ABOUT ME

DAVID BECKET POLITICAL BACKGROUND
David Becket was elected to the Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council in May 2002, representing Halmer End Ward. David was re-elected in May 2011 with two fewer votes than in 2008. He served on the Cabinet from 2006 to 2011.

David did not stand for re-election to the Cabinet in 2011. Having seen the recycling service go from a failing service to one that has won three national awards he felt it was time to move on.

David was elected Mayor of the Borough of Newcastle under Lyme for 2012/13, with his wife Dr Anne Becket as Mayoress.

From 2006 to 2011 David held the position of Cabinet Member for Environment and Recycling. During that period he has overseen the improvement in street cleansing from 34% of streets classed as dirty to under 10% classed dirty. He has driven recycling from 16% to over 50% and ensured that Newcastle was one of the first councils to collect food waste separately and turn it into heat and electricity on a local farm.

In February 2011 the Borough Council’s waste management and recycling service won the national Government Business award for an efficient, cost effective innovative service. In May 2011 is was announced that the recycling service is shortlisted for two further awards.

David instigated the project to reduce the carbon footprint and energy costs within the council, working with the Carbon Trust.

Whilst holding the Environment and Recycling portfolio David served as Vice Chairman of the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Joint Waste Management Board, Newcastle’s representative on the North Staffordshire Warm Zone Steering Group. He served as Newcastle’s Representative on the Local Government Rural Commission from 2006 to 2012. For the year 2011 – 2012 David was Chairman of the Newcastle Health Scrutiny Committee and member of the Staffordshire County Council Health Scrutiny Committee. On being elected Mayor David ceased to be Chairman of the Newcastle Health Scrutiny Committee and member of the Staffordshire Committee. He remained a member of the Newcastle Committee until his retirement.

In May 2015, at the age of 79, David retired and did not stand for re-election.

Prior to 2000 David was active in Berkshire politics, as a County Councillor from 1993 to 1998 and a West Berkshire Unitary Councillor from 1997 to 2000. He was Chairman of Highways and Transportation for West Berkshire from 1994 to 2000, covering the period of the construction of the Newbury By Pass and the pedestrianisation of Newbury Town Centre. Under David’s leadership West Berkshire was one of the councils to follow a lead set by Suffolk and introduce a rural speed management policy. He served as a lead member in Education Committees and Sub Committees.

Before moving to Berkshire in 1987 David was a Betley Parish Councillor for twelve years, including two terms as chairman.

David is a member of the Green Liberal Democrats (http://greenlibdems.org.uk) and the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors. He is a delegate for the Newcastle under Lyme Party at national Liberal Democrat Conferences. David is a member of the Social Liberal Forum (http://socialliberal.net)

 

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