COUNTY COUNCILS NETWORK - Key Persons
Alun leads the CCN's work on economic growth, devolution and levelling-up, ensuring that the views of our members are properly reflected in government policy. Alun joined the CCN team in May 2022 having previously worked in the civil service on economic growth, including supporting Lord Heseltine's work in this area.
Job Titles:
- CCN Parliament and Reform Spokeswoman
- Member of the Grenfell Recovery Task Force Group
Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE, has been an elected conservative politician since 1995, having been elected to North Wiltshire District Council from 1995-2009 and with Wiltshire County Council from 1997-2009, where she led the council from 2003. Jane became Leader of the new Unitary Authority, Wiltshire Council in 2009 and stood down in July 2019.
Jane's passion, for nearly 20 years, was to deliver good services to the people of Wiltshire, ensuring the Council is modern and efficient, and building relationships with the public, private and voluntary sectors in the county to ensure the sustainability of those services that the residents require.
Nationally Jane is on the Executive Board of the County Council's Network, and a peer assessor with the LGA. Having been appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to local government, Jane was made a peer in the Dissolution Honours in 2015, becoming Baroness Scott of Bybrook.
Jane is also a member of the Grenfell Recovery Task Force Group set up by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government following the Grenfell fire in June 2017.
Raised in rural Lincolnshire. David worked in London and Birmingham before moving with his family to Somerset in 1992. In business David has a wide range of operational experience including manufacturing, Children's Homes and Older People care. Most recently has been Director of HR for a large South West employer operating across 43 sites.
In addition to his first degree, David is a fully qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Warwick University.
Before becoming Leader of the County Council in May 2017 David served two years as Chairman of and a further two years as Cabinet Member.
David, who is married with two grown up children enjoys all aspects of history, sport and politics. He is well known locally for commentating large public events.
Job Titles:
- Partnerships & Events Officer
Hannah is responsible for managing CCNs Strategic Partners and Conference partners. Hannah also leads on the planning and organisation of CCNs events including the Annual Conference which takes place in November. She acts as the first port of call for any partnership enquiries and event queries.
Job Titles:
- Senior Media and Communications Officer
Ian is responsible for CCNs communications, marketing, and public affairs support. In his role, Ian leads both external and internal communications, including press releases, media relationships, newsletters, and articles. He acts as the first port of call for journalists.
Job Titles:
- Senior Corporate & Public Affairs Advisor
James leads on CCN's on the network's public affairs engagement work, including liaison with Parliamentarians, special advisors, and senior officials from the CCN membership.
Job Titles:
- Director of Policy and Communications
James is responsible for the delivery of CCN's full portfolio of policy and research aimed at influencing government on behalf of our member councils and supporting the delivery of effective and efficient local services. James also oversees CCN's communications, parliamentary, Whitehall and public affairs engagement work.
Jon leads the CCN's work on people-based areas of the network's policy and research, overseeing our work across adults and children's social care, alongside CCN advocacy on education. He leads the network's work on health and social care reform and integration. Jon joined the CCN team in early 2019 having previously been an assistant director at children's charity Barnardo's and specialising in children's advocacy over a number of years prior.
Job Titles:
- Cabinet Member
- CCN Rural Spokesman
Cllr Julian German, CCN Rural Spokesman
Julian was elected as Leader of Cornwall Council in May 2019. Julian is from a private sector background with an MSc from Edinburgh and a BA Hons from Hull. He is the Independent Cornwall Councillor for the Roseland Electoral Division. He is also an Arts Council England South West Board Member and Chairperson of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site Partnership Board.
Julian has been a Cabinet Member since 2009 holding the following roles: Environment, Heritage and Waste Management; Localism, Sustainability and Devolution, Economy & Culture, Resources and Deputy Leader.
Outside of Cornwall Council, Julian is a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh and Chairperson of Roseland Community Transport. He is a Trustee of a number of registered charities including St Just in Roseland Community Land Trust, Homeyard Homes, St Piran's Trust and the Radford Trust.
Job Titles:
- Leader of East Sussex County Council
Keith Glazier is the Leader of East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and Chair of Transport for the South East. He has been an East Sussex County Councillor since 1997.
As Leader of ESCC he is responsible for the delivery of services including Adult Social Care, Children's Services, economic development and infrastructure to the residents of the county. He is Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board and lead Cabinet Member for Strategic Management and Economic Development.
Cllr Glazier represents ESCC on the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, is a member of the Executive Committee of the County Council's Network and the LGA's People and Places Board, and Chairs the South East 7 Partnership.
He has been a member of the ESI Funds National Growth Programme Board since 2015, on various LGA Boards, the Strategic Board of Midlands Engine and Midlands Connects and is Chairman of the Constellation Partnership.
Martin has been the leader of the council since 2005, and has been a county councillor since 1993 for Folkingham Rural which represents over 20 parishes between Sleaford, Bourne and Grantham.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Local Government Association 's General Assembly
Nicholas Rushton lives in Ashby de la Zouch, in Northwest Leicestershire. He has been the Leader of Leicestershire County Council since 2012 and leads for the Council on Strategic Affairs, External Relations, Economic development, Trading Standards and Regulatory Services, Resilience and Planning for Minerals and Waste. He has been Chairman of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority since 2015. Nicholas is also a board member of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.
Nicholas has been a county councillor from 1989-93 and again from 2001 to present. He also sits on Northwest Leicestershire District Council and Ashby Town Council since 1986 and he is currently lead member for Finance and Resources for both councils.
On the national scene, Nick is a member of the Local Government Association's General Assembly and is a member of its Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board. Nick is also the East Midland's representative on the LGA's Executive Board. Recently, Nick was elected as the Vice-Chairman of the County Councils Network, the national body representing upper tier county authorities lobbying government for finance and local government reform. Nick is also an Executive Board member of East Midlands Councils and is a Board member of the Midlands Engine and Midlands Connect Strategic Steering Group.
Outside of politics, Nicholas is a successful businessman, is married to Daniella and has a son, Bertie.
Peter leads on the CCN's place-based policy areas and research. His remit includes leading work on housing, spatial planning, climate change, and infrastructure.
Job Titles:
- Member of Staffordshire County Council
Philip has been a member of Staffordshire County Council since 1987 and Leader since 2009. He was also a member of East Staffordshire Borough Council where he was Deputy Leader from 2003-2008. He was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2016.
Philip is a farmer and balances his public duties with running a demanding business.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Association of North East Councils
Regionally Cllr Henig serves as Chair of the Association of North East Councils and was previously chair of the North East Combined Authority and vice chair of the North East LEP. He remains a Principal Lecturer in Politics at the University of Sunderland.
Job Titles:
- Leader of Cheshire East Council
- Leader of the Council
Sam Corcoran became Leader of Cheshire East Council in May 2019. By profession he is a chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser and was awarded fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Taxation for a thesis on ‘Taxing the Workers'. He went to Manchester Grammar School and won an open scholarship to read maths at Brasenose College, Oxford.
Sam was first elected onto Sandbach Town Council in 2007, then onto Cheshire East Council in 2011 as Labour & Co-operative Councillor for Sandbach Heath & East.
Simon is the Chief Executive of CCN, responsible for leadership of the organisation, business management and all aspects of CCN's membership. Simon has led the transformation of CCN into an influential and respected network which advocates innovative policy solutions on the challenges facing local government and the wider public sector.
Simon Henig has been Leader of Durham County Council since 2008, guiding the council through its transition to unitary local government. He played a key role as the council reshaped many of its structures, including the creation of Area Action Partnerships to promote local decision making across the county.