The outgoing chief executive of Norfolk County Council yesterday used his final day in the job to call on local leaders to look at sharing more 'functions, services, and people'.

As David White bid a fond farewell to the local authority he has led since 2006, he praised the way Norfolk people had worked together during those six and a half years.

From the dualling of the A11 to the successful Better Broadband For Norfolk and Make It Marham campaigns – both backed by the EDP – he said partnership working had helped the county gain national recognition.

Looking to the future, he said: 'Partnerships are the only game in town, and given that, many of you will know that currently over £7bn of public money is spent here in Norfolk.

'I would urge all of those in leadership positions, particularly in the public sector, to bite the bullet and look at a greater sharing of functions, services and people.'

Mr White's previous roles included managing director at Thurrock Council and chief executive of the Suffolk health authority.

His chief executive role at the council has been made redundant and a new managing director will be appointed.

Mr White said he believed he had achieved the five tasks he set himself when he moved to Norfolk: improving relationships between the councillors and officers, making the most of the talent working at the council, improving public confidence in the authority, cementing the county's partnerships and further enhancing 'Norfolk's enviable reputation'.

Mr White said he and wife Anne were 'firmly settled' in Brooke and felt at home in the county.

'Norfolk has well and truly got under my skin and I'll continue to be a passionate advocate for the county, which thankfully has now become our home,' he said.

Among the colleagues and local figures saying goodbye to the chief executive was county council chairman Ian Monson.

He praised the way Mr White had steered the council through major funding cuts and said he had left 'a very strong foundation' on which a new managing director could build.

See Monday's EDP for an interview with Mr White by public affairs correspondent Dan Grimmer.