I am one of two Liberal Democrat district councillors who represent the Epping Hemnall ward on Epping Forest District Council. The other Lib Dem councillor is Janet Whitehouse. (The identical surname is not a co-incidence: Janet is my mum.) Janet also represents Epping and Theydon Bois on Essex County Council.

I first stood for the council in 1995 and lost by 22 votes. Four years later I ran again and was successful. I was re-elected in 2002, 2004 and 2008. My current term of office ends in 2012.

On the council

I lead the nine-strong Liberal Democrat Group on the district council. As such I try to attend as many Cabinet meetings as I can to keep up to date with the decisions being made by the ruling Conservative Group, ask questions, and ensure that Cabinet Members are held to account on behalf of residents. I also speak regularly at full council meetings.

I am a member of the Area Planning sub-committee East, which considers planning applications from Epping, Theydon Bois, North Weald, Ongar and the rural villages.I also serve on the Finance and Performance Management Scrutiny Panel, which keeps an eye on council spending and standards of service, and chair the Staff Appeals Panel.

You can check my attendance record by clicking on this link.

Previously I served three years as Leisure and Young People portfolio holder. I was a member of the former Transportation Committee, the former Resources Committee and many working groups. Between 1995 and 2007 I was a member of Epping Town Council.

Local activities

As a councillor I take up many issues for local residents ranging from immediate planning matters and parking problems to long-term strategic issues. Current priorities including pressing Essex County Council to improve the maintenance of local roads and pavements.

I am a committee member of the Friends of Swaines Green and a member of various other organisations including the Epping Society, Friends of Copped Hall and Essex Wildlife Trust.

Epping Hemnall

The Epping Hemnall ward covers the half of Epping south and east of the High Street (including Station Road, Hemnall Street, Centre Drive, Ivy Chimneys, Bower Hill) plus Coopersale. The map below shows the ward boundaries.

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey electionmap service. Image reproduced with permission of Ordnance Survey.