Bureau Recommends: Civil servant faces conflict of interest accusations
The revolving door of government and business: nice for some.
A senior civil servant in charge of the government’s controversial new planning policy has landed a lucrative job in the property industry, Building.co.uk reports.
Richard McCarthy, a director general at the Department for Communities and Local Government, is joining Capita Symonds which advises major developers on planning and construction.
His appointment as executive director has led to criticism about the close links between policy makers and the industry.
The new role, which he will take up in November, includes working on the firm’s public sector contracts.
Mr McCarthy joined the government department in October 2003. His departure comes at a time in which the Coalition face mounting political pressure over the contents of the draft planning policy framework.
He told the publication: ‘There is absolutely no connection between this and the timing of planning reform. When an opportunity comes you can’t wait for everything to finish before moving on.’
