Tributes paid to Blackpool Council’s retiring Chief Financial Officer, Steve Thompson

Councillors of all stripes have paid warm tributes to Blackpool Council’s ‘quietly heroic’ Director of Resources Steve Thompson who is retiring from the post.

The council members were keen to show their appreciation of Mr Thompson during the special budget meeting of the full council last week.

Led by Council Leader, Cllr Lynn Williams, they followed her in praising the man who, apart from being Director of Resources also spent nearly 25 years as the council Chief Financial Officer and accountant.

A keen horse racing fan outside of work, he has been hailed for guiding Blackpool Council through some of its most challenging financial times.

He took on those roles in 2002, having previously worked as Deputy Director of Finance at Burnley Health Care NHS Trust, and before at Blackpool Victoria Hospital as Chief Management Accountant. Prior to that, he was Management Accountant at Lancaster Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Mr Thompson, known simply as ‘Steve’ at the council, has come full circle, having spent five years as a trainee accountant at Blackpool Council between 1986 and 1991.

What they said

Cllr Williams said: “Tonight we celebrate someone who has been one of the most respected, steady and quietly heroic figures in Blackpool Council, Steve.

“He’s worked for the council for 30 years in total, having originally started his career here as a trainee accountant.

“He’s contributed as a board member of the Credit Union and the Lancashire Local Pension Board and as a Trustee for Trinity Hospice.

“Most recently in his role as Director of Resources, Steve’s been responsible for accountancy, property, asset management, procurement, ICT, audit and risk, equality and diversity, revenues and benefits and legal services, quite a lot!

“Whilst in his current rule he’s overseen over £227 million of recurring savings. He also conceived the council’s Lend a Hand project to help local people afford a mortgage, which ultimately tuned into the Gverenmet’d Help to Buy scheme.

“Steve understands something crucial. Blackpool is not a balance sheet, it’s a community. He understands Blackpool, it’s challenges, its character and resilience.

“He has guided this council through some of the toughest financial storms local Government has ever faced. He balanced discipline with humanity and caution with common sense.

She told him: ”We wish you spread-free retirement.”

Cllr Paul Galley, the council’s Conservative leader, said Mr Thompson had provided vital support during the Covid lock down which had effectively saved hundreds of jobs in local businesses and added: “You have physically made a difference to this town which you can be proud of. You’ve always done your best, you understand this town.

“You were a tremendous council officer and all of the people in this town can be hugely proud of your service.”

Thanking Mr Thompson for his service, Cllr Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Economy and Built Services said: ”You’ve been a great support to me and the Cabinet for the past 12 years.

“We’ve been asked to make decisions on finance.Knowing you’d gone through the details gave me the confidence to know we we were doing the right thing.”

Cllr Julie Sloman said Mr Thompson had helped her business constituents when they were “going through Hell” during Covid. She said : “That humanity that was mentioned before went through your offices.”

Mr Thompson said: “I really appreciate those kind words. What I’m proud t say is that I’ve never had a cross wordwith any member in this chamber and I think that’s reciprocal.

“What struck me is that, from parties of all sides, members of this council have taken decisions that were not necessarily those of the national parties in Parliament but decisions that were right for Blackpool. at that time.”

He said he felt that it was the right time to hand over to a new and younger generation and was now looking forward to some painting and decorating around the house.