In an innovative approach to recruitment, council staff at Hounslow London Borough Council will play a key role in the recruiting of a new chief executive, the Local Government Chronicle reports.

Staff are being asked for their views on what qualities they would like to see in their new leader.  The LGCwent on to say that staff also will be asked for their thoughts on: the critical challenges facing the new chief executive, the skills and qualities that staff believe the appointment panel should test for and what should be the successful candidate’s top priority, once in the role.

Councillor Phil Andrews was quoted in the LGC as saying, “We want to hear from all staff, whatever their level in our organisation, as we set out on a process of red-defining both the job and person specification for this pivotal role.

“We are making the commitment that all responses will be shared with the rest of the appointment panel, and will help to inform our deliberations as we begin this important recruitment exercise.”