From the poem, The Executive, by Sir John Betjeman

… I do some mild developing. The sort of place I need
Is a quiet country market town that’s rather run to seed
A luncheon and a drink or two, a little savoir faire,
I fix the Planning Officer, the Town Clerk and the Mayor.

And if some Preservationist attempts to interfere
A ‘dangerous structure’ notice from the Borough Engineer
Will settle any buildings that are standing in our way –
The modern style, sir, with respect, has really come to stay.

Sir John Betjeman

Click to access sir_john_betjeman_2004_9.pdf

Though, when he read it out aloud in 1975, as seen on this You Tube clip, the last line of the first quoted verse is “I nobble half the council, the banks, town clerk and Mayor” …!