Fears for staff morale over 'boots on neck' remark

Concerns have been raised over staff morale at Warwickshire County Council after the authority's leader described "boots on neck-type" methods to get things done.

Speaking to a politics podcast, Reform UK's George Finch referred to issues with Warwickshire being an "officer-led council", and implied some employees were reluctant to act on wishes of the elected leadership.

Citing the "neck" comment, Green councillor Keith Kondakor told a scrutiny committee meeting he feared "where we are going" under the Reform UK-led administration.

However, the party's Mike Bannister, the council's portfolio holder for customer, said he saw "no difficulty", and staff faced a "good environment".

Finch spoke to Matt Forde's Political Party podcast in January.

He told Forde, a comedian and former local government worker, that he would always listen to the opinion of officers, "but whether that opinion holds up is a different worry".

Forde suggested he was "sure" the leader used "persuasion as well".

He also stated officers often provided "an important check and balance on politicians".

"Exactly that," replied Finch, reiterating the council had "some really good officers".

But he added "there are some officers who don't think [Reform UK] should be in power and that we are terrible people".

He stated "you have to go into a room and persuade [people]... first".

He said he might encounter "all this bureaucratic nonsense, the papers... all these suggestions".

But he told the podcast "that's where you have to... lay down a little bit of a boot on neck-type thing [to say] 'actually, thanks for your advice, but I am now instructing you to go off and do what I say'."

At the Resources, Fire and Rescue Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, Kondakor referred to "a really good vibe" among staff under the previous Conservative administration.

But he wondered whether that was still the case, asking: "Is there any early indication as to how people are considering us as an organisation?

"Particularly with the change in leadership and some of the unfortunate comments about boots on necks and things from the leader."

Bannister said people were working "in a good environment for a good employer".

He added: "People trying to bring in issues like boots on neck all the time, reiterating that, doesn't help anyone."

Council head of workforce planning and development Kate Sullivan stated a workforce survey was running until late March.

She noted performance data measuring sickness absence and retention rates, which could be "key to how people are generally feeling", was trending positively.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.