Newcastle's outgoing council leader was visibly emotional as he paid tribute to the city's retiring director of public health Prof Eugene Milne for his 'tireless' efforts during the Covid pandemic.
Coun Nick Forbes - who is approaching his final weeks in the job after being controversially deselected in his Arthur's Hill ward ahead of May's local elections - brought what was the last meeting of the board to feature both himself and Prof Milne to a close with a touching address.
Coun Forbes has been leader of Newcastle City Council since 2010, while Prof Milne has served as Director of Public Health since 2014. Prof Milne has been a highly visible presence throughout the pandemic, and also a key driver behind efforts to tackle health inequalities locally.
