Minutes:
1) Retirement of Jane Pollard, Legal Service Manager
Councillor Alan Cockburn (Chair of Council) announced the forthcoming retirement of Jane Pollard. He read out the following statement.
“Jane Pollard, Legal Service Manager, who many of you will know from her many years of committed service to the Council in roles within Legal and Scrutiny is retiring at the end of March.
Jane has been with the Council for 39 years and 3 months. Jane trained as a solicitor with the Council and went on to hold many roles including as a solicitor, managing the scrutiny function and as Legal Service Manager for the Corporate and Commercial Legal teams. Jane has practiced in many areas of law, as diverse as prosecutions, governance and child safeguarding.
When she started at the Council, women were not permitted to wear trousers, textbooks on practicing law still sounded surprised that women had joined the profession, and the legal team would have tea and biscuits at 3pm in the County Solicitor’s office, with the fire lit on a cold day.
The Council and the legal profession have changed significantly during this time, but Jane has remained a constant. Jane is a force of nature who knows more about the workings of local government and the legislation that underpins it than the authors of Cross on Local Government Law and the Encyclopaedia of Local Government Law combined. She also has a razor-sharp commercial acumen and an ability to cut through the weeds to find the real issues. She has given the benefit of her wisdom and training to many colleagues during her time with the Council and has ensured that we have an excellent group in place to pick up where she leaves off.
She will be a tremendous loss to the Council but whilst we will miss her reatly; we wish her a long and very happy retirement”.
Members joined to wish Jane Pollard a happy retirement.
Councillor Izzi Seccombe (Leader of the Council) stated that when Jane made a decision or offered advice you knew that it was sound. She was thanked for her help and guidance over the years (and for her Victoria sponge cakes).
Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) thanked Jane for her support over the years and for her guidance when she thought the constitution was not being adhered to. She had been a great asset to the council and to the people of Warwickshire.
Councillor Dave Parsons (Deputy Leader of the Labour Group) echoed the previous comments adding that when Jane provided advice it was given in a way that was clear and concise. She also displayed a great sense of humour.
Councillor Judy Falp stated that she had known Jane for many years. They had shared many experiences and she would be missed by the County Council and the district and borough councils.
2. Retiring County Councillors
Councillor Alan Cockburn noted that a number of serving councillors will not be standing in the May 2021 local elections. He invited any retiring members to say a few words.
Councillor Colin Hayfield stated that he had served 20 years on the council with 16 years on Cabinet. When he joined the county having served on a borough council it was like moving from junior to secondary school. The council provided a kind and friendly political arena and is staffed by kind and professional officers. He had undertaken various roles but as an archaeologist and historian he was happiest when he held the portfolio for museums and records. He stated that he will miss the camaraderie of the council but will not miss the traffic getting to Shire Hall. The new council, he concluded, will have many post-Covid challenges to face especially in the world of education.
Councillor Les Caborn had become involved in local politics in 1980. He moved to Warwickshire in 1986 and had served on Warwick District Council for 24 years. He had always tried to make a difference especially in rural areas. Now was the time to step aside and spend more time with his wife.
Councillor Alan Webb joined Rugby Borough Council in 1984. During his time there he served as Mayor and Leader of the Council. He was elected, along with his wife Mary, to Warwickshire County Council in 2013. His time in politics had been marked by the loss of some good friends. He closed by stating that unitarisation would place a greater burden on fewer shoulders.
Having been a County Councillor for 20 years Councillor Dave Shilton expressed his disappointment at not being selected to stand in the 2021 election. He had worked hard for Kenilworth and served on many committees with a view to making a difference to people’s lives. He thanked officers with whom he had worked.
Councillor Mark Cargill thanked officers for their support during his term of office. He recognised that it is important o work in the interest of residents. The County Council is well run and professional. He would continue to serve the district and town councils in his area but felt that he wished to spend more time with his family.
Councillor Mike Brain joined the parish council in Long Marston in 2001. In 2002 he was asked to stand on Stratford District Council and did so for 19 years. He joined the County Council in 2013. Officers were thanked for their support to him. Also thanked was Councillor Wallace Redford who has always been there to help him. Finally, Councillor Brain remembered Councillor Bill Olner who was a “true gentleman”.
Councillor Alan Cockburn had served on the County Council for 20 years. In that time, he had been on a range of bodies including Cabinet. He considered that the County Council is well run and thanks to a degree of prudence, well financed.
Councillor Izzi Seccombe closed off this section by stating that the Council is made up of friends as well as colleagues. Politics happen, she said, but friendships run very deep. She thanked all those members who are retiring in May and remembered those Councillors who had passed on namely Bill Olner, Richard Chattaway and Bob Stevens. Councillor Seccombe particularly thanked Councillor Les Caborn and Councillor Colin Hayfield both of whom will be leaving the Cabinet. She thanked Councillor Cockburn for his work as Chair of Council at a very difficult time. Finally she thanked Councillor Brain for his friendship over the years.