Minutes:
The Head of Legal and Democratic Services referred to a question submitted by Councillor A Watson and advised that as the answer contained exempt material it had been moved to Part B of the agenda.
The Chairman announced that this was the last Council meeting for Rachael Shimmin, Corporate Director, Children and Adults Services, who would be leaving the Authority to take up her role as Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire County Council.
Councillor Henig, Leader of the Council thanked the Corporate Director on behalf of the Labour Group and all councillors for her contribution made to the Council over the last decade. He said that the Corporate Director had always given clear advice on a wide range of issues and said that she would face many new challenges in Buckinghamshire and wished her well for the future.
Councillor May, on behalf of the Durham Independent Group wished the Corporate Director well for her new appointment.
Councillor Hopgood, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group praised the Corporate Director for her service. She said that she had always been professional, highly skilled and was fair. She wished her all the luck in the world for her new appointment.
Councillor R Bell, Leader of the Conservative Group thanked the Corporate Director for her distinguished leadership through complex and difficult issues. He wished her well in her new role.
Councillor J Shuttleworth, Leader of the Durham County Council Independent Group wished the Corporate Director well and thanked her for always having an open door.
Councillor L Hovvels, Portfolio holder for Adult and Health Services gave the Corporate Director her personal thanks as they had worked very closely together on a number of difficult issues. She thanked her for improving the lives of residents with health and community safety challenges and for serving the Council well. She praised the Corporate Director for always being professional and said that she was very well respected with partners of the Council. She wished the Corporate Director and her family the very best of luck.
The Corporate Director of Children and Adults Services said that she had thoroughly enjoyed working for the Council with a huge number of challenging projects. She thanked the elected members, past and present. She said that things do sometimes go wrong and despite difficult choices having to be made, members and officers worked collectively. She had enjoyed working with all of the portfolio holders and thanked them for their support and advice. She wished the Council the very best of luck for the future.
The Chairman advised that there was an exempt item on the agenda and asked that council agreed to allow the person who had been the subject of the tribunal case central to the item to remain in the chamber whilst the report was presented. The council agreed.