Colleagues,

It is with some regret that I must inform you that I found out on Wednesday that my request to leave the City Council under the Discretionary Compensation Scheme has been accepted and that I shall leave the City Council at the end of September!

I have been in my current post for almost 11 years and provided the secretariat for more than 40 meetings of the Steering Group but I shall not be here for the next meeting. I shall be holding debriefing sessions next week with my manager (Steve Corbett) and the new Planning Manager (Grant Butterworth) and we shall discuss how the secretariat is delivered in the future.

I do have some doubts about leaving the post, as in many ways it has been my dream job. It has been my privilege to have been responsible for identifying, protecting, conserving and transmitting the outstanding universal value of Liverpool's WHS. It has been immensely rewarding and I have travelled the world doing so.

It wasn't an easy decision to leave but it was my decision. I have had almost 33 years of working for local authorities and I feel that I now need a change. I have no immediate plans as my departure has arisen at short notice but I hope to find some activity that will be able to utilise my experience.

I would like to thank you for your support for the WHS and I am hopeful that the City will soon start to take better advantage of the WHS with your continued input.

I wish you well for the future.

If you want updates on any specific issue before I go, please let me know.

I have not yet arranged a leaving do but it will probably be in a pub nearby on Friday 28th September. I'll let you know next week.

Regards
John Hinchliffe