Pauline Kane retiring as Council Director of Resources

Pauline Kane

Pauline Kane, Rochdale Borough Council Director of Resources, received a bouquet of flowers at her last council meeting on Wednesday.

The flowers were presented to her by the Mayor for her dedication and commitment to Rochdale Council over the last decade, ahead of her retirement in April.

Mayor Dutton: “I know that all members will join in wishing her well.”

Mrs Kane said: “I’d like to say an absolute heartfelt thanks to you all. My time here, the last ten-and-a-half years have been the best ten-and-a-half years of my working career.”

The Mayor invited Leader of the Council, Richard Farnell, to say a few words.

Councillor Farnell said: “I first met Pauline when I returned to the Council in 2012 and it probably was a bit of a frosty start. I first of all found out she lives in Oldham, not only that but her house was built on hallowed ground. Her house was built on the site of the Watersheddings Rugby League Football stadium.

“Ever since then I think the relationship has thawed somewhat and I got to know her far better.

"Councillor Brett often says that there’s a hugely complicated system of local governing, it must be the most complex system devised by man in the world, and there are only two people in the world who understand it. I think she [Pauline] is the only person who understands the intricacies of local government finance.

“The one thing I want to illustrate tonight is over many, many years, I’ve come across dozens of local government sector finance people and Pauline is unique among all that I’ve known. She has that special, unique ability to translate extremely complex financial terms and calculations and so on, into very simple words that we understand.

“We often boast on this side of the chamber how well we’re doing as a council; no libraries closing, no community centres closed, saved our nurseries, spending more on the environment and roads, but without Pauline we wouldn’t be able to make that boast because it’s her expertise that delivers.

“It’s not only us tonight who thank Pauline for her ten-and-a-half years at Rochdale Council. It is Rochdale people who depend on central public services, the most vulnerable in our society, it’s those people who are benefitting from her skills and expertise.

"So Pauline, on behalf of the Council, I would like to wish you well for a long and happy, and prudent, retirement.

Councillor Allen Brett also thanked Mrs Kane, saying: “It’s a formal occasion so I’d like to formally thank Mrs Kane.” He added that she was a ‘very good and competent officer’.

Councillor Robert Clegg spoke on behalf of the Conservatives in Leader Ashley Dearnley’s absence. He said: “I’m genuinely saddened Councillor Dearnley isn’t here but I’m delighted to have this opportunity to say a few words to Mrs Kane.

“In this borough, we’ve been extremely fortunate. We had an incredible finance officer in Margaret Carney who Pauline worked with and I think they have, between them, guided and managed the finances of the borough very, very well indeed.

“On behalf of this group, I really do genuinely thank you for all that you’ve done in the borough, in the most incredibly effective, efficient and charming way. You will be missed, sadly.”