real debate. At best these are dreamed up by the Chief Executive and the Executive Directors - at worst they come straight from Whitehall. (See the schools debate for a classic example of that.)

That's why it's important. We want our local democracy back!

I am afraid it is you who does not get the point. The Policy was set by the councillors ie go and get a Regional Casino for Sheffield. It is the Officers job to implimant that and that is exactly what Bob Kerslake is doing. Is it not the case that it is Councillor Scriven and the Lib Dems who are trying to thwart the democratic decision of the Council and stop Bob Kerslake doing the job he is paid to do?

Slightly off the point but the Council is elected by a minority anyway so does it matter what type of dictatorship is making or delivering policy? When only 34% turn out to vote and the majority of that 34% gets in then we just carry one as normal? Don't come back with the "other 66% can't be bothered" argument. I didn't vote not because I couldn't be bothered but because there was nobody I felt represented me. We need a (Bruster' s Millions) None of the Above box! At least Sir Bob is doing what he feels best for the City so you can't have a go really? That's what he's paid for

We won't allow this thread to become an electioneering bandwagon for any party... so I'm closing it.

Just found this forum although moved into the area a few months back. I'm told that when BK was Chief Executive at Hounslow he used to openly attend Labour Party meetings, despite being in a politically restircted post. Yes, he was New Labour too,

Sir bob is also on the board of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights CEHR.
http://www.cehr.org.uk/
This new body will take over the work of the present three commissions ...in October this year.
Racial, Disability and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Now I don't know if it is a paid post or not but I would like to understand how a person can give full comittment to two such demanding posts.

We gained a glimpse of some hard left views on the part of Sir Bob Kerslake when he told the Sheffield Star in February:

In the future the make-up of the city will change, the city will become more diverse. At the moment 12 per cent of the community is black or minority ethnic but 30 per cent of the births in Sheffield are black or minority ethnic and that will change the city for the better.

Another from the stable of 'non political' local authority chief executives is Sir Michael Lyons, former head of Wolverhampton, Nottinghamshire and Birmingham councils, who recently renounced his Labour party membership on being appointed head of the BBC Trust:

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,,2055863,00.html

[quote=///////////////////////////////////////////////

had to edit my previous post too many swearing .uncle bob did things the tories wanted to do but dare not ie privatising council services. I am sure this knighthood came from the tory party. When they get back in power there dirty work has been done for them already:huh:

Sir bob is also on the board of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights CEHR.
http://www.cehr.org.uk/
This new body will take over the work of the present three commissions ...in October this year.
Racial, Disability and the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Now I don't know if it is a paid post or not but I would like to understand how a person can give full comittment to two such demanding posts.

Its probably unpaid. People like BK are usually invited to be part of high level review panels & boards because of their knowledge, experience and intellect. IMO its good for Sheffield, anything that can attract investment in the city has got to be a plus. The guy probably works extremely hard, and/or is capable of huge amounts of work. People don't often get such high level jobs by working a 35 hour week.

uncle bob did things the tories wanted to do but dare not ie privatising council services. I am sure this knighthood came from the tory party. When they get back in power there dirty work has been done for them already:huh:

Sir Bob received his knighthood in 2004 - seven years after the Conservative government left office.

Whilst New Labour has done some traditional Labour things on the economic/redistribution side of things - such as the minimum wage and Working Families' Tax Credit - it is important to appreciate that New Labour is at the same time very business-friendly. It has, for example, pursued PFI projects and assisted the private equity sector. Gordon Brown has just appointed a former Director-General of the CBI as one of his ministers.

I am, in consequence, a little doubtful about your suggestion of Sir Bob being some sort of Tory agent. :)

IMO its good for Sheffield, anything that can attract investment in the city has got to be a plus.

Attracting investment would be one thing; attracting immigrants is another.

Attracting investment would be one thing; attracting immigrants is another.

Yes, you're right - they are two quite separate issues. As an immigrant to England myself I notice these things. ;)

is uncle bob giving you one:hihi:

No - whatever you are alluding to.

The points are though: that Kerslake is a New Labour apparatchik but Labour is nowadays on the side of the bosses rather than the workers.

Nothing personal, but once again these things make me sick.

He gets paid £140,000 per year to do a job.
I don't think that the organisation that he is in charge of is managed as efficiently as it could be and that costs me money.

I think he trousers about three quarters of a mil for doing his various jobs. Isn't he CEO or board member of the Fire and Rescue and Peak Rescue too? Maybe I'm mistaken.

I hear he also bites the heads off live puppies in bizarre freemasonry rituals, but that's probably a scurrilous rumour with no truth in it whatsoever.

The place is full of them.

I'm not a council fan and I have no doubt that Sir Bob has definite links with the Labour party as do all the other council senior executive council officers. That is why this city is and always will be Labour. The Star newspaper is also very Labour leaning to the point of falling over. We still in some respects, live in a South Yorkshire Socialist Republic with a kind of buddy organisation containing leading members of all the organisations running things. I don't think it is afreemason thing anymore, but something similar. Just take a look at the bunch of champagne socialists who run Sheffield One or whatever they call themselves this week.
In contrast, I would say that the Sir Bob is very likeable, decent and competent at what he does. Hence Knighthood. I also think he was an excellent figurehead and conducted himself very well during the recent floods.

