The Council's new leader

Sevenoaks District Council has a new leader and a new Cabinet following last night's annual meeting of the Council (Tuesday 10 May 2005).

Thirty-two year old Cllr Peter Fleming, who represents Sevenoaks Town and St Johns Ward, was elected to the position of Leader by Full Council, and takes over from Cllr Alison Cook, who steps down after six years.

Cllr Fleming has been a resident of Sevenoaks town for the last 21 years. After he was born in Maidstone he lived in Malawi until the age of three when he then moved back to the UK to live in Sidcup.

After finishing his primary education at Lady Boswells he studied at the Wildernesse School, leaving at 16. Cllr Fleming also spent a year at West Kent College before he began work with the Stag Theatre (now Sevenoaks Playhouse), which was the start of 11 years in the theatrical business including five years as a production manager in London's west end.

Cllr Fleming was first elected to the Council six years ago and has been a Cabinet Member with responsibility for communications, IT and young people's issues for the last four years.

Prior to becoming a Councillor, he was actively involved in local politics and the local community and as a representative for the VSU Youth in Action organisation on the Sevenoaks Town Forum. Outside the Council, Cllr Fleming is a member of the Youth Offender Panel and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors at Wildernesse School.

Cllr Peter Fleming says: "I believe passionately in local government as we can have a positive effect on resident’s lives and the environment in which they live. As the Council's leader, I intend to build on the good work of my predecessor by listening to local peoples' concerns, aspirations and priorities and ensuring we deliver customer focused services within the resources available to us. My four main priorites for the coming year are the Councils' community plan, the public consultation around the local development plan, continuing work on the budget and balanced communities. Local government is changing and we need to have a clear message not only around our priorities but also around our purpose. We need, in consultation, to set a vision for the District and put in place the policies needed to achive it. I am keen to better explain how we take decisions and why and to encourage our residents to become actively involved in our work."

Cllr Fleming became Leader of the Council on 10 May following an election by all 54 District Councillors. At the meeting Cllr Fleming also announced his new Cabinet:

Cllr Felicity Broomby - Quality Services

Cllr Carol Clark - Balanced Communities

Cllr Peter Coates - Value for Money

Cllr Jill Davison - Continuous Improvement and Strategic Planning

Cllr Peter Fleming - Communications, Consultation and Future Direction

Cllr Keith Loney - Safe Community

Cllr Gary Williamson - Built Environment

The Cabinet, which meets every four weeks, is responsible for taking most of the Council’s day-to-day decisions, although major decisions, such as setting the budget and the Council Tax or approving policies and strategies, are considered by all 54 Councillors at the meeting of the Council.