How to Run a City - Episode 2

Series in which Shari Vahl meets some of the past, present and future stars of English local authorities who are bidding to blow the cliches and stereotypes out of the water. Shari meets two dynamic, innovative chief executives who explode the stereotypical image of a local authority boss - Katherine Kerswell in Northamptonshire, and Sean Harriss in Bolton, who became a chief executive at 38. With access to the inner workings at the top of both authorities, Shari explores how Harriss and Kerswell are each bringing business methods, and people, into their authorities to help drive up performance. Shari watches Harriss joust with leading Bolton councillors and map out tactics for handling senior staff undergoing a pay review. In Northamptonshire she asks Kerswell why, when she was so upset by her staff's lack of pride in their work, she tackled it by inviting them to 'taste the strawberry' via an online video. But, Shari asks, are they paid too much, do they have too much power, and how well do their new methods work?