Agenda item

To recognise the contribution made to the Council by Ian Bancroft, Chief Officer (Strategic Programmes), who left the Authority in August to join Wrexham County Borough Council.

The Chairman led the tributes to recognise the contribution made to the Council by Ian Bancroft, Chief Officer (Strategic Programmes), who left the Authority in August 2018 to join Wrexham County Borough Council.

The Chief Executive commented on Ian’s personal qualities, his enthusiasm and energy, which he said would be genuinely missed as well as his professional abilities.  He reflected on the 4 years that Ian had served with the Authority and commented on the positive impact of his achievements in delivering organisational change and his expertise and skill in seeing projects through from strategy to task and finish.  He looked forward to continuing to work with Ian in the future as Chief Executive of Wrexham County Borough Council.

The Chairman referred to the regeneration of the Foreshore area in Flint and said that Ian’s work and enthusiasm to see the project through had been greatly appreciated by the Regeneration Committee of Flint Town Council.

Councillor Aaron Shotton paid tribute to Ian for his vision and work during his service with the Authority which had enabled services to be maintained and local communities to become more resilient under continuing austerity.    He referred to Ian’s professional experience, his skill, style, and innovative approach, and cited the work he had undertaken on the transfer of Connah’s Quay Swimming Pool from the Authority’s operation to Cambrian Aquatics, and the transfer of the Authority’s leisure and library services to Aura Leisure and Libraries Limited, as examples of the success Ian had achieved in working with local communities to develop alternative models for providing service delivery.  Councillor Shotton said he looked forward to working with Ian and Wrexham County Borough Council in the future on a regional level and on the Growth Deal.

Councillor Paul Shotton spoke as a member of the Organisational Change Overview and Scrutiny Committee and also expressed thanks to Ian for his professional experience and expertise.  He referred to Ian’s confidence and reassurance to the Committee that providing service delivery through alternative delivery models and community asset transfers was the best way to safeguard services for the future.  He wished Ian every success in his new role in Wrexham County Borough Council.

Councillor Mike Peers commented on the help and advice which Ian had readily provided on matters concerning organisational change and community asset transfers.  He congratulated Ian on his appointment and wished him well for the future.

Councillor Tudor Jones referred to the successful community asset transfer of Holywell Leisure Centre.  He commented on the impact of the process of community asset transfers as a whole which in Holywell had provided a new library, a reinvigorated leisure centre, a fitness and martial centre in the old library building, and a community agreement between the Leisure Centre and Ysgol Trefynnon for the control of the facility in out of hours.  Councillor Jones continued that in conjunction with the Town Council, Holywell had the capacity to continue the provision of all these benefits and had a new force of collaboration and recognition that the process was greater than the individual transfers managed.  He said that Flintshire and Holywell had undertaken a major development which was skilfully guided by Ian and his team for over a year.  Councillor Jones said that communities would become more resilient as a result of the work which had been done and thanked Ian and his team for their work and the successful legacy which remained.  He wished Ian well in his future career.

Councillor Chris Bithell expressed his thanks and appreciation for all Ian’s work in Flintshire.  He said that despite austerity valuable services had been maintained through the provision of alternative delivery models, community asset transfers, and engagement of voluntary organisations.  As a result service delivery to Flintshire communities was ongoing in a new form and the Authority was pleased with what had been achieved.   Councillor Bithell paid tribute to the personal skill and qualities of Ian which had achieved success regardless of the challenges or problems to be confronted with groups or individuals.  He congratulated Ian on his appointment and said he looked forward to working with Ian through collaboration with Wrexham County Borough Council in the future.

Councillor Ron Davies thanked Ian for the work he had undertaken concerning Theatr Clwyd and in particular around the recruitment process of an Artistic director and an Executive director.  He wished Ian every success in the future.

Councillor Carol Ellis said she had found Ian to be helpful and willing to provide advice and support above and beyond expectations. 

Councillor Kevin Hughes referred to the community asset transfer of Gwernymynydd Village Centre and thanked Ian for his work on this project.  He reiterated the previous comments expressed by Members and commented on the success of the transfer of Connah’s Quay Swimming Baths to Cambrian Aquatics.

Councillor Billy Mullin said it had been a privilege to work with Ian and paid tribute to his personal and professional abilities.

Councillors Ted Palmer and Dave Mackie paid further tributes to Ian and said the work he had done had taken the Authority forward and had enabled service delivery to continue with new ideas.  Councillor Mackie also thanked Ian for the work he had undertaken regarding Theatr Cymru and said he would welcome the opportunity for the Authority to work with Ian and Wrexham County Borough Council on regional matters in the future.

Following a presentation made by the Chairman on behalf of the Council, Ian thanked Members and Officers for their warm tributes and said he had enjoyed his time in Flintshire and his service with the Authority.  He said that as the challenge of austerity was ongoing  it was only by local authorities working strongly together as a ‘family’ group with local communities, Members, and officers, that a way forward could be found to find the right solution for residents and service users to provide and protect public services.  He wished Flintshire every success in the future and said he looked forward to working with the Authority again.  Ian said it was an honour and a privilege to work in public service and thanked the Authority for his experience during his time in Flintshire.