She told senior Conservative councillors of her intentions earlier in the year but carried on until the Covid-19 pandemic was seen to be have eased.
Her departure is unconnected with the farmgate inquiry into the tenancy awarded to former deputy county leader Roger Hickford. That inquiry report is to be discussed shortly by the new audit and accounts committee.
A year ago, at the height of the pandemic, she gave a YouTube interview with former BBC local radio presenter Paul Stainton.
In it she explained how the coronavirus pandemic had challenged her like nothing else in her career.
She described the pressure as “unrelenting in terms of the responsibilities as a council, but with all of the other people that work together to keep the show on the road.