One of Kingston Council’s key directors of the past few years has announced her resignation.
The council will lose the experience of finance director Tracie Evans, who started working for Kingston Council in March 2007 and has been a key part of the cost-cutting One Council project and of the funding arrangements for the Rose Theatre.
In July, 2008, she was appointed joint finance director of financially troubled Kingston NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) on a provisional six month contract - the first such shared position in the country.
She told Health Service Journal at the time: “It is really helpful to have somebody with a leg in each camp who can bring people together and forge those relationships.
“It is about me recognising when there is conflict and making sure that the right people know there is a conflict and being able to opt out and find another solution if that is the case.”
In a council statement this week, she said: “I have enjoyed my time in Kingston. There is a high level of organisational commitment to the One Council programme and my work with the PCT has helped bring the two organisations much closer together. It is therefore time for me to find different challenges elsewhere.”
It is not yet known where Ms Evans will go but her replacement will continue to work for both organisations.
Director of learning and children’s services, Patrick Leeson, stunned colleagues last month when they found out he was leaving to work for Ofsted, the day after publicly presenting a key report into the One Council project to councillors.
Meanwhile, chief executive of Kingston Council Bruce McDonald has been signed off work until Monday after a cycling accident while on holiday.
While Mr McDonald is recovering, the council will be run by two of the remaining members of the strategic leadership team.
Rob Dickson, environment and sustainability director, and Roy Thompson, planning and development director, will step in this week.
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