Roger Gough
Roger Gough has been officially elected as Leader of Kent County Council at the full council meeting on Thursday, 17 October, having been voted in as leader of the majority Conservative group on the council two weeks earlier.
In both roles he succeeds
Paul Carter, who has held them for the past 14 years.
Mr Gough has served as the Member for Darent Valley since 2005 and has served in
a variety of Cabinet roles since 2006. He will be relinquishing responsibility
for Children, Young People and Education to take up his new position.
Before entering local government, Mr Gough worked in investment banking for 16
years until 2002, mainly as an investment analyst specialising in the banking
industry.
From 1988 to 1991, Mr Gough lived and worked in Tokyo as an analyst of the Japanese financial sector; he was subsequently an analyst of the European banking industry. He is also the author of two books.
County Hall in Maidstone
His wife Michelle is a former deputy leader of Sevenoaks District Council. The
couple have two children who attend Kent state schools.
In his first speech as Leader, Mr Gough told Members:
“We are the body that speaks for Kent, that sets out a vision and gives a voice
for the county. We reflect that to the people we represent, to partners and to
government. No one else has the role or mandate to do this.
“But we don’t do it alone or always through direct control. There will be areas
in which our formal powers are limited but no one else can take the all-round
view of the county’s needs, convene partners and help structure the debate and
conclusions. Even if much of that is then delivered by others.
“We know the big challenges that we face: housing pressures, often from London,
often without the matching jobs or infrastructure. Gaps in skills and
opportunities, and between the west and the coastal east of the county. An
ageing population and what that means for health and social care.
“The ongoing pressures on Special Educational Needs and, on those children, and
their families. It is the greatest regret and disappointment to me as I hand
over my portfolio to a successor that we have so much further to go in that
area.
“In addressing those and in addressing what we discussed earlier on, those will
be the priorities of the new administration. Securing adequate funding
infrastructure is in part a funding issue one that if not resolved could put an
unsustainable burden on this council. But we must also not forget how much it is
also something that gives that sense to residents of the pressures that grow on
them, of the undermining of quality of life in this county.
“There has in fact been good progress in the work between Kent leaders, county
and district and seeking to address this but there is further to go on that and
as Paul mentioned earlier on, much of that must also be addressed truth again to
national government about where policy needs to change. If there is to be growth
the infrastructure must be there to match it.
“We have great beauty here in Kent, both natural and manmade and we must ensure
that the public realm enhances and does not tarnish it. So it will be an early
priority for the administration to focus every last bit of headroom we can find
on those visible services through our council plays its part in people’s daily
lives.
“In the longer term a key related priority to the quality of life here will be
the delivery of our energy and low emission strategy and the ambitious targets
for zero carbon that were discussed at a recent county council meeting,
particularly focusing on improving progress from our own estate. Central to this
will be a new dedicated cabinet portfolio for the environment.
“From the Saxon Shore to the North Downs, from Romney Marsh to Tunbridge Wells,
from the deep history of Becket and Augustine’s Canterbury to the bright
modernity of Ebbsfleet and the Thames Gateway this is a great county. What a
privilege here for all of us to serve it. I will do my very best.”
Mr Gough was among several members, including leaders of the opposition parties,
who paid tribute to the outgoing leader, Paul Carter.
Paul Carter making his farewell speech
Paul Carter responded: “Thank you all for your kind and generous words, I am
overwhelmed.
“I have enjoyed every moment of the last 14 years as County Council leader and
22 leaders as a county council and I hope that windows do open for me in the
areas that I would like to be involved in.
“I said 14 years ago I would do the absolute best to serve the people of Kent
and this council. It’s been full throttle all the way.”
Peter Oakford
Peter Oakford, who has been the Member for Tunbridge Wells North since 2013, is
continuing as the Deputy Leader of KCC. He has previously been a member of
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Chairman of Southborough Town Council,
having overseen the £10million community hub project.
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