Councillors from across the South East have re-elected Paul Carter as Chairman of South East England Councils (SEEC). Cllr Gordon Keymer (Leader of Tandridge DC) was elected Deputy Chairman and Cllr Paul Watkins (Leader of Dover DC) elected Secretary.

SEEC represents the interests of 74 local authorities in the South East of England, making the case for funding and investment to support the needs of councils across an area stretching from Milton Keynes to Kent. The SEEC area covers more than 8 million residents.

  
Cllr Carter is also Leader of Kent County Council and has chaired SEEC since it was established in 2009. He said: “I am honoured to have been re-elected to continue this important role speaking on behalf of councils across the South East.

 
"It is vital that we promote the South East, making clear the opportunities we have for investment and growth and the challenges we face, which we must work with Government to resolve. This includes the resourcing of our public services, where our comprehensive and innovative work on funding will offer the Government real solutions for change.
 

“By speaking for all types of council and all political parties, we offer a single, powerful voice for the South East."
 

SEEC’s annual meeting also elected additional councillors to serve on its Executive Committee. Cllr Carter, Cllr Keymer and Cllr Watkins will be joined on the Executive by:

• Mary Ballin, Bracknell Forest Council (Conservative)
• Andrew Bowles, Leader Swale BC (Conservative)
• Ken Crookes, Leader Hart DC (Conservative)
• Myles Cullen, Deputy Leader Chichester DC (Conservative)
• Andrew Geary, Leader Milton Keynes Council (Conservative)
• Moira Gibson, Leader Surrey Heath BC (Conservative)
• Lynne Hack, Reigate & Banstead BC (Conservative)
• Keith House, Leader Eastleigh BC (Liberal-Democrat)
• Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Oxfordshire CC (Conservative)
• Barry Norton, Leader West Oxfordshire DC (Conservative)
• Tony Page, Deputy Leader Reading BC (Labour)
• Andrew Povey, Leader Surrey CC (Conservative)
• David Robertson, Deputy Leader Oxfordshire CC (Conservative)
• James Swindlehurst, Deputy Leader Slough BC (Labour)
• Martin Tett, Leader Buckinghamshire CC (Conservative)
• Ken Thornber, Leader Hampshire CC (Conservative)
• David Tutt, Leader Eastbourne BC (Liberal-Democrat)