The Politician /...cont.

As a representative of Hyde Park Ward from 2002, Colin served first as Cabinet Member for Transport, then for Finance, and Deputy Leader of the Council.

Drawing upon his experience of leading organisations through periods of critical change, Colin became Leader of Westminster Council in 2008, steering it through one of the worst economic downturns of recent times. This coincided with unprecedented reductions in Government spending to balance the national economy.

“anyone can maintain a certain level of provision by increasing taxation, the real skill is to improve services while stabilising the amount we take from people who work hard and need to use every penny carefully when the price of living is increasing. Local government shouldn’t add to their burden.”

Commenting on Colin’s numerous achievements as leader of Westminster Council, Mike More said of his departure in March 2012: ‘Colin has led the authority through a testing period where we have made significant savings while retaining most of our frontline services.

Mike More adds in his introduction to Architect of a Living City, ‘Being the leader of Westminster is a demanding and tough role. Being the Leader between 2008 and 2012 meant doing a tough job during the toughest of times. But the list of [your] achievements shows that your leadership has transformed the landscape – in more ways than one’.

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‘This was a man that always kept you thinking about your brief because he would invariably ask the right questions and know exactly what was important. He would let you get on with the job and trust you’
Cllr Melvyn Caplan
Cabinet Member for Customer Services and Transformation

 

‘Colin has led the authority through a testing period where we have made significant savings while retaining most of our frontline services.’
‘Being the leader of Westminster is a demanding and tough  role. Being the Leader between 2008 and 2012 meant doing a tough job during the toughest of times. But the list of [your] achievements shows that your leadership has transformed the landscape – in more ways than one’
Mike More
Chief executive of Westminster City Council

 

 

‘Throughout his period of Leadership, Colin demonstrated a rare moral courage in taking the tough, not always politcally easy, but the right decisions’
Cllr Edward Argar
Cabinet member for City Management