Farewell to South Tyneside Council chief who helped steer borough through four decades of change

Tributes have been paid to the “tremendous” contribution of a council chief who is retiring after almost four decades in local government.
Council officer, Mike Conlon, who is retiring after 35 years at South Tyneside CouncilCouncil officer, Mike Conlon, who is retiring after 35 years at South Tyneside Council
Council officer, Mike Conlon, who is retiring after 35 years at South Tyneside Council

Mike Conlon is part of the senior leadership team at South Tyneside Council and most recently served as acting corporate director for Children, Adults and Health.

Previous roles have included operations director and ‘head of change management’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Conlon will be retiring after serving the council for around 35 years.

Leader of South Tyneside Council, Cllr Iain Malcolm, has since paid tribute to the officer’s contribution to both the council and wider borough.

“This will be Mike Conlon’s last cabinet meeting,” he said.

“Mike, who has served South Tyneside Council for 35 years, has been one of those officers who has provided real gravitas to our deliberations and has always risen to the challenges that we have sometimes presented him with in a whole range of disciplines and service provision.

“Certainly from a personal point of view, and I know it’s shared by all members and not just cabinet members, he’s going to be a tremendous loss.

“Not just to South Tyneside Council but the wider partnership and local government generally.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The comments came during a cabinet meeting, held remotely and broadcast on the council’s YouTube channel.

Cllr Malcolm added: “I just want to place on record our appreciation for all of the work, it has been tremendous what you have done for us and well appreciated by members and officers.

“And we do wish you a long, happy and safe retirement.”

Mike Conlon, who was present at the meeting, responded: “Thank you, it’s been a pleasure.”

A message from the editor

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Shields Gazette website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.shieldsgazette.com/subscriptions to sign up.

You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here: https://www.localsubsplus.co.uk/. Thank you.