Bradley Bytes – a sort of political column with Dara Bradley

Cheer is in short supply at City Hall as we edge towards Christmas. With the vacant Chief Executive position not yet permanently filled, senior Galway City Council staff are jockeying for position . . . or jumping ship.

Through the grapevine, we hear that two senior people have signalled they are leaving the Council, including one in Transport who is heading to the local authority in Roscommon.

Staff turnover comes with the territory, as engineers and directors with ambition move around local government jobs to improve their prospects and for promotion. But still, morale remains low on College Road – not least because of the impending move from it.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Alan Cheevers (pictured) told us there was a “massive pushback from staff” against the planned move of Council HQ to Crown Square in Mervue, which will cost the public purse €56.6m.

“In meetings, the Council are saying one thing, but the reality is, staff are not happy with the move. They’re asking why there wasn’t consultation with staff before they bought the building,” he said.

“Staff don’t want to move from a prime city centre location. That’s the feedback I’m getting. They’re consulting now with staff, but there was no consultation before they bought it.

“A senior person from the City Council had a go at me one day in Park House because I’d voted for it. A lot of them don’t want to budge,” revealed Cllr Cheevers. The Christmas party should be fun!