I represent Epping and Theydon Bois (which also includes Coopersale, Thornwood and Fiddlers Hamlet) on Essex County Council. I was first elected in May 2013 and am due to serve until the next county council elections in 2017. You can find a map of the area I represent here.

I am also 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.) You can find a map of the Epping Hemnall ward here.

I first stood for the district council in 1995 and lost by 22 votes. Four years later I ran again and was successful. I was re-elected in 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2012. My current term of office ends in 2016.

I am a member of Epping Town Council. In 2012-13) I had a very enjoyable and inspiring year as Epping Town Mayor.

On the district council

I lead the four-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 District Development Control Committee which considers applications of district-wide significance and departures from the local development plan. I am a member of the Planning Scrutiny Panel.

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

Previously I have served on the Audit and Governance Committee, the Finance and Performance Management Scrutiny Panel which keeps an eye on council spending and standards of service, and the Staff Appeals Panel. When no party had a majority on the council I spent 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.

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 and working to make sure that local views are taken into account when the old Epping Junior School site is St John’s Road is redeveloped.

I am 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.

Updated 31 May 2013