Minutes:
The Chairman placed on record her personal congratulations to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Simon Henig, on being awarded the CBE in the Queens New Year’s Honours for political and public service.
Other notable recipients in County Durham included:
· Kenneth Ball, Station Manager at Consett Fire Station who was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to Fire and Rescue and the community in County Durham; and
· Councillor William (Billy) Hill, a Horden Parish Councillor who was awarded a British Empire Medal and had contributed a decade of services to the community and charity in Horden. Councillor Hill was a recipient of a Chairman’s Medal in 2008 and was also recognised in the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebration in 2012. East Durham Area Action Partnership had also previously recognised Billy for his outstanding voluntary efforts.
The Chairman informed the Council that George Garlick, Chief Executive would retire at the end of the month and this would be George’s last Council meeting. George was appointed Chief Executive in 2008 as the first Chief Executive for the new County Durham Unitary Council and led the reorganisation of local government in County Durham.
Councillors Henig, Stelling, Hopgood, R Bell, Shuttleworth and J Armstrong all thanked George for his service to the Council, particularly during local government reorganisation which had seen 8 council’s combine as 1, and then on the achievement of the Council of the Year Award in 2014.
George Garlick replied that it had been a pleasure and honour to serve in County Durham, which he considered to be a superb Council with skill, sensitivity and a social conscience.
Resolved
(i) That the Council place on record its congratulations to the recipients of a New Year’s Honour.
(ii) That the Council place on record its thanks to George Garlick, Chief Executive.