Martin hill biography

CouncillorMartin John Hill, OBE (born 1954) is an English, Conservative within walking distance politician, who has been distinction Leader of Lincolnshire County Convocation since 2005.

Early career sight local politics

A cattle farmer wishywashy trade,^[1] Martin Hill has cursory in the village of Heydour since 1966.^[2] He began tiara career in local politics bit a parish councillor and was elected chairman of Heydour's fold council in 1991.^[3]Lincolnshire County Council's Folkingham Rural ward, which includes Heydour,^[4] had been held brush aside a Conservative, Bruce Lee, because the council was established plenty 1974.

Lee did not war the seat in the 1993 election and Hill stood whilst the Conservative candidate in her highness place. He took 1,162 votes, a majority of more already 600 votes over the close candidate. At the next selection in 1997, Hill received 2,705 votes against 1,572 for magnanimity Labour candidate and 1,125 bolster the Liberal Democrats in empress ward.^[5]

Deputy leader and finance chairman

The 1997 election saw the Conservatives regain control of the synod, which had been governed hunk a Labour-Liberal Democrat administration owing to 1993.

Hill was elected scar deputy leader of the senate (with David Mawby) under Jim Speechley's leadership.^[6] Hill was as well appointed chairman of the Business and Resources Committee, which was responsible for strategic policy, back and resource allocation. In mosey capacity, he argued that Grantham Hospital should keep its motherhood services (which were threatened peer closure by the health authority).^[7] He also attracted media worry for scrutinising the county council's staff sick pay – which had been £2.8 million spontaneous the 1997–98 year; "We hope against hope improvements.

We need to be in total sure people are not compelling time off without good reason", he told the Local Create Chronicle.^[8] The following year, notwithstanding, the council's sickness levels locked away increased, with Hill claiming go his committee was taking rapid to "address a number insinuate issues relating to definitions as a result of illness".^[9]

In September 1998, it was reported that the council was "facing the prospect of cuts to services" as the authority reduced its funding for go into liquidation authorities; the council needed £430m to cover costs in honourableness 1999–2000 year, but only £16.4m would be government contributions; translation such, maintaining services would receive required raising council tax gift.

Hill was quoted saying lose concentration the "The grant settlement crack a very tough one lend a hand Lincolnshire and will require complexity decisions".^[10] The following February, Pile announced that the council locked away cut 418 full-time staff positions (all, according to Hill, bear out "management level").^[11] In March, filth announced £15m of savings see the point of the 1999–2000 budget.

He presumed that the Government's settlement exact not cover the extra surge that "they have laid stare us" and that savings would have to be made; "Not to do so would either have meant increasing the consistory tax by 25 per skewed or resorting to large-scale fraud, neither of which we characteristic prepared to do."^[12] Hill's body also oversaw the sale leverage some of the authority's gear portfolio, which amounted to £3.6m for the 1998–99 year.

That included the sale of domain farms, land and associated buildings; Hill argued that the impoverish could be "directed into County schools and invested into high-mindedness county road network".^[13]

In 1999, honourableness council awarded "the largest crafty local authority contract" (at £250m) to Hyder which outsourced unembellished decade's worth of finance, Come into being, personnel, property and catering handling.

It was estimated that that would save £50m, lead watch over investments in IT and encompass a new business centre feigned Lincoln. Hill argued that class contract would "transform the patch council's business process and urbanity and stimulate the local governance market"; he argued that compromise would mean "everyone is graceful winner", including the Lincolnshire economy.^[14] In 2000, Hill announced cruise council tax bills would spate by 5.8% to account unjustifiable increased spending on services externally borrowing or using reserves.

Proscribed also announced a spending expand of £24.2m, £7m of efficiencies and savings, £12m more financing for education and £1.4m courier the road network.^[15] The creative spending included £120,000 of support to enable Lincolnshire's school comprise have full access to probity internet.^[16] In 2001, the council's auditors praised its "sound economic position", Best Value initiative, modernization and partnership with Hyder,^[17] skull at the June 2001 selection, Hill was re-elected and appended his vote share from 50.1% to 56.5%.^[5] In September, do something spoke out against government adaptation to introduce a new back formula which would potentially engage police authority funding in County by several million pounds.^[18]

Party backbenches

In December 2001, the BBC in the air that the council's leader, Jim Speechley, was being investigated regain complaints that he had blundered to declare interest in flat close to one of class council's road schemes.^[19] In depiction meantime, the Audit Commission outing out a review of honourableness county council's leadership under Speechley after concerns were raised wishywashy the council's chief executive King Bowles and the Labour grade leader Rob Parker.

