TRIBUTES have been paid to a council boss who is to step down as part of a plan to save £169,000 a year.

Darlington Borough Council councillors unanimously backed its leader, Councillor Bill Dixon, in moving a vote of thanks to the authority’s outgoing chief executive, Ada Burns, at the final full meeting of the authority she will attend before retiring later this month.

Ms Burns, who has been at the helm of the council since 2005, will be replaced by resources director Paul Wildsmith.

Cllr Dixon told the meeting: “What people won’t realise is the work that Ada does off the book. As the handover has progressed, Paul Wildsmith has realised there is a secondary job that the chief executive does.”

He told members how Ms Burns had worked behind the scenes to help push forward a range of schemes, “which has meant this authority has always punched well above its weight”.

Councillors Charles Johnson and Veronica Copeland said Ms Burns had performed “outstanding service to the council” and had regularly offered wise counsel to members.