New Cabinet Member

The Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, Cllr Tony Jefferson has appointed Cllr Christopher Kettle (Bishop's Itchington) as Community Portfolio holder on Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Cabinet.

Cllr Kettle replaces Cllr Sarah Whalley-Hoggins on The Cabinet.

Cllr Christopher Kettle has been a District Councillor since 2014 and is currently Chairman of Audit and Standards Committee and is a member of Overview and Scrutiny Committee and was District Council Chairman for the last two years.

Born and bred in the district, Cllr Kettle read Economics at Exeter University and after graduating spent a brief time in the British Army before training in London as a Chartered Accountant with Touche Ross, now Deloittes. In 1997 he left the profession to become Finance Director of a client and has since worked alternately either as Financial and / or Operations Director or as a strategic and financial Consultant to a range of businesses in a variety of different sectors. In addition to his financial roles he also farms his family farm at Bishop's Itchington.

Cllr Kettle's association with Local Government started at an early age when his father Rupert was Chairman of Warwickshire County Council. His own career began with his election to Bishop's Itchington Parish Council, becoming Chairman in 2007 and continuing until 2015.   He was elected to Stratford-on-Avon District Council as Member for the Harbury Ward in 2014 and, following the reorganisation of the Council in 2015, was elected to the new Bishop's Itchington Ward. He was elected Vice-Chairman of the Council in 2017 and Chairman in 2018 until 2020.

As Chairman he has been actively involved in building the relationship between the District Council and the City of Fuzhou in Jiangxi Province China, visiting the country a number of times on behalf of the Council.

Married to Ginny, they have two boys; Rupert and Louis Oliver now aged 23 and 16 years respectively.

Audit and Standards Committee will elect a new Chairman at their next meeting.

Cllr Bill Fleming (Bidford West and Salford) has been appointed Parish Champion.