Meet the new lead members of Three Rivers District Council

NewsUpdated: 25 May 2023Elections and democracy
(Left) Council Leader Sarah Nelmes and Deputy Leader Stephen Giles-Medhurst

Meet the new lead members of Three Rivers District Council for the new municipal year following the local election in May.

Cllr Sarah Nelmes will continue as Council Leader – as she has been since July 2020 – along with her Deputy Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst.

There has also been a slight change in the lead members and the portfolios they hold. For example, the public services portfolio now covers refuse, recycling, parking, and highways.

This, along with the council committees, has been amended to reflect the aims and ambitions of the council and make them more relevant.

Lead members are appointed by the Leader and are held accountable for their respective portfolios as well as holding council officers to account.

  • · Cllr Sarah Nelmes – Leader
  • · Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst – Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development
  • · Cllr Steve Drury – Community Safety and Partnerships
  • · Cllr Paul Rainbow – Public Services
  • · Cllr Andrew Scarth – Housing, Public health, and Wellbeing
  • · Cllr Chris Lloyd – Leisure
  • · Cllr Keith Martin – Resources and Shared Services
  • · Cllr Jon Tankard – Environmental Services, Climate Change, and Sustainability

Cllr Nelmes said: “It is a huge honour to be re-elected leader of Three Rivers District Council and I’m excited to continue the excellent work we are doing with some new and old faces in my cabinet.

“Three Rivers is a great place to live and work and we are proud of our environmental achievements, such as topping the league in England for household recycling and composting.

“We will particularly be looking at dealing with the cost of living crisis, which we are no doubt feeling across the district, whilst being a good value for money council that keeps to its corporate commitments, such as tackling the climate emergency and reaching our net-zero target, and putting the district at the heart of the community.

“And at the same time having one of the lowest council tax charges within Hertfordshire.

“I look forward to rolling our sleeves up and cracking on with business as we have done for many years, and we will continue to work hard for all Three Rivers residents.”

PHOTO CAPTION: (Left) Council Leader Sarah Nelmes and Deputy Leader Stephen Giles-Medhurst