THE leader of the Labour party on Worcestershire County Council is calling for answers after another top officer announced their resignation. Jennie Bashforth, the director of adult and community services at the county council, will leave the authority in December, after almost seven years.

Her departure follows the resignation of the council's chief executive Rob Sykes, who will also leave at the end of the year.

Coun John Buckley said he was angry and upset at Mrs Bashforth's announcement.

"The resignation of two of our top officers in such a short space of time is worrying and upsetting," he said. "Just what is happening at County Hall? The administration should be asking exactly why Jennie is leaving so suddenly and should be working hard to keep her here.

"We cannot keep losing all of our top people."

When Mrs Bashforth joined the county council's social services department in 2001, performance was deemed as poor by inspectors, while the directorate was over-spending by £4 million.

Since then, the service has reached and retained a top three star-rating.

Mrs Bashforth has also been named one of the Worcester Women of the Year in 2003 for her work with social services and her impact on the county.

She said she was standing down in order to pursue a business venture in her home city of Bristol.

"I have very much valued and enjoyed my seven years working in Worcestershire," she said.

"However, the time has now come for me to move on and allow someone else to take on leadership of adult and community services.

"I would wish to place on record my thanks to councillors, colleagues and the county council's partners for their support and loyalty over the past seven years, without which we would not have achieved all that we have.

"I leave Worcestershire with some very precious memories that I will cherish for many years to come."

Rob Sykes, Worcestershire County Council Chief Executive, added: "Jennie will be greatly missed by everyone here, not least by her staff.

"However, what Jennie leaves behind is an exceptionally strong culture of performance management that is driven by a passion for keeping the interests of the people who use our services at the heart of everything the directorate does."

Philip Gretton, Conservative, cabinet member for adult and community services, said it was a blow to the council to have two officers resign but said it was entirely their own decisions.

"Jennie has been a great asset to the council," he said.

"It was her own decision to leave, as it was Rob Sykes'.

"We will miss them both and will now have to concentrate on replacing them."