Chairman of the council

Chairman's role

The chairman is the ceremonial head of the council. The chairman must be a serving county councillor, but must remain politically impartial. A chairman must not be a member of the Cabinet.

Ceremonial duties include:

• being the politically impartial civic leader of Oxfordshire
• promoting the objectives and services of the county council and Oxfordshire itself
• 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.

Town mayors also perform ceremonial duties in Oxfordshire.

Current chairman and vice-chairman

Councillor Timothy Hallchurch MBE was elected Chairman of Oxfordshire County Council in May 2013. He will serve a one year term of office as the ceremonial, non-political head of the council. Councillor Anne Purse will serve as Vice-Chairman for 2013/14.

Chairman, Councillor Timothy Hallchurch MBE

Councillor Timothy Hallchurch MBE represents the Otmoor Division on the county council.

Councillor Hallchurch was trained at Sandhurst and served for many years in the Army in Royal Signals and served Aden, Cyprus, Libya, Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, Northern Ireland, Germany, Jordan, the Maldives and organised and ran long range communications during the Falklands conflict.

He later worked in the defence industry and commanded the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars as a TA officer and was also Military Liaison Officer for Oxfordshire as an acting Lieutenant Colonel.

He is also a Cherwell District Councillor and was Chairman of Cherwell District Council for the year 2011-12.

Vice Chairman, Councillor Anne Purse

Anne has represented Wheatley division as a county councillor since 1993.  She is a long standing environmental campaigner and was Executive Member for Sustainable Development from 2001-2005.  Anne is also a South Oxfordshire District Councillor.

Anne likes to spend time with her family, and enjoys walking, reading, music, dancing and gardening as much as the cats and dogs will allow.

Events

For further information or details of any of the events that the Chairman has attended, please contact the Chairman's assistant Sara Lenihan on 01865 815951 or email sara.lenihan@oxfordshire.gov.uk.