Bristol City Council assistant executive members appointed

Release Date:  24-Mar-2009

Cllr Barbara Janke, Leader of Bristol City Council has appointed Cllr Neil Harrison and Cllr Alf Havvock as Assistant Executive Members in order to provide back up and support to the Cabinet.

“I want to make sure that we have the capacity to manage the busy agenda we have for the City,” explained Cllr Janke. “Alf Havvock and Neil Harrison have been working as assistants to our executive members for a while and will provide support and assistance to the busiest portfolios.  This also allows us to develop and grow peoples skills and experience in managing the issues involved in running such a diverse city as Bristol.”

Cllr Neil Harrison has been appointed as an Assistant Executive Member for Sustainability and Cllr Alf Havvock as Assistant Executive Member for Housing.

Cllr Harrison will be assisting the Cabinet in the area of sustainability as well as working closely with individual executive members Cllr Jon Rogers, Executive Member for Transport & Sustainability and Cllr Gary Hopkins, Executive Member for Environment and Community Safety.

Cllr Harrison’s work will include implementing the recommendations of last year’s Climate Change Select Committee report, supporting new initiatives to improve recycling rates and taking a role in the sustainability components of the Bristol Development Framework.

Cllr Harrison, who currently chairs the Sustainable Travel Select Committee, will also be providing impetus to strategies around increasing walking and other alternatives to fossil fuel car use.

The role will also include a greater engagement with the city’s green business community and other stakeholders around climate change issues.

Cllr Harrison says, “I am relishing the opportunity to work with my colleagues to push the sustainability agenda forwards in Bristol.  I want to see a city with the lowest possible carbon footprint and where the environment is put at the forefront of policy priorities.”

“We need to create the circumstances where residents, politicians and businesses can all make their contribution to a clean and green city.  I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Cllr Alf Havvock will be working closely with Cllrs Tim Kent, Executive Member of Housing and Service Improvement and Cllr Mike Popham, Executive Member for Efficiency and Value for Money.

He will particularly be involved with the housing benefits system where he has personal experience of the system having previously worked at Bristol City Council as a member of staff;   “I want to ensure that the system operates as effectively and efficiently as possible and is able to help those who need it most by providing value for money.  I know my role will develop and grow and am looking forward to really making a difference to those who need our help.”

Cllr Alf Havvock and Neil Harrison take up their posts with immediate effect.

Author:  Julia Dean/Simon Caplan

For all media enquiries relating to this press release, please contact Corporate Communications on 0117 922 2650.

To link to this page directly, use the URL
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/redirect?oid=PressRelease-id-29955188

Subscribe to our free email bulletin service and get the latest news and information about consultations and events happening in the city - www.bristol.gov.uk/newsdirect