Minutes:
The Chairman referred to the recent illness of Councillor Colin Carr and informed the Council that Councillor Carr was recuperating well. The Chairman invited Council to join him in wishing Councillor Carr a speedy recovery.
The Chairman was pleased to inform Council that Councillor Heather Smith had last week completed her 34km swim, the equivalent of swimming the Channel. She did this in order to raise funds for the Chairman’s Charities and the Chairman congratulated Councillor Smith on her achievement and thanked her for raising money for the Chairman’s charities.
The Chairman informed Council that Colette Longbottom, Head of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer was to retire shortly, and this was her last Council meeting before retirement. Colette started her working life in private practice and worked for Leeds City Council before coming to Durham County Council in 2005 as Assistant Head of Legal Services. She took up her present post during local government re-organisation as Head of Legal and Democratic Services. The Chairman thanked Colette for her advice over the years and wished her well for her retirement.
Councillor Henig, Leader of the Council, thanked the Head of Legal and Democratic Services for her work for the Council, both pre and post LGR, which she had carried out in a good humoured, clear and impartial manner. Councillors May, Hopgood, and R Bell all thanked the Head of Legal and Democratic Services for her service to the Council and praised her even-handed approach to all Members.
The Chairman informed Council that this was the last council meeting before Council elections in May and took the opportunity to thank those not standing for re-election for their services to local government and offered his best wishes for the future.