Has something been put into councillors' water coolers?  I only mention it because of the growing trend among elected members to ask, whenever a chief executive leaves, whether they actually need to be replaced.

Opposition councillors at Wokingham BC, a unitary, are asking now that Susan Laws is going whether she needs to be replaced ‘to save money.' Trafford MBC is currently reviewing the chief's role following the departure of Janet Callender on health grounds and will not recruit until at least next year.