Barry Quirk CBE

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Return on investment is the real issue

2 weeks ago | themj.co.uk | Julie Towers |Barry Quirk CBE |Simon T Kaye |Martin Ford

PAY Return on investment is the real issue If chief executives’ impact in local government is measured using clear metrics then perhaps the TaxPayers’ Alliance would pipe down, says Julie Towers. By Julie Towers | 08 April 2025 SHARE (c) LALAKA / Shutterstock.com. It was good to see leaders defending six figure salaries in local government in the recent article in The MJ; but I was disappointed that it was still even an issue.
Inside the Local Authority of the Year

Aug 13, 2024 | themj.co.uk | Martin Ford |Heather Jameson |Barry Quirk CBE |Emily Twinch

PODCASTS Inside the Local Authority of the Year Back in June, Knowsley Council was named 'Local Authority of the Year' award at The MJ Awards. In this episode of podcast Our World is Local hosts Nick Kilby and Heather James speak to Knowsley chief Mike Harden. SHARE Back in June, Knowsley Council was named 'Local Authority of the Year' award at The MJ Awards. In this episode of podcast Our World is Local hosts Nick Kilby and Heather James speak to Knowsley chief Mike Harden.
Learning the lessons from Covid

Jul 22, 2024 | themj.co.uk | Ed Turner |Davide Vampa |Joanna Killian |Barry Quirk CBE

All in public service remember the bleak period of the Covid pandemic. It is welcome that Baroness Hallett, in her first interim report last week, points to the ‘dedication of health and social care workers and civil and public servants' without whom outcomes would have been even worse, and also pays tribute to ‘local authority workers and volunteers'.
Worry less about black swans, focus on grey rhinos

Jul 19, 2024 | themj.co.uk | Barry Quirk CBE

COVID Worry less about black swans, focus on grey rhinos The studied critique of the Covid-19 Inquiry should encourage policymakers to pay more attention to other known but poorly managed risks, says Barry Quirk By Barry Quirk CBE | 19 July 2024 SHARE How do you develop a societal plan for a novel, highly transmissible and virulent virus of the magnitude that the world experienced in the Covid-19 pandemic?
The latest articles written by Barry Quirk CBE - Page 1

Jul 19, 2024 | themj.co.uk | Barry Quirk CBE

Articles by Barry Quirk CBE COVID Worry less about black swans, focus on grey rhinos By Barry Quirk CBE | 19 July 2024 The studied critique of the Covid-19 Inquiry should encourage policymakers to pay more attention ... FINANCE Knowing how to surf a big new wave By Barry Quirk CBE | 18 June 2024 Council leadership needs to prepare for a new government by being radically honest about its capa...
Knowing how to surf a big new wave

Jun 18, 2024 | themj.co.uk | Barry Quirk CBE

By Barry Quirk CBE | 18 June 2024 1997 was the 18th year of a Conservative government and, despite their polling advantage, the expectations of a Labour landslide were strangely muted. That was because five years earlier John Major had been unexpectedly re-elected – for 1992 was the year when all the opinion polls got it wrong. Nine days before the election, an opinion poll was conducted by Mori. It was reported in The Times on 1 April that Labour was on 43% and the Conservatives on 35%.
Lifelong learning for chief executives

Oct 18, 2023 | themj.co.uk | Barry Quirk CBE

Being appointed to a chief executive job is a real personal accomplishment. Doing the job is exhilarating. It is a fantastic privilege to get the chance to help a democratically elected council design and deliver services and investments, and realise its ambitions for its local area as well as for the communities it serves.
Lifelong learning for chief executives

Oct 18, 2023 | themj.co.uk | Barry Quirk CBE

Being appointed to a chief executive job is a real personal accomplishment. Doing the job is exhilarating. It is a fantastic privilege to get the chance to help a democratically elected council design and deliver services and investments, and realise its ambitions for its local area as well as for the communities it serves.
The problem with Best Value

Sep 18, 2023 | themj.co.uk | Barry Quirk CBE

It’s a funny phrase – Best Value. What does it mean? In the language of everyday consumerism it implies the best balance between quality and price. But in the public sector, the short answer is that it means whatever the Government says it means. It does, however, sit a little odd against the concepts of public value and social value. In 2019, the HM Treasury published The Public Value Framework.
An advocate for localism

Apr 18, 2023 | themj.co.uk | Barry Quirk CBE

By Barry Quirk CBE | 18 April 2023 We can all point to a small number of teachers and educators who have had an enduring impact on our thinking and our lives. Sometimes it is because we may have read an amazing text that they wrote, seen an astonishing play that they authored, or simply experienced in awe the beauty of an artistic piece of music or art that they themselves produced. Other times, it’s because we got to meet them.