New chair for Derbyshire County Council

Derbyshire County Council’s new chair has taken up the chain of office.
Councillor Steve Freeborn, pictured right, receives the chain of office from John McElvaney, director of legal services.Councillor Steve Freeborn, pictured right, receives the chain of office from John McElvaney, director of legal services.
Councillor Steve Freeborn, pictured right, receives the chain of office from John McElvaney, director of legal services.

Councillor Steve Freeborn, who represents the county council’s Ripley East and Codnor division, was appointed after the former chair Cllr Dave Wilcox stood down from the position due to ill health.

A former county council employee, Cllr Freeborn moved to Derbyshire 28 years ago and worked in the organisation’s personal development and training section. He went on to work for Derbyshire police then later ran his own business and only became a local county councillor last year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He was proposed for the position of chair of the council by Cllr Irene Ratcliffe who said: “Steve comes with a breadth of knowledge about local government and has the skills required to facilitate constructive, focussed debate.” Cllr Freeborn said: “It’s a tremendous honour to be elected to this role. While the council has to make unprecedented budget cuts of £157million, I know there is still a lot of good work going on in Derbyshire. I’m lucky enough to live in a great county with great people and I’m looking forward to getting out and meeting more of them in my new role.”