Minutes:
The Mayor welcomed everyone to the chamber and gave some feedback on his recent and future engagements including his upcoming Gala Dinner.
The Mayor paid tribute to and thanked Ian Davis (Chief Executive) for all his support and guidance. Ian worked at Enfield for 17 years, providing excellent support and service to both councillors and the people of Enfield. Ian will be leaving the Council in March to take up a new post at Lambeth Council and on behalf of all the Enfield Councillors wished him all the very best in his new role.
Members were invited to say a few words of thanks to Ian Davis.
Cllr Ergin Erbil (Leader of the Council) expressed the pleasure of collaborating with Ian to bring significant improvements to the borough. During a walkabout in Edmonton Green on the Shires Estate, Cllr Erbil witnessed Ian's dedication to every part of our borough, including residents, businesses, stakeholders, community, and voluntary groups. Ian has guided the council through challenging times such as COVID, the ongoing energy crisis, and the housing crisis, leading Enfield from strength to strength.
Cllr Alessandro Georgiou (Leader of the Opposition) fondly recalled his first conversation with Ian at an OSC call-in meeting, where Ian humorously referred to his shoes with a gaping hole as his "lucky shoes." Cllr Georgiou expressed his admiration for Ian, describing him as the ideal local government officer who has dedicated his career to public service within local government. He noted that Ian's first Cabinet Member for Environment was former Cllr Terry Neville OBE, and praised Ian for his excellent management of relationships with councillors. On behalf of the Conservative Group, Cllr Georgiou wished Ian the best of luck in his new role, acknowledging his incredible loyalty and service to the people of Enfield.
Cllr Doug Taylor remarked that going from Director of Environment to Chief Executive was a tremendous achievement. He acknowledged that environment is always a challenging area and recalled several discussions where he became unpopular regarding the NLWA. Ian, however, had a careful way of understanding and addressing those issues. Cllr Taylor praised Ian for being a tremendous servant to the borough of Enfield, both as Chief Executive and as a Director. He thanked Ian for all his work, especially during his tenure as Leader of the Council, and on behalf of all the people he has helped. Ian was known for getting things done, and Cllr Taylor sent his best wishes for Ian's future at Lambeth, hoping it would be as successful as his time in Enfield.
Cllr Michael Rye OBE acknowledged that Ian embodied all the best qualities of an outstanding local government officer; his integrity is recognised by members from both sides and the officers he leads. He understands that the role is about delivering for the current administration and achieving their objectives. Ian has always set a good example through his personal conduct and behaviour, always interacting with officers and members with courtesy and has a lively sense of humour. His deliverability and strong leadership skills, particularly during the COVID pandemic, made a significant contribution across London.