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After Newcastle City Council Chief Executive Pat Ritchie announced she is standing down from her role later in the year Joanne Roney, Solace President, said: “Pat has been, and remains, an exemplary civil servant and local government will be very sorry to see her go.

“She has been an incredibly effective and dynamic chief executive for Newcastle City Council for the last eight-and-a-half years, with her dedication to local government and public service reform rightfully rewarded with a CBE in the most recent New Year’s Honours List.

“Pat has also played a crucial role as one of the nine regional council chief executives working with the Government to help coordinate and implement policy – work which has taken on an even greater significance during the pandemic. The local and national pandemic response has been all the more effective for Pat’s contributions.

“Pat has not only been a champion of her place but her region and I will miss her both professionally and personally.

“However, as a former chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency who has had a major impact on the housing agenda we look forward to continuing to work with Pat in her capacity as chair of the Government Property Agency.

“Above all this Pat has been a genuine friend and support to me and many others in local government.  We will miss her wisdom, commitment to leadership development and her experience. I hope what every comes next for Pat she retains her relationship with us in Solace and we all wish her well for the future.”