A minute's silence has been held for a council chief who died of a heart attack this week.

Dartford councillors paid their respects to Graham Harris ahead of a virtual planning meeting this afternoon.

The managing director and head of paid services passed away on Monday after suffering a heart attack.

Mr Harris came to Dartford as director of finance in 1989 and went on to serve the council for more than 30 years spending almost two decades of them as managing director.

He had overall corporate management and operational responsibility at Dartford council and as head of paid service was responsible for managing all of its staff.

In his role he oversaw the delivery of many of the council's biggest projects, including Dartford's Princes Park stadium and the Bridge business development.

He also played a crucial role in the democratic process as the council's returning officer at local elections.

Dartford council leader Jeremy Kite paid tribute to the managing director and said they would "miss him terribly".

“It is hard to summarise in a few words Graham’s enormous contribution to the council and to Dartford," he said.

"It is no exaggeration to say that every one of the new facilities, public spaces and initiatives that have been delivered over many years – from the football stadium to Central Park, from the Bridge development to business centres – bore Graham’s signature."

He praised Mr Harris' handling of the council's purse strings which he said had put it "in such a strong position today" and ensured the council ran with "probity, decency and financial responsibility", adding "Graham was also a thoroughly nice man".

The Tory councillor went on to add: “He frequently understated his talents and rarely sought recognition for his achievements.

"It was a privilege to work with him and his loss at a time when we all believed he had recovered from a long illness and was planning to return to work is devastating."

A minute's silence was held at the authority's development control board meeting held online today.

Chairman Cllr Derek Hunnisett said: "Before we go into the agenda it would be improper of me to just note that our managing director Graham Harris passed away a couple of days ago.

"It is the first council meeting since his death and I would ask you all to bear with me and join me in a minute's silence to mark our respect."

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