My Blog
Leader's blog
My front-line role
I am the Conservative Councillor for the Goffs Oak and Bury Green (Broxbourne) division and Leader of the County Council. The ‘Your Community’ section provides local service information, news, events and contacts about the area.
I represent the interests of the 15,000 residents of these communities on the County Council. I work closely with the Broxbourne Borough Councillors for the same areas; our Member of Parliament, Charles Walker, who lives in Goffs Oak; and active residents’ and community groups such as the Goffs Oak Community Association.
Residents who wish to raise any issue with me are welcome to do so at any time, whether by e-mail, letter or telephone. I will always deal promptly with casework issues.
As is the case with every County Councillor, I have a locality budget of £10,000 a year to spend on community projects in the division. Follow the links for more details of the scheme and details of applications I have previously agreed and declined.
My County Council responsibilities
I have been Leader of the Council since 2007, having previously held Cabinet responsibility for Resources & Performance and Education and Children’s Services. As Leader, I chair the Cabinet and appoint its other members and allocate their portfolios. Cabinet is responsible at law for most of the council’s policy decisions, but these are made in the light of recommendations from a range of cross-party Cabinet Panels.
As Leader, I am also the principal political voice for the Council within the County and for Hertfordshire on the regional and national stage. This involves me in a wide range of partnership networks and in lobbying for the interests of Hertfordshire.
I have the political responsibility for the Council’s corporate policies which are set out in the Corporate Plan. The plan sets out our ambition for Hertfordshire to be a county of opportunity for all its residents, through excellent education, opportunities for business and economic growth, an excellent environment in which to live and a good quality of life for all our residents.
Roles on outside bodies
In 2010, having served for two years as its vice chairman, I was elected chairman of the County Councils’ Network (CCN), a major special interest group of the Local Government Association. The CCN is a cross-party grouping of 38 of the largest, ‘countylike’ councils in England, representing a population of 24 million and 87% of the land mass of England.
I have served terms as chairman of the East of England Strategic Authority Leaders and the East of England Local Government Association and have recently been appointed Deputy Chairman of the Local Government Association.
In the 1990s, I was the first chairman of the Hertfordshire Police Authority and am still a member of the Authority, chairing its Audit Committee.
I also serve in a personal capacity as a Governor of the University of Hertfordshire. I am also the elected chairman of the Conservative Councillor’s Association.
Personal, professional and political
I was born, raised and educated in Hertfordshire before studying politics at the University of Sussex and then qualifying as a solicitor. I also hold a post-graduate diploma in voluntary sector management (from City University). I practised law in Watford, St Albans and Luton before deciding to concentrate my time on public service. I first became a councillor in 1982, being first elected to the County Council in 1989 and have stood twice (unsuccessfully) for election to parliament.
In April 2011, I was ranked in the Local Government Chronicle’s LGC50, its league table of the 50 most influential voices in local government. I was placed at number 44, two behind Boris Johnson!
I am also a Deputy Lieutenant of Hertfordshire.
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