Peter set to become chairman

The Air Ambulance and Médecins Sans Frontières are the chosen charities of the man set to become Leicestershire County Council's new civic head.

Peter Lewis is due to be voted in as the next chairman at the council meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).

First elected to the council in 2005, Peter represents Loughborough South West and is a retired English and drama lecturer.

Since joining the council, he has been a deputy scrutiny commissioner, chaired the Community Services Scrutiny Committee, chaired reviews on day care for the elderly, developing an arts strategy and teenage pregnancy, and served as the vice-chairman since last May.

Married to Jean, the couple have two children and two young grandchildren.

As well as being a talented tenor soloist and producer of opera, Peter is a county trustee of Curve and secretary of Human Rights and Racial Equality Charnwood, and was a borough councillor for Charnwood between 2009 and 2011.

Peter said: "I am hugely looking forward to saying thank you to all those people who make Leicestershire such a good place to live. They are the real Leicestershire and the county is always grateful for their efforts."

Peter is set to take over the role from Jackie Dickinson who has served as chairman for the last 12 months.

The County Council meets at 2.30pm on Wednesday, 23rd May.

The chairman plays a key role in promoting and enhancing the civic life of the county. The position is largely ceremonial and many of the chairman’s engagements recognise individual, community and business related achievements, often presiding or being present at formal ceremonies, church services and awards presentations.

The chairman is elected by the whole County Council to perform the function of regulating and controlling the proceedings in a fair manner, ensuring that the rights of all members, regardless of political opinion, are observed. In order to do this the chairman must ensure that he or she distances themselves from the political arena during their term of office.

The chairman’s term of office is one year, starting in May. A typical year would mean the chairman carrying out approximately 400 to 450 official engagements - some will be formal occasions but many will be informal engagements involving local community organisations and representatives.