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V28-141 : JACK BLYTH, DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL SERVICES AND BOB BRACEY, DIRECTOR OF

HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Following the formal proceedings of Council, the Chairman announced that this would be the last Council meeting that the present Director of Central Services, Jack Blyth, and Director of Housing and Environmental Services, Bob Bracey, would attend owing to their pending retirements.

The Chief Executive first apologised for not attending the main Council meeting, which was due to a prior engagement at the Ashley Down School.

In paying tribute, firstly to Bob, she highlighted the fact that the occasion was both happy and sad, difficult because people were about to leave, but in some ways exciting. Turning to Bob, the Chief Executive referred to his wonderful smile, his sense of humour and his elegance. Bob's qualities also extended to his ability to listen, be quiet, provide a considered opinion, with a presence of calming reassurance. The Chief Executive highlighted the fact that Housing and Environmental Services was not an easy brief, but was sure that Bob had left his service in good shape for the future. The Chief Executive expressed that it would not be proper for her to say a great number of words about Bob because she had only known him for a short while. She therefore sincerely thanked Bob in her role as Chief Executive and from herself personally, for the short term they had been together. In concluding, the Chief Executive offered Bob all the very best for the future.

Councillor R. Carter in paying tribute to Bob, reminded members that Bob had trained as a student Public Health Inspector with Wolverhampton County Borough Council in the Midlands and had attended Aston University in Birmingham. He had qualified in 1965, and was appointed as a District Public Health Inspector with Wolverhampton County Borough Council. He then moved to Halesowen Borough Council in 1971, as a Specialist Food Inspector. Local Government reorganisation in 1974 saw Halesowen consumed by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.
Bob's first post in Waveney District Council, when he was appointed on 4 March 1974, was as Principal Environmental Health Officer. 1977 saw Bob specialising in food inspection, which saw the largest poultry and red meat inspection service in the United Kingdom.

Councillor R. Carter highlighted one of Bob's less successful missions, which was the eradication of the pigeon population in Lowestoft town centre. She informed members that Bob had organised an early morning feeding of the birds for three weeks to develop a feeding pattern. The intention being that on the final day, the pigeons would be given drug coated corn. The area was sealed off, a boat positioned in the dock to collect any stray birds, a fire engine was standing by to retrieve any birds from the roof tops. 7.00 am was to be "lift off", however, Bob hadn't banked on Mr Johnstone, the former Chief Environmental Health Officer, arriving late and at the critical time slamming his car door in his hurry, scaring the pigeons before they had been able to feed.

Despite this incident, Bob became Chief Environmental Health Officer in 1992, and Director of Housing and Environmental Services in 1995. At that time, Councillor R. Carter reminded members that Bob had a lot to learn about housing but he learnt very quickly, making friends within the division and many tenants, making us very proud with the work he had done with the Tenants' Associations, acknowledged by Central Government as a lead in this field. Directing her comments to Bob, she reminded him that she had been his Chairman for a number of years and thanked him personally for his work as Director of Housing and Environmental Services and his work for the Council, but particularly his work for all the people of the Waveney District.

Councillor Bee, on behalf of the Conservative Group, said that it was easy to say when somebody left it was a shame, but genuinely, it was a shame that we would be losing Bob. Councillor Bee reflected on the first time he met Bob, which was at a Parish Council meeting. Both turned up to this very draughty village hall where there was about 4« people. He was grateful when he turned round to see that he was in the company of Bob, "it made the Vicar of Dibley sophisticated". From that time, Councillor Bee got to know Bob very well, and from there Bob invited him round his department and from these occasions, Councillor Bee felt that he knew Bob very well and he found him to be very caring and he always felt there was a door open to discuss any problems. He wished Bob every success for the future.

Councillor Young, for the Liberal Democrats, endorsed all that had been said about Bob. He reflected on the exhibition last year, which was held in the Town Hall of the services provided by Bob's department. The skills demonstrated on that occasion clearly reflected Bob's leadership, which he felt was impressive. Turning to judge Bob's captaincy of his department, Councillor Young felt his ship had sailed very well and successfully. Councillor Young had had many dealings with Bob's department and always found the officers helpful, they had always turned out quickly and usually solved the problem. Councillor Young referred to a specific incident three weeks ago, where he had a women who was very distressed about her son. Within the hour, Bob had found out who she was, the details of the problem and had rang Councillor Young back to tell him what action had been taken, which Councillor Young believed was a reflection of the service Bob has provided over his years with Waveney.

Councillor Kelly, Deputy Leader, reflected on Bob's career with the Council and he felt he was one of the few people who could remember Bob as a young boy. But his lasting memory was when Bob and his colleague, Jim Goldspink, were stood in his garden taking noise measurements in Colville Road, following the decision to allow lorries from Bloodmoor to disturb the once peaceful road. Having just been elected, Councillor Kelly was getting a number of people knocking on his door complaining about the noise the lorries were generating. With the evidence collected by Bob, he was able to take this information to the Ratings Appeal Court and achieved a rate reduction for the whole road. Much to the consternation of the then Chief Accountant, a certain Jack Blyth!. Councillor Kelly did not believe that Bob, at the time, realised the Councillors motives. Turning to Bob, Councillor Kelly said that he had always known him as a friend, someone with a smiling face and Councillor Kelly thanked him for his friendship. The Council had lost a good fellow.

Councillor R. Carter presented Bob with a CD writer. She also presented Bob with a bouquet of flowers to take home to his partner Jane.

