The following statement was read out by the Chairman of the Council, Cllr Peter Harling, at today’s (Friday, February 11) meeting of Council:
“Many of you will be aware that Councillor George Hyde, the Deputy Leader of the Council, has recently been unwell. He has asked me to advise the Council that he is unlikely to be able to attend meetings for a period of some two months.
“He has been diagnosed as suffering from myeloma, a form of cancer of the bone marrow and will be undergoing a period of chemotherapy, which course of treatment has already started.
“Whilst he considers it is unlikely that he will attend meetings over the period, he does feel that he will be able to stay in touch with his Cabinet portfolio and to deal with the papers and individual decisions that might be required of him as Cabinet Member. He accepts, of course, that he will not be able to speak to items within his portfolio at meetings of Cabinet and that will, to some extent, place an additional burden on his Cabinet colleagues. He has discussed that situation with the Leader of the Council and with his own Group Leader, the Leader of the Independent Group.
“In those circumstances, he has already requested the County Treasurer that he does not receive the Cabinet Members allowance for the period in question.
“Councillor George Hyde has asked me to explain to Council that he is aware that consideration is to be given to revision of the Cabinet portfolios before Cabinet is re-established at the Annual Meeting of Council on Friday, 13th May. He hopes that by that date he will be in a better position to assess whether he is in a position to continue as a Member of Cabinet subject, of course, to him continuing to enjoy the support of Council in his existing or any revised role.
“I am sure that all Council will wish to join me in expressing our sincere hopes that the progress of the disease can be brought under control through the treatment that Councillor Hyde is currently receiving.
“Whilst Councillor George Hyde does not feel able to receive visitors at present, he has asked me specifically to convey his heartfelt thanks to all those who have sent the very many messages of good will. He wants Council to know that he is making steady progress and is very much looking forward to rejoining us all in the very near future.”