South Wales Evening Post - 21 October 2006
Taxpayers have picked up part of the bill for a farewell bash for one of Swansea Council's top bosses.
Bob Carter (pictured) has spent 25 years serving Swansea and capped it off with a party at the Dylan Thomas Centre on Tuesday.
Council bosses paid £400 towards the party for the outgoing acting chief executive.
Mr Carter was deputy chief executive until earlier this year.
He was asked to step in as acting chief executive when Tim Thorogood was axed after a planning row.
Mr Carter had to postpone his retirement until new chief executive Paul Smith could take the reins.
The retirement party was attended by councillors, officers and other guests.
Mr Carter held a number of top posts at both Swansea Council and its forerunner West Glamorgan.
He was Swansea Council's first director of finance in 1995 before being appointed deputy chief executive in 2002.
Mr Carter said: "I've enjoyed a long career in Swansea alongside many colleagues over the years to try to make a difference to all our local communities.
"My wife, too, for 19 years gave a whole generation of Loughor schoolchildren a stimulating and caring start to their formal education.
"I'm fortunate enough to have had a tremendous support from my talented and hard working colleagues in finance and elsewhere in the council.
"I've also enjoyed constructive relationships with many councillors, past and present, during the past 25 years."
Council leader Chris Holley said: "Bob has been a fantastic servant to local government and the people of Swansea for the past 25 years.
"We have been fortunate in Swansea to benefit from Bob's vast experience and knowledge.
"He has consistently improved the way we manage our finances to provide the people of Swansea with the best value for their money."
