Council chief's words upset staff

Brighton and Hove Council assistant environment director Sheila Holden said she found it difficult dealing with staff who let her down or betrayed her trust.

And she claimed local government no longer attracted the same high flyers as when she began her career.

Liberal Democrat group leader Paul Elgood said the authority's chief executive should investigate how the comments came to be made.

He said: "The comments are entirely inappropriate for a senior council officer. I will be asking the chief executive to look into this and exactly how this article was authorised."

Union officials wrote to Mrs Holden asking for an explanation as soon as the remarks appeared in Surveyor magazine.

Asked the most difficult part of her job, she said: "It is probably dealing with difficult people in the office, especially when they let you down or betray a trust."

On how local government had changed, she said: "Unfortunately, many years of knocking public service has now affected the quality of the people who find local government an attractive place to work."

She quickly offered staff a written apology, saying she did not mean to upset anyone. Unions have accepted the apology.

Mrs Holden is one of the council's most senior officers, responsible for planning and transport.

Tory group leader Brian Oxley said he was pleased she had apologised.

He added: "Sheila has obviously apologised for the remarks, which may well have been taken out of context anyway."

Green group convener Keith Taylor said: "I am disappointed to see an apparent lack of judgement in such a senior officer."

A city council spokesman said Mrs Holden would not commenting.

He added: "Sheila has apologised to union representatives for any offence she caused and they have accepted her apology.

"As far as Sheila and the union are concerned the matter is now closed."

The council spokesman said disciplinary action over Mrs Holden's comments was unlikely.