Rix
 

REGENERATION boss Nigel Rix has become the latest casualty of Hyndburn Council’s cost-cutting.

According to a council insider, Mr Rix, 49, is to be made redundant from his £75,000-a-year post from next week and will not be replaced.

The Director of Hyndburn FIRST is thought to be establishing his own consultancy business.

Councillor Jean Battle, Labour group leader, said: "He has done a lot of good work but he’s going and hasn’t made any secret about it; he’s told a lot of people. I wish him well wherever he goes."

Rumours of Mr Rix’s departure have been circulating for several weeks but despite several approaches from the Observer he has always denied he is leaving.

But our source confirmed yesterday that he would leave on Tuesday after returning from holiday.

His responsibilities, such as overseeing the vital regeneration schemes Project Phoenix and Elevate, will be covered by a top manager from Blackburn with Darwen Council, who will work in Hyndburn a few days a week.

The source said: "The council is working to make sure everything is covered on Project Phoenix and Elevate because they’re such big schemes."

In April Mr Rix, who lives in the Ribble Valley with lawyer wife Daphne, was asked to resign by a Clayton-le-Moors businessman who was furious that Clayton received just £75,000 of £11M given to Hyndburn by Elevate East Lancashire.

At the time Mr Rix said he accepted "full responsibility" for Clayton’s plight.

Mr Rix’s departure will not mean the end of his involvement in Hyndburn.

He will continue to sit on the board of family support group SureStart with Councillor Lesley Jackson.

She said: "He has been very active in SureStart, so the board felt it would be good for him to stay on in a co-optee capacity and though he won’t have quite the same access to the council he will still make a really useful contribution."

Mr Rix, a keen churchgoer, joined the council 10 years ago from Hertsmere Borough Council, where he was land and property manager.

He took up the £34,000-a-year post as Director of Development Services and was subsequently made chief of the council’s regeneration arm after a major reorganisation.

Hyndburn Council refused to confirm or deny that he was leaving.

Mr Rix was this week unavailable for comment

Re: Rix
 

Hooray!

O Frabjous Day, Calloo Callay! Let all the Church Bells Sound! I can hardly believe it. This is the best Christmas Present that Hyndburn has ever been given

Re: Rix
 

Re: Rix
 

Now, now A-B you shouldn't suppress your feelings like this you should just say hang the consequences & speak your mind.

Re: Rix
 

Oh OK Less.

Hang The Consequences, I'm Glad He's Gone and about time too!

Re: Rix
 

Oh what joy!!!!:D I hope that we finally manage to have somebody working for our Council with a bit of common sense. This news has prompted me to ask a couple of questions though. What kind of pay-off is Rix getting? He won't be going for nothing will he.... If we are getting somebody from Blackburn with Darwen is this the first step towards becoming an integrated council and B&D taking over Hyndburn????

Re: Rix
 

Hmmm... Rix is setting up a consultancy business, eh?

What's the betting that he becomes another kiss-ar$e croney, working for Hyndburn Borough Cock-up, on the side. :confused: :(

Re: Rix
 

I don't know how much the golden boot will be, but I reckon it will be worth every damn penny.

I think the idea of the integration of Councils into Unitary Authorities is about as dead in the water as the Regional Assembly. It sounds like this chappie from Blackburn is just standing in as a caretaker.

Re: Rix
 

If he has time to spare from his full time job over at Blackburn to spend a couple of days over here (no doubt with pay & expenses) then shouldn't the tax payers of Blackburn be asking the question are WE GETTING OUR MONIES WORTH?

Re: Rix
 

Good point! Touchez old chap!

Re: Rix
 

Somebody pinch me! I must be dreaming.

We've been paying him £75,000 a year but now he's leaving and we don't need a replacement? What on EARTH were we getting for our £75,000?

Answers on a postcard please to:
Hyndburn Borough Codswollop
Cloud Cuckoo Land,
East of Project Phoenix,
Via Elevated East Lancs.

Re: Rix
 

Did he fall or was he pushed?

In the past, when anyone was leaving the Council, it was trumpeted about weeks and months in advance. He would normally have to give/be given three months notice.

As he's leaving so soon (next Tuesday) there must be more to it than meets the eye.

Re: Rix
 

But apparently rumours have been circulating for several weeks.

Re: Rix
 

Hmmm. Didn't lampman say something about this a few weeks ago, or was that someone else?

Re: Rix
 

It was me, on 29th October when we were talking about Doug & Sandra Hayes. My spys tell me it was common knowledge inside the Council even then. I hear Britcliffe couldn't wait to see the back of him, and has been trying to get rid of him for years.