WIGAN Council chief executive Donna Hall has announced she will retire next year.

Ms Hall, who joined the council in 2011, says "she feels the time is right" for a new boss to take over.

She was awarded a CBE for services to local government in 2010 and was also influential in setting up the local authority's community led scheme The Deal.

Since then the town hall's budget has been reduced by £160m and £10m has been invested into community groups.

Donna said: “The last eight years have been the best of my working life.

"I have really loved working with all 5,000 of our hard-working, compassionate, amazing staff who have all pulled together despite the cuts to deliver the best possible services for our residents.

"I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart.

"It is a really difficult decision to make to choose to retire because I have loved Wigan so much but I feel the time is right for a new chief executive to continue the brilliant work we have done over the years through The Deal.”

Ms Hall, who was adopted as a child was provided with a strong sense of public service by per parents.

Her passion for adoption, fostering and the future prospects of children in care have been driving factors throughout her career.

She joined from Chorley Council where she was chief executive and worked at Blackburn with Darwen Council and Salford Council before then.

She has also been a champion of equality and LGBT rights and a major supporter in the creation of Wigan Pride.

Lord Peter Smith, the former council leader of 27 years who worked with Donna closely until he stepped down this year, added: “In her time at Wigan Donna has made a terrific difference to the council and to the lives of people of the borough.

“Under her leadership we developed the Wigan Deal a new way of delivering good public services while tackling the problems posed by austerity and helping people in these difficult times.

"She has worked so well with the staff and has been so supportive of them.

"I enjoyed my time working with Donna and I wish her well in the future.”

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has described Donna as a "public serice pioneer and the architect of the the region's new approach to public services.

Councillor David Molyneux, leader of Wigan Council, said: “Donna has given incredible service to Wigan over the past eight years and we certainly wouldn’t be the council we are today without Donna serving as chief executive.

“I wish her well in her retirement. On behalf of the council, all councillors, staff and the people of the borough I would like to place on record our gratitude to Donna for what has been a remarkable eight years in Wigan.”

Recently she has also taken on the role as a top officer in the Wigan Borough Clinical Commissioning Group overseeing the joining up of health and social care services across the borough.

Dr Tim Dalton, Local GP and Chair of NHS Wigan Borough CCG, said, “Donna has brought energy to the challenge of integrating health and social care services and I sincerely thank her for her commitment and drive.

“Our shared vision for building up our borough’s communities and putting local people at the heart of everything we do will continue to influence the transformation of local NHS services.”

Donnia is also the lead officer in Greater Manchester for culture and promotes its importance to people's wellbeing and the economy.

Cllr Michael Winstanley, leader of the Conservative group on Wigan Council, said: “I am very sorry to hear that Donna will be leaving the council.

“Personally over the past two years Donna has been very supportive and I know through speaking to councillors throughout Greater Manchester she is very highly thought of across the region.

“She will be a big loss to Wigan Council and on behalf of the group I wish her well for the future.”