Published on:
01
June 2001
Two leading officers at Clackmannanshire Council retired today (Thursday.)
Bill Cunningham, Executive Director of Environmental and Contract Services and Bobbie Dickie, Executive Director of Housing and Social Services, are leaving after years of public service.
Provost Walter McAdam said: "The retiral of Bill and Bobbie is a real loss to the organisation. Their skills, knowledge and personal enthusiasm will be sadly missed. They have served the people of Clackmannanshire well and both are leaving departments which provide some of the best services in Scotland."
Bill Cunningham began work as an apprentice with Kilsyth Town Council more than 40 years ago. In 1965 he joined Clackmannan County Council and has been here ever since. During his 36 years of service to the people of the county his experience widened and his responsibilities extended until he was appointed Executive Director in 1996.
His professional background is in Environmental Health and he has remained active in the Environmental Health Institute as an examiner and in his professional association, The Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health.
Councillor Willie Alexander, Convener of the Enterprise and Environment Committee said: "I have worked very closely with Bill over the last few years and his professionalism and dedication to his staff is to be admired. He knows his service inside out and I can see that he will miss the daily cut and thrust of running such a large and busy team. However, Bill is a keen golfer and I am sure he will find plenty to occupy himself on the greens at his club. I wish Bill all the best for the future." Bobbie Dickie joined Clackmannanshire Council at the time of reorganisation from Central Regional Council. She had spent 15 years in various posts in the regional social work department, ultimately serving as Head of Community Care.
Her career has been varied. She has worked also in the west of Scotland and south of the border - not to mention recent consultancy activities in Slovakia where good practice developed here is influencing what happens in one of Eastern Europe's emerging countries.
Bobbie began her career as an occupational therapist, becoming qualified as a social worker only a few years later. She has worked with the elderly, people with disabilities, people with mental health problems and in childcare. When she joined Clackmannanshire in 1996 she took responsibility for Housing and her success in bringing housing and social services together is an example of the kind of collaborative work at which she excelled.
Councillor Charlie Forbes, Convener of Housing and Social Services said: "Bobbie Dickie is one of the most committed individuals I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Throughout her career she has shown a caring and compassionate side and I know for a fact that she will be sorely missed be her team in housing and social services.
"Bobbie's career has involved her in the lives of many people locally and she herself has often faced difficult and at times heart-rending situations, always with dedication and professionalism. I have enjoyed working with Bobbie over these last few years and wish her every luck in her retirement."
With the retirement of these two leading officers in the Council comes the creation of a new Council structure which will see the current six services merged into four - Chief Executive's Services, Support Services, People Services and Development and Environmental Services.