Kevin at County Hall

Kevin served as a Tunbridge Wells Borough Councillor in Culverden Ward for two years, before being elected to Kent County Council, where he represents Pembury, Sherwood and St James’ wards. In 2002, twelve months after his initial election he was invited to join Sandy Bruce-Lockhart’s Cabinet with responsibility for Resources – this portfolio included Personnel, Property, Information Technology, Procurement, Website, Public Contact, eGovernment, Legal, Secretariat and Procurement.

When Lord Bruce-Lockhart stood down as Leader in 2005, his successor Paul Carter asked Kevin to take on the role of Cabinet Member for Kent Adult Social Services, where he became responsible for social care and support to Older People, Physical and Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, Day Services, Occupational Therapy and Gypsies and Travelers.

Kevin held this position for three years and was then asked in September 2008 to take on his third portfolio - Regeneration and Economic Development. In this job, Kevin is responsible for the County’s major regeneration and renewal projects, as well as ports, airports and strategic planning issues.

He is the current Chairman of Dover Pride, Dover’s regeneration partnership, a member of the Ashford’s Future and Swale Forward partnerships, attends the Thames Gateway Kent Partnership and chairs the Kent Thameside Regeneration Partnership.

He regularly attends the Westminster-based Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership, chaired by Margaret Beckett and Sir Bob Kerslake from the new Homes and Communities Agency.

Nationally, Kevin represents Kent County Council at the Executive of the County Councils Network. He was appointed by the Local Government Association to sit on their Personnel Committee of Local Government Employers, and was also selected as a member of the “Gang of Four” – the four elected members representing the employers’ side of the national local government pay negotiations. He currently sits on the LGA’s Safer Communities Board, which looks at areas such as anti-social behaviour, emergency planning, police reform and criminal justice legislation.

In addition to his formal Cabinet Duties, Kevin is the current Vice Chairman of KCC’s Personnel Committee, and sits on the Selection and Member Services Panel.

Kevin is also Kent County Council’s Member Champion for Equality and Diversity, in which role he also sits on the Strategic Equalities Group with senior members and officers.