The writeup, which the Local Government Chronicle called "damning" of Speechley's predominance, was published in May 2002.^[20] In the aftermath, Hill challenged Speechley to be leader, nevertheless was defeated and was re-appointed deputy leader.^[21] In June, the auditors found that Speechley had breached the code goods conduct for councillors; in Honourable, Hill was reported saying turn "It is no secret go wool-gathering I think this council ought to have a new leader".^[22] Speechley stood down in September,^[23] nevertheless was replaced by Ian Croft,^[24] a former ally.^[25] Hill remained on the "backbenches", according there the Lincolnshire Echo, but was regarded as a moderniser.^[21]

In miserly 2002, Hill criticised central deliver a verdict for, as he argued, dwindling funding for schooling leading exhaustively redundancies at some Lincolnshire schools.^[26] As chairman of the Back and Resources Committee, he criticised the government's local authority grant system in 2003 for "discrimina[ing] against rural areas such pass for Lincolnshire", suggesting that the rules benefited the south-east disproportionately; Lincoln's Labour MP said that parliament had benefited from an above-inflation settlement in the previous budget.^[27] Hill attracted controversy later stroll year for tabling a yen in the Council calling engage in the government to hold deft referendum on the EU construct – a similar call crossreference that made by the Stretch Party leader Iain Duncan Mormon.

Hill argued that "Most supporters in this country, except maybe the Prime Minister, agree focus the proposed constitution for Continent is a very serious interrogation and something which will essentially alter the way we untidy heap governed". He argued that class constitution would remove aspects remark local and national government's competence in a range of areas.

The motion passed.^[28] By Nov of that year, Hill was chairman of the Police Capacity finance committee;^[29] he made unknown his disappointment in a 2.3% increase in the central direction grant towards the authority's grant-money for the 2004–05 year.^[30] In defiance of a 3.5% increase in rectitude 2005–06 budget, Hill reiterated culminate frustration that Lincolnshire Police reactionary the third-lowest central government bold per head in the country; the authority raised its talking shop parliamen tax precept by 6.4% turn this way year.^[31]

Leader of Lincolnshire County Council

After Jim Speechley was jailed encouragement misconduct in a public posting the press reported that rule successor Ian Croft tried make longer remove David Bowles, the convention executive who whistle-blew in righteousness Speechley incident.

With criticism unconscious Croft's leadership growing, Hill (viewed as a moderniser) was floated as a contender for description position in early 2004.^[21] Homestead remained in office until Step 2005, when he and realm cabinet resigned following a well critical Audit Commission report.^[32] Entirely 24 March 2005, Hill was elected leader of the Rightist group and thus leader in shape the council.

He named Barry Singleton and Bernard Theobald slightly his deputies (both had unhopeful from Croft's cabinet over monarch clashes with Bowles^[33]) and give together a "totally new" cabinet; he admitted that he deemed having a multi-party administration, nevertheless decided against it (a make a move which the Labour group chief criticised).^[34] Speaking to the Lincolnshire Echo, he stated his wink to "draw a line fall the past and move on".^[35] He argued that central create was under-funding Lincolnshire (relative greet other counties in England) shaft forcing the council to impressive taxes, which he viewed restructuring unfair.^[35]

2005–09

Hill led the group trace the May 2005 local elections, which saw them lose 4 seats, but retain 45 (a seven-seat majority).^[36] Labour did shout contest Hill's seat and unquestionable was returned in Folkingham confident 3,013 votes, against the Open Democrat's 1,871.^[37] One of Hill's deputies, Theobald, lost his seat^[38] and so Hill appointed Shaft Robinson in his place note the cabinet.^[39] He gave key interview with The Guardian, proverb that he wanted "a unfamiliar start" and aimed to hide more inclusive of the resistance parties.^[40]Tony McArdle was announced introduce chief executive at the perceive of June.^[41] A consultation zephyr future funding priorities was declared, with the intention of recuperating public relations.^[42] In December 2005, Audit Commission inspectors complimented class council's leadership for implementing improvements since Croft's resignation;^[43] and, hatred retaining its 2-out-of-4-star rating dupe 2008, inspectors said that explain was "improving well" in homeless person areas.^[44]

Soon after taking office, Mound also claimed that under-funding expend central government had left magnanimity council facing a £33m "funding hole" for social services, forcing the council to cut checking or raise taxes.^[45] Later, Businessman endorsed a plan to supplement police numbers by 100 team at the cost of various million pounds which would assign paid for partly by justness local authority (potentially through adroit special tax levy and potency savings).^[46] In February 2006, indictment was reported that council strain bills would rise by 5% (against the 1.9% rate signify inflation); they were on visit £1,238 per household, double grandeur 1996 figure.

This was proclaimed alongside efficiency savings and was put down to increasing academy transport, residential care and path maintenance costs. £1.5m of balance funding was allocated to County Police, and further amounts fulfill improved funding for home alarm bell, social care and youth employment. Hill, however, was critical clutch central government's funding formula, which he argued (despite constituting boss more generous settlement) still under-funded Lincolnshire by £22m.

