Councillor Alison Rooke is new Chair of Oxfordshire County Council
Abingdon’s Alison Rooke is marking her 25th anniversary since first being elected as a councillor by becoming the new Chair of Oxfordshire County Council.
Cllr Rooke first became a councillor in 1999 and served on both Abingdon Town Council and the Vale of White Horse District Council. She has been a county councillor in Abingdon since 2013. She succeeds Cllr Felix Bloomfield in the post. Cllr Mark Lygo will be her vice-chair.
She had a career in computer programming and as a personal assistant before leaving full time employment to care for her father. She is a mother of two daughters and has been a member of Abingdon Operatic Society for more than 40 years.
Becoming Chair of the county council is the latest in a sequence of important roles she has held including being Mayor of Abingdon and Leader of Abingdon Town Council. She was also Chair of Vale of White Horse District Council.
As the ceremonial head of the council, the chair must be a serving county councillor but must remain politically impartial. A new chair is elected each May at the annual general meeting of the county council, which this year was on Tuesday 21 May.
Cllr Rooke said: “I am looking forward to getting around to many different parts of Oxfordshire and supporting as many events as I can by attending and representing the county council. We are keen to hear from organisations who have events over the next year.”
The new Chair will raise funds for three charities during her year in post: My Vision (who support Oxfordshire residents who have poor sight or sight loss); Parkinsons UK (who have three branches in Oxfordshire) and the Earth Trust in Little Wittenham.
Cllr Rooke added: “At first it may appear that these three charities are not linked but we hope there will be a sense of synergy. People who have sight loss or may have problems with moving and getting around may not automatically think that Earth Trust could help. They are very keen to educate and open the countryside to everyone.”
“We are certainly hoping for an event over the summer involving people being able to go for a walk and enjoy afternoon tea afterwards.
“As important as the fundraising is, raising the profile of these local charities is equally as important. I hope we can achieve both during the forthcoming year.”
About the role of chair
Ceremonial duties performed by the chair include:
- being the politically impartial civic leader of Oxfordshire
- promoting the objectives and services of the county council and Oxfordshire
- acting as an ambassador for the county council and Oxfordshire
- fostering community identity and pride.
Key responsibilities include:
- presiding over meetings of the full council
- accepting invitations on behalf of the county council to attend events
- inviting individuals and representatives of key organisations to events at County Hall and other venues.
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