Cheshire Fire Authority new members

Councillor Bob Rudd has been re-elected as Chair of Cheshire Fire Authority for the fourth year running at the Authority’s Annual General Meeting on June 19.

The Cheshire West and Chester Labour councillor was first appointed to Cheshire Fire Authority in 2011 and was first elected to the position of Chair of Cheshire Fire Authority in June 2016. Councillor (Cllr) Bob Rudd has been involved in local government for over 47 years, beginning his political career in Burgess Hill Urban District Council in West Sussex in 1972, before moving to Chester in 1990 and gaining election to Chester City Council a year later.

Deputy Chair of Cheshire Fire Authority is Cllr Stef Nelson from Halton Borough Council, who was also re-elected.

At his opening address, Cllr Bob Rudd welcomed 13 new members to the Authority following local elections. He also took the opportunity to thank previous members for their support over the last 12 months.

The new members are:

• Cllr Martin Delaney (Cheshire West and Chester)
• Cllr Gina Lewis (Cheshire West and Chester)
• Cllr Peter Wheeler (Cheshire West and Chester)
• Cllr Razia Daniels (Cheshire West and Chester)
• Cllr Norman Wright (Cheshire West and Chester)
• Cllr Rachel Bailey (Cheshire East)
• Cllr Michael Beanland (Cheshire East)
• Cllr David Brown (Cheshire East)
• Cllr David Edwardes (Cheshire East)
• Cllr Nick Mannion (Cheshire East)
• Cllr James Nicholas (Cheshire East)
• Cllr Jonathan Parry (Cheshire East)
• Cllr Terry O’Neill (Warrington)

Commenting on his election, Chair of Cheshire Fire Authority Cllr Bob Rudd said: “I couldn’t be more delighted to be voted in again as Chair of Cheshire Fire Authority and it’s a great honour to hold this position for the last three years. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to give thanks to my fellow Authority members for electing me and for the tremendous support they have given me. I would also like to welcome 13 new councillors and together I am confident that we will continue to work to focus on innovation and excellence, making Cheshire the best performing fire and rescue service in the country.”

The Fire Authority is the public body that manages the fire and rescue service. It is made up of 23 councillors from Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton and Warrington Borough Councils. The current political make-up of the Authority is 14 Labour Members, 6 Conservative, 2 Independents and 1 Liberal Democrat. 

Full details of the Authority are available on our website www.cheshirefire.gov.uk