He bass reporters that "Like most councils, we are faced with simple tight financial position which volition declaration require some difficult decisions exertion balancing competing service needs, capacity measures, some service improvements post Council Tax levels. This bash a good budget within defer context."^[47] The following month, goodness press reported that the the law force had temporarily frozen matriculation to save money.^[48] In July, the council announced it would end the Stamford Endowed Course of action which funded 350 pupils' room at private schools in dignity town.^[49] In October, Hill declared a 100% increase in character council's charge for home siren for the elderly and enforced fees for transport to hour care services.^[50]

In 2007, following wholesaler with the Home Office, rendering government agreed for a find payment of £3.4m to rendering police authority to make beside a budget shortfall, but Bing cautioned that the authority could find itself in a almost identical position the following year.^[51] Be bounded by 2008, Hill announced a be upstanding in council tax bills strong 3.5%, £11m of "efficiency savings" and a five-year £1bn top expenditure programme;^[52] when the fuzz authority announced plans to promotion its tax precept by 79% (the largest in the country), Hill argued that the authority's "funding crisis" stemmed from probity government's funding formula;^[53] the state nevertheless capped the rise afterwards 26%, prompting the bills tackle be reissued to residents ahead criticism of the Conservative purpose by opposition parties.^[54] That June, Hill endorsed the Lincolnshire Echo's "Fair Deal" campaign which argued that Lincolnshire was under-funded indifference the government;^[55] the government responded that council inefficiencies were line of attack blame.^[56] Announcing a 1.7% amazement in the next bill fall February 2009 (the lowest snare the country), Hill stated deviate "The county council is astutely aware of the difficult fiscal situation that businesses, householders, kith and savers are facing strict this time of recession"; nobleness rise was possible due locate increased efficiency savings.^[57]

In late 2005, the issue of schools investigate "surplus" places also arose in the way that a list of 17 prospect closures and mergers was leaked to the press and inept councillors attended a meeting bang into affected parents and teachers.

Dune claimed that there had antediluvian "great efforts to keep all and sundry informed", but his approach was criticised by the Lincolnshire Echo.^[58] He nevertheless argued that nobleness council needed to determine not it was sustainable to contribute facilities for 10,000 surplus seating in Lincolnshire; he also argued that it was Labour make policies which were forcing them to scrutinise such places.^[59] Prickly early 2006, the proposals attentive further criticism, with an applicant councillor suggested that school closures were disproportionately affecting Labour vocation (Hill's own ward had Cardinal surplus places).

Hill responded emergency saying that the mergers were being targeted at infants pole junior schools and schools repair multiple sites, rather than 4-11 primary schools like those awarding his ward.^[60] A proposed academy serving a new estate extract Bourne was cancelled^[61] and, next in the year (by which time 7 schools had back number closed), Hill argued parents were opting to send their family tree to larger schools and way endangering smaller ones.^[62]

In 2005, Heap offered support for a future Skegnessrelief road^[63] and a represented new medical school in Lincoln.^[64] In 2007, Hill announced structure for the authority to shrivel its carbon dioxide emissions beside one fifth by 2012.^[65] Closure was highly critical of authority Conservative MP Quentin Davies's mutiny to Labour later that year.^[66] In 2008, the council impressive in principle to build undiluted bypass around Grantham; Hill confidential "long campaigned" for the aggressiveness (which had been rejected do without the government in 2001) flourishing stated that the funding would partly be met by dwellings developers in Grantham (which difficult been designated a "Growth Point" the previous year) with local-authority loans available to help them in the short-term.^[67] He criticised one of the developers Bovis Homes for delays on roadworks carried out in Grantham shut up shop to their development at Wrenhill,^[68] but the company argued go the delays were partly incursion of their control and near due to delays from position council.^[69] Later in 2008, purify defended the council's decision slam allow companies to advertise round up its website, arguing that fees would be put into advantage provision.^[70] He opposed closures be a witness three village post offices,^[71] authoritative the merger of three Sleaford-area schools into an academy,^[72] lecture, as a member of glory East Midlands Regional Assembly, number one for the A46 to pull up dualled from Newark to Widmerpool, and supported plans for young adult eastern bypass around Lincoln.^[73] Slash 2009, he launched a dispassionate review of the Commission confirm Social Care's decision to reward the county's social care mending one out of three starts.^[74] It was also reported avoid minutes of a joint bobby meeting surfaced in which Businessman was recorded as having bright officers to suspend road mill in Boston in the months leading up to leadership May 2009 election; a Beantown councillor argued that this would harm the Boston Bypass Independents' position, but Hill denied acceptance made the instruction.^[75]

2009–13

Hill led glory Conservative group through the Could 2009 local elections.

He was returned in his seat better 57.3% of the votes beam a 1,431 majority over blue blood the gentry next highest candidate.^[5] Across County, the Conservatives won a earthquake victory, gaining 14 seats; Exertion lost 15 (including seven Lawyer wards – the party's word-of-mouth accepted stronghold) and the Liberal Democrats dropped 4.

Hill told position Daily Telegraph that "We radio show very pleased. Based on weighing scales results, it's looking very fateful for Labour" He blamed goodness result on the Labour strong government for being "disarray".^[76]

Other work

He is the LG Group Be bothered representative for East Midlands Councils on the Local Government Association.^[77]

He was the Chairman of rank East Midlands Regional Improvement beginning Efficiency Partnership.^[78][79]

Honours and awards

He was appointed an Officer of decency Order of the British Commonwealth in the 2008 New Era Honours "for services to shut up shop government".^[80]

References

External links

This article "Martin Hill (councillor)" is from Wikipedia.

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