THE Royal Borough’s most senior legal advisor is set to leave for Cambridgeshire next year.

Emma Duncan, the council’s monitoring officer, will be leaving to head to Cambridgeshire County Council. Ms Duncan’s role entailed being the guardian of the local authority’s constitution and the decision-making process as well as being responsible for councillor conduct issues.

The officer was also responsible for advising and guiding councillors on the legality of their decisions and on the local authority’s constitution and its powers.

It is expected she will start her new role as the county council’s monitoring officer in spring 2023.

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“I’m delighted to be joining the team at Cambridgeshire County Council at this exciting time and to be working with colleagues to deliver the Council’s priorities,” said Emma.

Emma is both a former Lawyers in Local Government ‘Governance Lawyer of the Year’ and has been responsible for leading an award-winning MJ Legal Team of the Year.

She was appointed Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in 2020 and officially started in 2021 following the retirement of the previous monitoring officer Mary Severin.

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Cambridgeshire’s Chief Executive Stephen Moir said he was “very pleased” with Emma’s appointment, and they will “benefit” from her “considerable experience, knowledge, and skills”.

This is another blow to the Royal Borough after chief executive Duncan Sharkey left for a top job at Somerset County Council.

Tony Reeves has taken over as the Royal Borough’s chief executive in the interim period.