Senior council officer quits (From Gazette Series)

Senior council officer quits

THE SAGA of senior officer Martyn Harwood's long absence from Stroud District Council is over.

After almost two years on sick leave he has resigned as director of corporate services, a post he had held since 1989.

The council has remained tight-lipped to the end about Mr Harwood's 21-month absence from his £70,000-plus post.

The situation is believed to have come to a head in a closed-door council session from which press and public were excluded.

In a one-sentence confirmation of his resignation spokesman Dave Marshall said: "Martyn Harwood has resigned from his post of director of corporate services with immediate effect."

Mr Harwood, 53, was appointed council treasurer in 1985. Then 33, he was the youngest in the country to hold such a post. His 35-year career in local government began as a clerk with Reigate Borough Council in Surrey. Actively involved in the community he was a member of Stroud Round Table.