Leader of East Sussex County Council - Cllr Keith Glazier, member for Rye and Eastern Rother, covering the parishes of East Guldeford ; Icklesham ; Iden ; Pett ; Playden ; and Rye.
The Leader has overall political control of the Council, although many key decisions are delegated to other senior councillors (Lead Members). The Leader is elected for a four year term by the Council at the first meeting following an election.
Being a county councillor offers you the chance to debate and take the lead on issues of local and national importance.
Cllr Glazier represent East Sussex County Council on the South East Local Enterprise Partnership – one of 39 partnerships set up across the country by the government to be the key bodies determining strategic economic priorities while making investments and delivering activities to drive growth and create local jobs.
Born and raised in this area, I wanted to change things for the better for people living in the east of the county. I was first elected councillor for Winchelsea, now the Rye & Eastern Rother division in 1997. The name may have changed but this area still has a shortage of regeneration opportunities and needs a better infrastructure to develop.I was bI originally worked on local issues as a parish councillor. The chairman of Icklesham Parish Council convinced me that councillors at all levels can make a difference.
Working as a full-time councillor and Leader meant I had to give up my plumbing and heating business; but council business is very rewarding and I have come to realise you can achieve anything if you stick at it. I am proud that refocusing social services away from long-term care to intermediate care has helped a lot of people to stay in their own homes for longer.
