Council Roles
- Essex County Councillor for Braintree Town
- Leader of the Council
- Cabinet Leader
- Local Development Framework Panel
- Chairman of the Joint Consultative Group
Involvement with Organisations within Braintree District
and elsewhere
- Braintee District Local Strategic Partnership
(PACT) Executive
- Joint Governance - Great Notley Country Park Partnership
Board
- Notley Green Community Association
- Growth Fund Board
- Community Housing Investment Partnership Board (CHIP)
I am the Council's representative on the following national,
regional and local bodies:
i - The Local Government Association General Assembly
ii - East of England Regional Assembly
iii - Essex Local Government Association
iv - Essex Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
v - Notley Green Community Association
I am also a member of the Regional Assembly's Executive Committee
and lead the Conservative Group on the Assembly's European and
International Panel.
Constituency Work
I live within the ward and as such that makes me very accessible
to local residents. I have taken up a number of local issues on
behalf of constituents. These have included controversial planning
applications, anti-social behaviour, and issues regarding the
general cleanliness of the area.
I work closely with my colleagues Councillors Claire Sandbrook
and Roger Walters to ensure that we provide a strong voice for
Great Notley and Braintree West residents.
I am also a member of Great Notley Parish Council.
Training and Development
Undertaken
I have attended the vast majority of the training seminars run
locally for councillors. These have covered such topics as Waste
Management, the Planning System, Housing Options, and the new
Licensing Act.
Key Personal Highlights/Contributions During the
Year
I have been honoured to be the Leader of the Council since April
2004.
I believe that I have ensured that the voice of Braintree is
heard. I have played a leading role in the East of England Regional
Assembly's opposition to the Government's proposals to impose an
unacceptably high number of houses in the region. Although I have
participated in the Regional Assembly I have also made it clear
that I consider that this unelected quango should be abolished and
decision making returned to local councils.
I have ensured that the Council has taken a strong line on
anti-social behaviour. We have put significant extra resources to
combating problems in this area. In Great Notley I have taken
action to ensure that the activities of a mindless minority of
people who set out to spoil life for the majority are curbed.
I have worked closely with our new Member of Parliament, Brooks
Newmark, on a number of local issues.