County Councillor for Sonning Common Division, comprising:
Binfield Heath; Bix & Assendon; Eye & Dunsden; Harpsden; Highmoor; Rotherfield Greys; Rotherfield Peppard; Shiplake; Sonning Common
I have represented the nine parishes that curl round Henley for nearly 12 years. In May 2025, the boundaries change and, if re-elected, I would lose Bix & Assendon, Highmoor, Rotherfield Greys and Rotherfield Peppard, but gain the southern part of Henley.
During my period in office I have fought for local people on local issues and, outside of election time and away from council meetings, party politics barely comes into it.
I stay in close touch with the communities I represent by attending almost all of the monthly or bimonthly parish council meetings in my Division, and engaging with local concerns. Although controversial planning matters generally fall within the remit of the District Council, I get closely involved with the aspects that relate to the County Council, such as highways.
I am a great believer in local councils sticking to local issues for which they are responsible, not grandstanding about national matters over which they have no control. Sadly, too much council time and money is wasted by those on the left who insist on having their say about matters that are nothing to do with the council.
As a sitting councillor, I get more emails about roads, drains and overgrown vegetation than anything else, thus it amazes me that these issues do not feature in the list of nine priorities published by the LibDem/Green coalition that runs the council. And in any case, nine priorities are too many – if everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority.
In my view, the county council should have three main priorities: Adults’ Social Care, Children’s Social Care and Roads & Drains. The first two items account for over half the council’s expenditure, so require very close attention; the third item affects most people in the county.
I believe in protecting the wonderful rural nature of our villages and the unique charm of Henley. I have lived in the area for over thirty years and my family grew up here.