Announcements of the Leader of the Council.
Minutes:
Councillor Steve Flitter, Leader of the Council, gave the following announcements:
“I must give my apologies to Members as I listened to your view on the length of meetings and took the view that Leaders Announcements should only be used when necessary and not as an excuse to waffle on. However, I feel tonight that I must recognise two officers of outstanding service and commitment.
Tim, our Director of Regulatory Services, is retiring at the end of next month after 36 years. He hails from Somerset and, after graduating, apart from one year’s work experience with Sedgemoor District Council, has spent his entire working career here at Derbyshire Dales, and we are extremely grateful for that. He started out as an Environment Health Officer for the central area, was appointed Manager and, from 2014, has led teams responsible not only for Environmental Health but also Licensing, Development Management, Building Control, Emergency Planning and, in more recent times, Estates and Climate Change.
You may not also be aware that Tim played rhythm guitar in the staff band – DD/Dc – and managed and captained the staff cricket team. Indeed, he is proud to still be playing cricket to be a decent level at the age of 60, bamboozling the opposition with his leg spin and googlies! He tells us he is now looking forward to exploring the Derbyshire Dales as a member of the public without any regulatory responsibilities and is also planning to travel the rest of the UK and beyond. I would add only that Tim is a good bloke with vast knowledge, respected and well-liked by all, and we will miss him.
Eileen Tierney is also retiring after 36 years with us. She joined us as an Admin Assistant / Committee Clerk at the end of 1987 having worked up the road in the County Council’s Library Service for the previous 10 years. I recall her back then when I was a member of the old Recreation and Environmental Health Committee, and she tells me she struggled to see the Councillors across the room in those days due to the thick fog of cigarette smoke in the room!
Eileen was promoted to Administration Officer in the Community Services Department and, in 2001, the transfer of alcohol licensing from the Magistrates’ Court to the District Council resulted in the creation of a specialist Licensing Team, which she has managed ever since, with, it has to be said, many more rules and regulations to implement and enforce in recent times.
She too is looking forward to travelling the world to watch cricket and fulfil bucket list dreams. We will miss you too Eileen and wish both you and Tim all the very best for the future in well-deserved retirement.
While on the subject of long, distinguished service, can I also add my thanks to Karen Henriksen for which tonight would not be possible. Not retiring yet (we hope) is Karen Henriksen, our Director of Resources, who this week marks 35 years with Derbyshire Dales District Council.
She Started with us as a Senior Accountant way back in February 1989, became our Chief Account within six months and was promoted to Accountancy and Exchequer Manager in October 2000. Ten years ago she was promoted again to Head of Resources, becoming Director of that service area in April 2020. Thank you, Karen, for all your sterling work throughout those many years. We will of course be seeing some more of it in our debates this evening.
I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome to this Council the two successful candidates at last week’s by-elections in Norbury and Bakewell. Sue Bull has of course previously held high officer with the Council and we look forward to benefiting from her contribution to debate in the coming years. Bob Butcher is a newcomer and is equally welcome, especially as he adds to the number of the Progressive Alliance Councillors on this authority.
As Leader I feel that I must stand and respond to the continued unacceptable behaviour of what has been termed “bullying” by our MP aimed at our excellent officers highlights the worst of political influences towards this Council in an outrageous manner that calls for the resignation of our Chief Officers.
This continued offensive aimed at the previous leadership has escalated towards our officers that were already under pressure from that leadership, this can only be seen as a political attack with the forthcoming elections in mind. In fact, at our last meeting in public question time our officers were named which was shameful and insulting, I wonder if those taking this action have a shred of decency.
Let me make it clear, every member of staff has a right to feel safe and able to go about their everyday lives in both their personal and professional capacity without being named and shamed in this Council Chamber.
It is worth noting that the Liberal Democrats, Labour, Green and Non-aligned Progressive Alliance were committed at the very start of this administration to be more open and transparent that the previous leadership or controlling party.
When this Hasker Farm complaint was first raised, I requested an internal review involving all Leaders. That review found no factual evidence of wrongdoing. We then had an independent review by East Midlands Council, and none of the 10 cited issues were fully supported but found that some improvements in governance that should be followed to improve and tighten procedure, but hindsight is a wonderful thing and who has never made an error of judgement in their life. Can you imagine, a different politician or Prime Minister every few weeks because they made a decision that according to the assumptions of others without factual evidence.
In relation to the last communication from our present MP, stressing present, of which I do not accept the ramblings in the preamble. As to questions 1,2 and 3 refer to lying or misleading, the report from East Midlands Council clearly does no support that view but the questions have now been turned around to personally attack our CEO. Questions 4, 5, 6 and 7 can only be seen in widening the net to escalate this attack on even more officers and the Derbyshire Dales District Council. Question 8 talks about discipline. Discipline is what we learnt as kids, also respect and this action shows none. Grown-ups seek to learn and that is what we shall focus upon.
The lack of record keeping has been noted and is being addressed by this Council, but could you imagine walking down a corridor and saying, “by the way have you heard” and then having to write a report after being stood at the coffee machine.
So, in closing Chair, I must send a strong message to those who seek retribution, to those who seek political gain, we nor the officer will be steered away from completing the tasks before us, we have a duty of care towards our staff and we shall resist false and unsubstantiated claims against us. To our Chief Officers and all staff working at Derbyshire Dales District Council, the progressive Alliance of Liberal Democrats, Labour, Green and non-aligned Councillors are resolute and completely oppose unsubstantiated claims against this Council and the new administration will continue to work alongside you, encourage you, listen and learn together and continue to build for the future supporting our highly valued workforce.”
18:18pm – Councillor Archer entered the meeting.