Political CV


Chris Clarke OBE

Old School House, TIBBERTON, Gloucestershire, GL19 3AQ.

Telephone Home : 01452 790369

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY WORK


Leader of Somerset County Council, a Shire County with a budget of around £ 400 millions and 15,500 employees, since 1993. First elected a District Councillor in 1983 in Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, has been a County Councillor from 1985-2005. Was a member of Mendip District Council from 1991 to 1995 including a year as Leader.

Non-Executive Member, Somerset Health Authority.

Chairman of the Local Government Association’s National Executive on Social Inclusion.

Helped to establish and then Chairman of the South West Regional Assembly 1998 to 2000

Governor of the Avalon Special Needs School at Street until spring 2000, Somerset. Member of the Local Government Association Finance and Strategy Forum; Director of the Local Government Improvement and Development Agency.

Member of the Government’s national New Deal Task Force

Member of the Liberal Democrat’s national ruling body, the Federal Executive

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT

Freelance Consultant in Business Advice and Journalism

Previously, Business Adviser, Responsible for Business Counselling, Consultancy, advice and training to a wide range of business clients, including undertaking of prospecting visits and the production of Business Development Reports, the preparation of Business Reviews, conduct of computer diagnostic studies, presentation at Business Skills Seminars and start up courses and direct project and consultancy work with clients.

IMMEDIATELY PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT

Director, Taunton District Enterprise Centre. Responsible for ensuring the effective provision of Business Counselling, Career and Redundancy Counselling, Training, Consultancy and the operation of Executive Job Clubs and Executive Help.