Whatever local government's claim to be open-minded in its recruitment processes the stark fact remains that the number of council chief executives from a black and minority ethnic background can be counted on one hand and the numbers are worse than 20 years ago. Is this due to covert racism, a problem with the pipeline of talent or a lack of interest by black and minority ethnic (BAME) candidates in working at the top in the public sector?

A group of council chiefs and directors discussed the reasons as part of a wider round table debate held recently at the offices of recruitment firm Green Park on diversity, covering ethnicity, gender and disability.