Biography

I was born in Lavenham where my father ran the family milling and farming businesses.  I went to schools in Suffolk and I studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. I returned to Suffolk and married Bill. We lived at first in Nayland and moved to Polstead in 1982. Our two children went to local schools and during that period I became involved with many local activities. I began my time as an Independent councillor on Babergh in 1991.

I have gathered a wide range of experience in local government with a particular involvement with the management and needs of social housing. As Chairman of Babergh’s Housing Panel I am continually involved with Babergh’s new local needs housing schemes and the large redevelopment projects. I was Chairman of the Council from 2004-2006 and as Leader of the Independent Group I have been part of the political leadership of the Council as there has never been party political control at Babergh..

Main Issues

Today, local government is under a great deal of pressure to reduce costs, but at the same time to continue to provide essential services. The government has imposed a council tax freeze for this year and a demand for 35% savings over the next 4 years.

Since the collapse of the previous government’s attempt to create unitary councils in Suffolk I have been serving on a politically balanced joint panel of officers and councillors from Babergh and Mid-Suffolk whose task has been to look at how the two councils might make substantial savings by working together. The first step has been to appoint a new Chief Executive who will be responsible for both councils and over the next few months shared integrated management teams, serving both councils, will be formed. The Councils will retain their identity with existing boundaries unaffected.

District and Borough councils, set up in 1974, were given the responsibilities of social housing, planning, environmental services, the collection of local taxes and distribution of benefits, to ensure that the needs of the people and the local infrastructure would be assessed locally.

Proposals to fully merge Babergh with Mid-Suffolk give me great concern. A full merger would create the biggest district council in the country. Boundaries would be reviewed by the Boundary Commission and councillors would be required to represent nearly double the current wards. The local nature of the new council would have to be strengthened with new locality arrangements and parishes would find themselves with another layer of bureaucracy. If the integrated management arrangements go well substantial savings will be made and Babergh’s identity will be retained.

During this time of uncertainty I will continue, if re-elected, to exercise my commitment to the local needs of Polstead, Layham, Raydon, Higham and Shelley. I have a very special feeling for South Suffolk and will always consider the interests of our local area as my priority.

Independents at Babergh are committed to The Bell Principles and endorsed by the Independent Network. www.independentnetwork.org.uk