Rutland County Council's chief exective has today confirmed she will retire from the council in July.

Helen Briggs told the council in January she would retire after serving 13 years as chief executive of the council, but in March withdrew her resignation to help the council through the pandemic.

With central government reducing lockdown measures and plans for recovery being put in place, Ms. Briggs believes now is the time to continue with her retirement plans.

Mark Andrews, Deputy Chief Executive and Strategic Director for People, will step up as Interim Chief Executive on an interim basis, subject to full council approval.

Council leader Oliver Hemsley said: "I am grateful to Helen for postponing her retirement to support Rutland with implementing such a strong response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Helen has, throughout her career, and particularly in this situation, shown unwavering commitment to Rutland.

Coun Hemsley continued: "Sadly, Rutland has not been left unscathed by this pandemic. Helen's strong leadership, supported by the skills and dedication of all the Council's team enabled us to act swiftly and put in place measures that have supported and protected the most vulnerable members of our community, while maintaining continuity of many of the Council's services.

"We are now heading into a new phase of the Covid-19 situation, which has been referred to many nationally as the "new normal".

"We need to understand and adjust to a new way of doing things and have asked Mark Andrews to act as Interim Chief Executive (subject to Full Council approval) as it is vital that this stage that the Council is led by someone who knows Rutland well and has a strong and established relationship with the staff team."

Mark Andrews joined Rutland County Council in January 2015 from Nottingham City Council as Lead Director for Adult Social Care, before moving into the Strategic Director post for the People Directorate in December 2018.

Since joining the authority the council says he has made a positive impact on the delivery of children and adult social care services, helping Rutland to become number one in the country for Adult Social Care.