POLITICAL PROMOTION FOR COUNCILLOR WHO CLINCHED SURPRISE TORY WIN IN 2019 POLL

                                           

Cllr Furneaux - important

 

THERE has been a step up the political ladder for Conservative councillor Tom Furneaux who sprang a surprise in last year's local elections by winning a seat for his party in the Freshney ward.

Cllr Furneaux, who works for law firm Wilkin Chapman, has been appointed chairman of North East Lincolnshire Council's economy scrutiny panel.

This important panel exists to ensure that the authority is making the most of regeneration opportunities - and not slipping up on the multiple banana skins that line the route.

It is also part of the panel's role to ensure that the administration  - led by his senior Conservative colleagues - is held to account.

His main immediate focus is NELC's plan to reinvigorate Grimsby's Top Town with a £25-million-plus makeover scheme.

This will be the sole item on a meeting he is due to chair on Tuesday of next week

Cllr Furneaux's other Grimsby interests include being a governor of St James' School.

As a scrutiny panel chairman, he succeeds Cllr Lia Nici who has stepped down because of her heavy caseload, not just as a councillor representing the Scartho ward but also as Conservative MP for  the Great Grimsby constituency.

The promotion will bring a pay rise. 

Individuals  who chair scrutiny panel meetings can claim  a special responsibility allowance (understood to be £5,625 per annum) on top of the councillor's  basic allowance of £7,999  plus expenses.