Bob Bracey, assured Councillors that he was not going to say too much, as there were very few ways of expressing "thank you". On reflecting on what had been said, he wondered whether he should look round to see who they were being said about, which was slightly disconcerting. The other point that Bob felt was disconcerting, was how much people knew about him, which he was very grateful for and very touched. He also informed Councillors that, for those who were still curious why he had chosen a CD writer, it was because, as he was now reduced to a pension, he always had the thought of every time he copied a CD he had saved money, courtesy of his colleagues at Waveney District Council.

Reflecting on his 26 years with the Council, there were times when he wondered why he had taken the job, but on reflection, generally speaking over that period, it had been absolutely superb for Bob and he expressed how Waveney was a terrific Council to work for and a super place to live. He asked for forgiveness for not mentioning all the colleagues and Councillors he had worked with over the period of time, but wished to concentrate on a few of the people he had come across, the first being the colleagues in his department. He informed members that if the Council did anything well, it was almost certainly down to people within the department doing the right thing at the right time, and rarely just the Director or a single person. But he felt that he would like to think that Councillors knew that it was a team effort and his success was down to the help of colleagues in his department.

On reflecting on his department, he could not go without mentioning his predecessor, Mr Johnstone, who was the Chief of the department for about 18 years. For those who knew Mr Johnstone, he felt it was a fascinating experience, being such a talented chap and Bob had learnt a lot from him. He mentioned his colleagues on Management Team, particularly when he took over the department five years ago, who helped and supported him, specifically mentioning Jack, Graham, Terry, Malcolm and Laurence. The final person Bob thanked was his Chairman for many years, and now the present Chairman of the Council, Councillor R. Carter. Bob felt it had been a real privilege to have her as their Chairman over the years, as someone who had taken an interest in the department. Turning to the future, Bob referred to the difficult and challenging times ahead and referred to the responsibility Councillors had in looking after an organisation which Bob had a huge affection for. He asked Councillors to look after it well and wished them nothing but the best.

Councillor Kelly stood to pay tribute to Jack Blyth, the retiring Director of Central Services, the stalwart of the Council and described him more as a rock from which ever political perspective one came from, the man had engendered immense trust. In paying tribute to Jack, he reminded Councillors that Jack was a local lad, coming from Great Yarmouth. He started his local government career in August 1960, having studied at Great Yarmouth Grammar School. Initially, he was appointed as a Supernumerary Accountancy Assistant with Great Yarmouth Borough Council, moving later to be an Establishments Clerk and then a Machine Accountant. 1965 saw Jack move to Lowestoft Borough Council as a Senior Machine Accountant, and after day release study he became a full member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in 1969. By 1973, Jack was Chief Accountant and in 1978 became Treasurer of the fledgling Waveney District Council. Since that date, the responsibilities of the post had changed and to keep pace, so had the official titles. Significantly, in 1995, Jack became Director of Central Services and Deputy Chief Executive.

Councillor Kelly referred to his prudence and compared Jack with the term "prudent chancellor", and throughout his time had given members sound financial advice. He had engendered trust with every single member. Councillor Kelly reminded members that this, in fact, was the first time he had to take the Chief Executive's position next to the Chairman of the Council, and Councillor Kelly felt it was probably the most difficult Council meeting to administer because of the changes being undertaken. However, Jack had been at the financial helm of the Council for 22 out of the total of 40 years and, in fact, he left about two weeks before the 40 years were up. In concluding, Councillor Kelly referred to Jack's prudence in investments, the respect he engendered amongst members and wished him well in his retirement.
Councillor Bee, on behalf of the Conservative Group, in paying tribute to Jack, reminded him of saying that its a bit like the drowning man, except that you hear your life flashing before you. 34 years was a long time to be in one job, which meant no doubt that Jack had seen many changes. Councillor Bee felt that there were many more changes to come, many people leaving, but many people in the Chamber would feel that there was going to be a great big gap that was going to be left on Jack's retirement. In turning to Jack, he referred to him as a steady and calming, sure hand on the tiller, which would be missed. He agreed with the term "prudent chancellor" and wished him well in his retirement.

Councillor Young, for the Liberal Democrats, endorsed all that had been said about Jack. He concurred with the view that Jack had proved to be a trustworthy and highly respected officer of the Council. He felt that the retirement of Jack would provide a void which would be difficult to fill. He wished Jack a long, happy and very full retirement.

The Chief Executive expressed her high regard for Jack, his solid and dependable character. Although she had known Jack for a small amount of time, she told Councillors of Jack's personal characteristics, which made him the person he was. She referred to his fine stewardship of the budget, and the high regard and respect Jack was held in. She wished him a long and happy retirement.

Jack Blyth, in response, reflected on the years he had been with Waveney District Council and informed members that he had enjoyed much of his time with the authority and he thanked them for that. He made reference to his Management Team colleagues, Bob Bracey, Graham Jermyn, Terry Oakes, Laurence Monkhouse and Malcolm Berridge. He thanked the members for their kind words and the respect given over the number of years he had been employed by the Council. He made particular mention of the very good member/officer relationship, which had been the envy of many Councils. He expressed how difficult it was going to be to get used to not coming to the Town Hall for meetings and made reference to the recent political and structural changes. In doing so, he wished the Chief Executive and the new Corporate Directors well and hoped that the changes would soon settle down to allow the Council to go forward successfully. In concluding, he again thanked the Council for his career at Waveney.

Councillor Kelly, at the end of the speeches, presented Jack with a present of a camera and the book of the Channel 4 series, Mysteries of Lost Empires. Councillor Kelly also presented Jack with a bouquet of flowers for him to take to his wife, Liz.

The meeting was concluded at 9.45 pm.

Chairman
WAVENEY DISTRICT COUNCIL - 20/07/00

WAVENEY DISTRICT COUNCIL - 20/07/00

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Volume 28 Minute 140

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