Cllr. Bob Bayford, a previous Deputy Leader of Thanet District Council, has been elected as the council's new Leader for 2010/11.
Cllr. Bayford has been the member for Kingsgate on the council since 1991 and was Deputy Leader of the council from 2003 - 2006. During this time, he also took on the Cabinet portfolios of Economic Development and Regeneration, Maritime Services and Improvement and Performance.
Since 2007, he has been the Chairman of the council's Overview and Scrutiny Panel, working closely with opposition members on a number of different issues. These have included looking at the council's Budget, the progress it has made against its Corporate Plan and plans for sharing services with other councils in East Kent.
Cllr. Bayford said: "I'm exceptionally proud to be taking on the role of council leader. Thanet is a truly great place and I want to ensure that everything the council does contributes to keeping it that way. I'm under no illusions though. The next year is going to be exceptionally challenging and we will need to steer Thanet through what's going to a very difficult time. Resources at the council are already scarce and they're likely to get even more scarce over the coming months. My aim is to maintain, and if at all possible, improve the services that we provide to local people. We have an excellent team here at the council, committed to doing just that. Our staff are enthusiastic and full of ideas, but most importantly, they're determined to do the best possible job that they can for Thanet's residents. Although I'm taking on the job of council leader, moving Thanet forward is very much a team effort. I'm looking forward to working with officers and members of all political parties to do just that."
Cllr. Bayford has also been a member of Broadstairs and St. Peter's Town Council since 1995 and joined Kent County Council as the member for the Broadstairs and Sir Moses Montefiore ward in 2009. He is married with two grown-up children and has lived in Thanet since 1985. An accountant by profession, Cllr. Bayford's business experience includes working for both large multi-national companies and running his own small business in Broadstairs.
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