Its probably unpaid. People like BK are usually invited to be part of high level review panels & boards because of their knowledge, experience and intellect. IMO its good for Sheffield, anything that can attract investment in the city has got to be a plus. The guy probably works extremely hard, and/or is capable of huge amounts of work. People don't often get such high level jobs by working a 35 hour week.

I still do not know about payments, but I need to correct my error...

Sir Bob is not on the Board of the new Commission for equality and human rights.
Bob he was an appointee on the review board along with Trevor Phillips which was created to ... well create the new commission. The new Commision is chaired by Trevor Phillips.

Sir Bob is however on this board..

http://www.opm.co.uk/ICGGPS/members.htm

The reason that the goverment wanted the new CEHR is summed up in the tag

'The Government is committed to creating a society where everyone can achieve their full potential free from prejudice and discrimination.'

Bob Kerslake
Chief Executive, Sheffield City Council (Town Clerk)

From: http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home-page

Knighthood for Chief Executive

Council Chief Executive Bob Kerslake has received a knighthood in the New Years Honours List. Sir Bob joined Sheffield in 1997, and has been a leading figure in Sheffield’s regeneration.


Reacting to the news, Sir Bob said: "I am thrilled and delighted at receiving this award. It has been a big year of success and achievement for Sheffield and the City Council and I believe this honour is in recognition of the progress we have made."

Spin or what?:suspect:

I worked for the councils IT Department when Black Bob came in. One of his first actions was to start outsourcing everything that wasn't screwed down. He came down to the IT Department to address us and I gave him such a hard time that he invited me to a private meeting with him. I took voluntary redundancy before I could take him up on his offer.

[QUOTE]We gained a glimpse of some hard left views on the part of Sir Bob Kerslake when he told the Sheffield Star in February:

"In the future the make-up of the city will change, the city will become more diverse. At the moment 12 per cent of the community is black or minority ethnic but 30 per cent of the births in Sheffield are black or minority ethnic and that will change the city for the better."


As one of untold thousands of non black/minority ex steelworkers who hopefully did their bit (along with many others)to keep Sheffield's once mighty industrial presence on the world's stage - remind me to apologise to Sir whotsit for making such an obvious B***'s up of it he things we need to change ( should I move out now?) :mad:

All to do with the achieving of govt targets (eg .75% increase in adoptions) etc by fair means or foul!

very true , or blackmail the merger of wisewood and myers

Is it just me who think he looks like Gerry Adams?

I am no fan of highly paid public sector workers but surely as with all public sector jobs at that level his is "politically restricted". In addition he has also been a member of Government Select Commitees etc which are there to influence and carry out policies and initiatives. My guess is the recognition is primarily for this.

surely as with all public sector jobs at that level his is "politically restricted"

In post 41 above I referred to Sir Michael Lyons. Lyons was a Labour councillor in Birmingham in the early 1980s. In his local authority officer career he subsequently became chief executive at Wolverhampton, Nottinghamshire and Birmingham councils. He resigned Labour party membership just prior to taking up the post of chairman of the BBC Trust in April this year. The Guardian article refers to Lyons as having "close links with the [then] Chancellor Gordon Brown".

I am no fan of highly paid public sector workers but surely as with all public sector jobs at that level his is "politically restricted". In addition he has also been a member of Government Select Commitees etc which are there to influence and carry out policies and initiatives. My guess is the recognition is primarily for this.
It used to be that all public servants, local and national, had to be apolitical, but that went out the door with Thatcher, and even more so with Blair.

Names please, not just the usual 'that lot'.

I thought naming & shaming was frowned upon on here.

Next thing, the moderators are encouraging it:o:D

....... My guess is the recognition is primarily for this.

He was asked to come to Sheffield to bring the financial failings of the city administration under control.

Perhaps, as this would not have been the most attractive of jobs, some carrots/incentives were dangled.

He was asked to come to Sheffield to bring the financial failings of the city administration under control.

Perhaps, as this would not have been the most attractive of jobs, some carrots/incentives were dangled.

Is the city financially stable now?
Why did Bertie Bassett not get a knighthood for services to the sweet industry. Probably had a greater influence on the city's economy too.

Intellect ... & Sir Bob are not two concepts which I automatically associate together

give me a p please bob now add the off lol

give me a p please bob now add the off lol

it appears I''m not alone :thumbsup:

Aren't we all meant to be emailing him to keep Jon Pullin and his fairground at Endcliff park,instead of evicting him and getting some coporate london company in to replace him.See thread.
http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=223852

What is his address?

bob@closedaschoolnowonholscheers.sheff.gov.uk

Just heard from an old journo friend of mine.
It is not official yey but apparently Sir Bob Kerslake has been offered a job working for Gordon Brown on the new national housing project.
Looks like he will be resigning from his position as Chief Exec of Sheffield council.

