Minutes:
1. Retirement of Kieran Amos, Chief Fire Officer
Councillor Pete Gilbert (Chair of Council) made the following statement.
“Kieran has been the CFO in Warwickshire for just over 2 years, although it feels like much longer......for positive reasons of course!
Kieran has created an environment of trust, empowerment and feeling valued - Kieran is a real people person. He has led significant cultural change across Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service changing the complete look and feel of the organisation. Kieran has personally led, against some challenge at times, the EDI work across Warwickshire and in partnership with Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
Kieran served the communities of Surrey, West Sussex, and Warwickshire and has also worked nationally on the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme and within the National Resilience team working on the response to Chemical, Biological, Radiation, Nuclear and Explosive incidents.
Kieran has built on the excellent working relationships with the wider County Council bringing his unique style to the How We Work Board and Council EDI Group. Not only has he been Chair of the County Council Chief Fire Officer group he has added significant value across the whole of Warwickshire by being the Co- Chair of the Local Resilience Forum in Warwickshire.
It is however worth noting that when Kieran first became CFO in Warwickshire, he decided to take the first three weeks off to get married!!
We thank Kieran and wish him all the best for the future”.
Councillor Andy Crump (Portfolio Holder for Fire and Rescue and Community Safety) stated that Kieran Amos is a larger than life character. He is a well-respected individual who has worked with many different people. He is a great ambassador who will always go that extra mile for those he serves.
Councillor Sarah Boad (Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) paid tribute to Kieran Amos stating that he had brought a breath of fresh air to the organisation. He has taken a fresh look at diversity as evidenced in part by the attendance of a suitably decorated fire and rescue appliance at a Warwickshire Pride event. He has brought the service much closer to the community and shown that it is not just concerned with putting out fires.
Councillor Judy Falp informed Council that as soon as Kieran Amos had started in his new role, she approached him over services for Whitnash. Since then he has done a great of work with the local forum in Whitnash. He is a real pleasure to work with and will be greatly missed.
Councillor Izzi Seccombe (Leader of the Council) expressed her sadness at seeing Keiran Amos leaving. He has always been highly enthusiastic and has displayed great warmth and humanity. His ability to bond with people has been a real gift.
Councillor John Holland (Leader of the Labour Group) noted that attending a fire or other incident can be distressing for fire crews. Kieran has always managed his staff very well and looked after their interests.
2. Death of Former County Councillor John Whitehouse
Councillor Pete Gilbert made the following statement, “It is my sad duty to inform Council of the recent passing of former County Councillor John Whitehouse.
John, a liberal Democrat Councillor, served the Kenilworth Abbey Division for 12 years from 2005 to 2017. In that time, he sat on the Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee and was hi group’s spokesperson on children and young people. A keen advocate of cycling he was the council’s cycling champion and was a strong lobbyist for cycle facilities including the proposed new route from Kenilworth to Leamington.
Our condolences go to John’s family”.
Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) expressed his sadness at the death of John Whitehouse who he had first met in 2005. He had worked hard on securing safer routes to schools and promoting 20mph speed limits. He was very thorough and had an eye for detail, working on issues relating to HS2 and to his hometown of Kenilworth. When the social care precept was introduced John Whitehouse had strong views on how much this should be. He did not prevail, but he stuck to his position. When he left the council, he continued to work for the Liberal Democrat Party and for the people of Kenilworth. He will be sorely missed.
Councillor Izzi Seccombe stated that John Whitehouse never seemed to age. He was a significant character with a true eye for detail. He displayed a wisdom and sought change for the good regardless of the politics around it.
Councillor Jonathan Chilvers (Leader of the Green Group) expressed his sadness at John Whitehouse’s death. He had learned a great deal from John when sitting next to him on the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee. He was always worth listening to.
Councillor John Holland echoed the views previously expressed adding that when members of Warwick Town Council had met the Warwick Area Committee and asked for help with an issue it had been John Whitehouse who had provided it.
Council stood in memory of John Whitehouse.