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News County Council elections – LRA in the lead
21 May 2021 For
some years, LRA Cllr Chris Pond has been leading the small group of
Independent Non-aligned Group (the NAG) of Cllrs on the County Council.
This numbered 7 in April. Under the Council’s rules, membership of a
group of cllrs is essential for Chris and the other Independent Cllrs
to be included as members of various Council committees; these are
where much of the real work of the Council is done.
As
result of the recent elections, the Conservatives retained their
majority of seats. However, the new NAG (10 Cllrs) is now larger than
the Liberal Democrat group (8 Cllrs) and the Labour group (5 Cllrs);
this means that Chris has become Leader of the 'Opposition' on the
Council. Coincidentally, it came 40 years to the day since Howard Kleyn
took his seat at Chelmsford as the first LRA Cllr.
Chris
commented that NAG’s members hold a wide range of views, but are united
as champions of localism, and opponents of any political party dogma
that might adversely affect residents. Chris stressed that the new
situation in no way restricts him in acting, as he as always done, to
look after Loughton’s interests. He will continue to oppose the
Conservative administration when they get things wrong, and to support
them when they get matters right.
