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The director with responsibility for the largest council housing stock in the UK has announced her retirement.
Jacqui Kennedy has stepped down from her role as director of neighbourhoods at Birmingham City Council after 41 years at the authority.
As well as managing the council’s 60,500 homes, her remit included waste, communities and culture services.
Ms Kennedy said: “It has been an honour and privilege to serve Birmingham throughout my career and to witness the journey that the city council is on.
“I remain passionate about public service and local government and wish the council well in the next phase of improvement.”
The Labour-run council said during her time in the director post, Ms Kennedy responded to government funding cuts that were “disproportionate” compared with other local authorities, forcing the council to make projected savings of £775m by 2022/23.
Robert James will take on the role of acting director of neighbourhoods, and announcements about future arrangements will be made in due course, the local authority added.
Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I want to thank Jacqui for her contribution, leadership, hard work and commitment to Birmingham City Council over the last 41 years. I wish her well for the future.”
In September 2019 Birmingham’s director of inclusive growth, Waheed Nazir, stepped down after having helped establish the council’s housing development company, Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust, in 2009.
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