Hillingdon needs to retain good officers

2.19.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 6th Oct 2007

I have a list at work dated 2006 detailing officers in Hillingdon I might contact for help. Since then a swathe of senior officers have gone, either sacked, moved on or retired.

The loss of so much experience does not bode well for the future stewardship of Council business. One senior Conservative publicly welcomed some of these losses as the ditching of "Deadwood".

An organisation's greatest asset is its people and this is just as true for Hillingdon Council. I was reminded of this when I attended a meeting in Ruislip about a local park.

A young officer had organised a survey, analysed the results, arranged a meeting, drafted support from Councillors, Police and other officers. She then stood in front of a sceptical audience with hostile questions, treated them firmly but with respect and achieved a positive step forward for improving our park. That work took drive, energy, persistence, patience and it took guts.

We still have some excellent officers in Hillingdon. We need to keep them.

One departure however was greeted with universal shock. After 38 years David Brough has retired. It is difficult to imagine Hillingdon Council without him. In all his years here he defended our democracy, improved resident's rights, fought injustices and stuck up for the rights of individuals and the disadvantaged.

David Brough was not just been a trusted officer, he was a tower of strength to many and the source of sound advice which will be greatly missed. It is a tribute to him that he will shortly be made a Freeman of the borough.