I recently heard it said that in a candidate-driven market, the organisation should be informed by pay but not entirely beholden to it. I know that this is easier said than done in the current market conditions. As I have said before, the combination of a war for talent in local government and private sector pay inflation, has created hiring conditions where the best candidates have choice for the first time in years.

And this is not just in the traditional local government hard-to-fill areas of social care, planning, legal, finance and highways. It's across the board, from entry level management roles to the chief executive. IR35 hasn't helped as senior interims re-enter the permanent workforce, nor has the significant increase in demand for candidates with the regeneration experience needed in every borough in the land to deliver the growth required of us from government.