I'm sure that I read this in print somewhere ......


http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Kerslake-job-move-claim.3435152.jp

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3098499&c=2

I'm sure that I read this in print somewhere ......


http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Kerslake-job-move-claim.3435152.jp

http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3098499&c=2

Apologies I had not.
Looked on the forum but could not find a thread.
Looks like it is official now and will be in press over next few days.

give me a p please bob now add the off lol

Let's hope he takes the rest of scc with him.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/16/housingmarket.housing

Sheffield City Council's Chief Exec. is expected to be named the government's new house building "Tsar" this week, after 10 years in the job in Sheffield.

So how did he do? Has he made a positive difference to Sheffield or not?

If he is responsible for all the improvements to the city then yes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/16/housingmarket.housing

Sheffield City Council's Chief Exec. is expected to be named the government's new house building "Tsar" this week, after 10 years in the job in Sheffield.

So how did he do? Has he made a positive difference to Sheffield or not?

I cant think of any cities the size of Sheffield that havent picked up in the last 10 years, so i think he was lucky to be in charge at the right time.

If he is responsible for all the improvements to the city then yes.


If he had a say in the " New Woodseats Traffic System " then P45 Mate :mad:

House building Tsar. Don't you mean luxury apartment building Tsar.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/dec/16/housingmarket.housing

Sheffield City Council's Chief Exec. is expected to be named the government's new house building "Tsar" this week, after 10 years in the job in Sheffield.

So how did he do? Has he made a positive difference to Sheffield or not?

Sheffield's boom is more down to the economic conditions on top of £700 million of objective 1 money.
Bob Kerslake was mainly a friendly Jewish face (nothing wrong with that) brought into the perceived socialist city of Sheffield to provide a 'safe pair of hands' for the money that was to be invested in the city by the large amount of Jewish investors that wish to invest elsewhere than London.
Leeds has obviously been the main centre for investment as it has the largest Jewish population outside London.

As rumoured Sir Bob Kerslake is leaving Sheffield Council to take control of the national building programme.

Not Bad is it, to leave a job of around £130,00+.

There will be an annoucement in The Star today.

Mod note: Threads merged

Not Bad is it, to leave a job of around £130,00+.

£180,000 if you please!

http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Fury-at-175000-salary.3572020.jp

He has just announced he is leaving in March......surprise surprise. :rolleyes:

He's legging it before the **** hits. We must never forget what he's done to us:-
Manchester are passing no more City Living applications, our Primary Schools and GCSE results are bottom five of all UK local authorities, the local economy was propped up by Objective 1 (99-06) and is now failing, he drove the bid for a super-casino and declined to support a City of Culture application; strategically and tactically over-rated, let's consider what he's really done: Short-term window dressing that will make the longer term more difficult. An alleged cruel and brutal adventurer, thank-god, it may be over

Could you please post the information source to support you claim that the investment coming to Sheffield was from Jewish investors?

Thanks

stygian

I think Bob Kerslake being head of the new homes and communities agency will be a good thing for Yorkshire and Sheffield. The new agency will be a merger of English Partnerships (national regeneration agency) and Housing Corporation (who deliver affordable housing). The new Homes and Communities agency will have a remit for each of the English regions - having Bob Kerslake as their Chief Executive will hopefully mean Yorkshire (and Sheffield) will get a housing solution more tailored to the problems in this region. Historically, the north has received a watered-down version of solutions aimed at solving affordability and supply problems in the south east. Now, we might get more appropriate mechanisms to deal with affordability in places like Harrogate and west Sheffield delivered alongside urban regeneration and housing market renewal where housing markets are failing.

Lets be clear on this ,this man is simply another nu labour appointee who has no mandate from the electors of our city.
To be in charge of major issues with regard to our city, ie finance etc etc he ought to be accountable to the voters of our city and any other city he goes to.

Let's not forget Sir Bob's assertion earlier this year that the rising black and minority ethnic birth rate in Sheffield (now up to 30%) would "change the city for the better".

Is this an example of Jewish anti-white "racism" [to use leftist terminology]? No, I doubt if Sir Bob is a "racist." However, whether a covert strategy of ethnic cleansing of whites has been adopted by our political elite is more of a moot point.

Sithee, Sir Bob Kerslake.

Sir Bob marks farewell by branching out (http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news2/Sir-Bob-marks-farewell-by.3812828.jp)

Sir Bob's final approval page 1 (http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/Sir-Bob39s-final-approval.3899543.jp?articlepage=1) and page 2 (http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/Sir-Bob39s-final-approval.3899543.jp?articlepage=2).

And 'Nah Then' John Mothersole. I'm sure tha'll have thi own thread soon. :)

Lets be clear on this ,this man is simply another nu labour appointee who has no mandate from the electors of our city.
To be in charge of major issues with regard to our city, ie finance etc etc he ought to be accountable to the voters of our city and any other city he goes to.

Chief executives don't just appear - they are appointed. By whom? The council, who are accountable to the voters. So the chief exec is accountable, via the elected members, to the voters. Have you a suggestion for appointing the next one that would make him/her more accountable?

So the chief exec is accountable, via the elected members, to the voters. Have you a suggestion for appointing the next one that would make him/her more accountable?

Maybe it's time for the councillors to nominate their candidate before elections, then we can decide who we want to be in charge of important decision.