Agenda item

M.J. Boleat

K.E.Ayers, M.B.E., Deputy

Resolved – That on the occasion of his retirement, the Members of this Court are delighted to have this opportunity to express to:

Chris Duffield

their thanks for the service that he has given to this Court, to the City Corporation and to the City.

Chris’s leadership has been exemplified in a great many  ways over the nine years that he has served as Town Clerk and Chief Executive,  whether that be with issues of ensuring the City’s resilience in the face of the on-going terrorist threat, making arrangements to keep things moving during harsh winters or ensuring the streets are returned to the community as a whole, or whether it is helping this Court to improve its resilience to the uncertain financial landscape through looking at how services can be delivered, not only to make economies but also to enable funds to be redirected to enable new initiatives to be pursued.

Chris has also been able to assist the Members of this Court with a review of its governance structure. We recognise that such changes which are, inherently, of a political nature, are difficult ones for any of the Court’s officers to be involved in, but the Court wishes to place on record its appreciation of the support and counsel that he gave to Members throughout the process. That counsel has also been available across a range of other issues, to this Court, to its Committees and to individual Members and we thank him for it.

We are also most appreciative of the way in which Chris has conducted our meetings on behalf of you, Lord Mayor; steering us through the procedural issues and lightening the formalities on many an occasion.

In taking their leave of Chris, the Members thank him for all that he has done and wish both he and Tricia a very long, happy and active retirement.

The Town Clerk and Chief Executive was heard in reply.

M.J. Boleat

K.E.Ayers, M.B.E., Deputy

Resolved – That the foregoing Resolution be suitably presented to Mr Duffield in the usual way.