Vying for the top job

There is never a dull moment for the chattering classes in local government - always the latest bit of gossip on who is doing what and why.
For the moment, there are two questions on their lips: Who will be then next chairman of the LGA; and who will get the association's chief exec post.
The two are, of course, inextricably linked. David Parson's manifesto already outlines his preference for a Richard Branson-style chief - although one suspects Eric Pickles would have heart failure of the association had to pay the Virgin boss's salary.
Now David Shakespeare has been ousted as leader of Buckinghamshire, it seems unlikely he will be running for the chairmanship - but for the moment his plans remain unclear.
The expected race is between Leicestershire CC leader David Parsons and Kensington and Chelsea LBC leader Merrick Cockell.
Cllr Parsons' manifesto would be a sure fire winner if one were pitching to Pickes or the Daily Mail. But how will it play out with council leaders?
Cllr Cockell, on the other hand, has yet to reveal the details of his campaign. His biggest challeng is that he is from a London authority.
Sir Simon Milton took the chairmanship from from his Westminster City Council position, so the anti-London vote is not an impossible object. But perhaps the next question would be, if Cllr Cockell wins the job, would that rule out a London-based candidate as chief executive?

Who helps the councils outside the local government family?

I have a secret weakness - I've always been a big fan of the underdog.
Right now, it has got to be Doncaster MBC. But from Hackney to Hull, I have had a soft spot for them all.
It's not, as you may suspect, the continuing saga providing endless news stories that is the appeal. Instead, its watching a basket case authority turning itself around to become a fully functioning, high quality council.
In short, I'm a sucker for a happy ending.
Back in the early days of the Comprehensive Performance Assessments, spotting the failing authorities was an easy task, Cast your eye down to the end of the list and there, languishing at the bottom, was the next target for improvement.
Since communities secretary Eric Pickles announced his plans to scrap the Audit Commission, life has become far more complex. Who will spot the failures of tomorrow? Who wll be at hand to turn them around?
The Local Government Association has taken a lead role on this. A solution by the sector, for the sector.
But with the recent news that Doncaster has withdrawn from the LGA, it begs the question: How does the association work with councils which refuse to pay their dues?
It's all too late for Doncaster, whi9ch has gone past sector-led improvement and is now in Government intervention. But the situation raises many questions which no one seems to have the answer to.
And in the meantime, we must all wait and see if Doncaster can pull itself out of the mire.