Personal background and information
I have lived in Cotgrave since 1990, and before that lived and grew up in other parts of Rushcliffe. I started to get involved and interested in local matters, becoming a Cotgrave town councillor in 1999 and a governor of the then Cotgrave Manvers Infant & Nursery school. Soon, I became chairman of governors at the school and was heavily involved in the aspirations, negotiations, planning and appearance of the Cotgrave Candleby Lane school, which appeared following amalgmation of the infant and primary schools. I am still a governor at Candleby Lane school, which is truly a school to be proud of, or, as the children always tell me when I visit, it is the best school in the universe! I also do work and support with Cotgrave Church of England Primary school, Ashlea special school, Cropwell Bishop primary school and Langar Church of England primary school, and the Cotgrave (Surestart) childrens centre.
Since 2001 I have represented the Cotgrave division on Nottinghamshire County Council both as an opposition member from 2001 to 2005 and re-elected in 2005 to 2009. Following re-election in 2009 as a member of the now controlling Conservative Party and having been the Conservatives' spokesman on Community Safety and then on Adult Social Care & Health issues, I became cabinet member/committee chairman for Environment & Sustainability. In the 2013 county council election, my party was unfortunately (just) put back into opposition, so I am now the shadow spokesman on Environment and Sustainability.
In 2003 I was also elected (and re-elected in 2008 and 2011) as a member of Rushcliffe Borough Councillor representing the Cotgrave ward . In May 2014, I was appointed as Cabinet Member for Sustainability at the borough council.
I was born in Nottingham and educated at St Peter's Junior in Ruddington, South Wolds School in Keyworth and South Notts College. My university was "the one of life". I have a career background in the management of post-16 learning, working for the Skills Funding Agency, Learning & Skills Council and Greater Nottingham TEC. My main specialisms and experience revolve around advertising and marketing and communications.
Previously I worked at the Nottingham Evening Post doing retail and business to business advertising and was involved in the early stages of the UK cable TV industry. Prior to that, I started my working life literally on the shop floor in retail for many years.
As a county council cabinet member, I had Nottinghamshire-wide responsibilities involving environmental matters such as waste and energy management, waste and minerals local plans.
More locally, I am a strong supporter of parish councils, who do a sterling job looking after their responsibilities, and I attend as many of their meetings as possible in my "patch" - Cotgrave, Cropwell Bishop, Cropwell Butler, Colston Bassett, Langar & Barnstone.
Away from council matters, I am interested in wildlife and the countryside, classic cars (yes, that little blue DAF 33 you might see here and there is me) and a very diverse mix of musical tastes - and it really is a diverse mix!
Since 2001 I have represented the Cotgrave division on Nottinghamshire County Council both as an opposition member from 2001 to 2005 and re-elected in 2005 to 2009. Following re-election in 2009 as a member of the now controlling Conservative Party and having been the Conservatives' spokesman on Community Safety and then on Adult Social Care & Health issues, I became cabinet member/committee chairman for Environment & Sustainability. In the 2013 county council election, my party was unfortunately (just) put back into opposition, so I am now the shadow spokesman on Environment and Sustainability.
In 2003 I was also elected (and re-elected in 2008 and 2011) as a member of Rushcliffe Borough Councillor representing the Cotgrave ward . In May 2014, I was appointed as Cabinet Member for Sustainability at the borough council.
I was born in Nottingham and educated at St Peter's Junior in Ruddington, South Wolds School in Keyworth and South Notts College. My university was "the one of life". I have a career background in the management of post-16 learning, working for the Skills Funding Agency, Learning & Skills Council and Greater Nottingham TEC. My main specialisms and experience revolve around advertising and marketing and communications.
Previously I worked at the Nottingham Evening Post doing retail and business to business advertising and was involved in the early stages of the UK cable TV industry. Prior to that, I started my working life literally on the shop floor in retail for many years.
As a county council cabinet member, I had Nottinghamshire-wide responsibilities involving environmental matters such as waste and energy management, waste and minerals local plans.
More locally, I am a strong supporter of parish councils, who do a sterling job looking after their responsibilities, and I attend as many of their meetings as possible in my "patch" - Cotgrave, Cropwell Bishop, Cropwell Butler, Colston Bassett, Langar & Barnstone.
Away from council matters, I am interested in wildlife and the countryside, classic cars (yes, that little blue DAF 33 you might see here and there is me) and a very diverse mix of musical tastes - and it really is a diverse mix!