Jimmy Huddersfield and I were discussing the Library Service post-Mary. We've both been sure that T.Aldous wouldn't be staying long after Mary retired: they've worked hand-in-glove for far too long for your man to be comfortable flying solo. Mary's working part-time for the past few months has changed the dynamic somewhat, with Julia coming to the fore as the generally-preferred partner-in-muddle, but we still think that T.Aldous won't be running the show this time next year. Added to that, the gossip in the Pay & Pensions Department is that he won't be hanging round after the end of the financial year. Mind you, according to the gossip in Pay & Pensions there won't be anyone over the age of twenty working for the council after Easter.
So what would happen post-T.Aldous? I'm not sure that he'd be replaced: after all, Warner's the head of service and he's got a whole Policy Team to run the show for him. And besides, we're massively over spent on the staffing budget (how??? we're constantly scratching for cover for all our libraries to keep the doors open...) and the council's boracic with only enough money to pay consultancy fees and councillors' expenses. Of course, all this would mean that some of Policy Team would have to up their game quite a bit. T.Aldous, for all his many faults, has much to commend him. He works damned hard, just too often not very effectively as he's hopeless at picking and choosing his battles and gets a tad obsessive about irrelevancies.
And the obvious question arises: how would some folk cope without having T.Aldous around to blame for not getting things done? We live in a time of Chinese proverbs...
8 comments:
I'm sure you should resist the temptation to step into the breach. Remember your place in the hierarchy. You have no wish to be discovered where the bridegroom should have been.
What is it with councils and consultancy fees? They seem unable to spit without spending thousands to see where the wind is blowing - when all they need do is stick a wet finger in the air.
Ah, Chinese proverbs indeed, poor T.Aldous. Every dictator needs a stooge on which things can be blamed: Ceausescu surely married his darling Elena for precisely that reason.
Less satisfying blaming the policy team rather than T Aldous personally I suppose, but maybe more accurate?
Pat is right, councils and the NHS seem to spend inordinate amounts on consultants, have they never heard of common sense... oh wait a minute sorry that would be a no!
Madame: luckily, I am officially Beyond The Pale. CILIP will confirm this!
Pat: I know. If I had the courage of my convictions I'd be a consultant, the ones I've seen in action this past year have had money for old rope.
Gadjo: Ceausescu would have done better working as an English councillor. They're only occasionally shot at.
Macy: you're getting too good at this!
St Jude: (-:
Ouch! Ouch! OUCH!!!
You are saying things which are not just close to the knuckle but well into it.
Of course, it takes someone like you with perception, maturity and wisdom to see all this.
And no career prosepects...
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