TRIBUTES have been paid to a retiring council chief executive.

George Garlick will step down as the head of Durham County Council at the end of January, after seven years in the job.

In that time, he has led Durham through the 2009 abolition of the two-tier council set up of county and district authorities and unprecedented austerity cuts.

In 2014, Durham was named Council of the Year.

At his final full council meeting today (Wednesday, January 20), tributes were paid from all sides of the chamber.

Councillor Simon Henig, the council’s Labour leader, said he never doubted the authority had made the right choice in appointing Mr Garlick, previously chief executive of Stockton Borough Council, thanked him for all he had done and said he would be missed by all.

Durham Independents leader Watts Stelling said Mr Garlick had done an “absolutely great” job in dealing with spending cuts and had incredible knowledge and good humour and wit.

Liberal Democrat leader Amanda Hopgood said he had always had an open door and Conservative leader Richard Bell praised his wisdom and judgement.

Even Independent John Shuttleworth, often a critic of Mr Garlick, wished him well for his retirement.

Mr Garlick said his time in charge had been the most challenging imaginable but the council had achieved some wonderful things.

The 60-year-old will be succeeded by Terry Collins, currently the council’s corporate director for neighbourhood services, who is perhaps best known for chairing the Durham City Safety Group, leading the response to three Durham University students drowning in the River Wear.

He will be paid £185,000 a year, down from the £200,000 paid to Mr Garlick.