Central Beds Council's deputy leader steps down

Maurice Jones will today (10 March) stand down as a Member of Central Bedfordshire Council, having tendered his resignation earlier in the month.

Maurice, who is Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Health, has been a member of the council’s Executive since it was formed in 2009, previously holding the finance portfolio.

Before then the Biggleswade North member and long- time resident of the town was a Mid Beds District councillor, also holding Executive responsibility in that council which he joined in 2003.

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Maurice has brought plenty of expertise to the council thanks to his extensive business background.

Following an apprenticeship he joined the computer company ICT in 1964 and started a career in the industry which lasted for almost 40 years. Over this time he progressed from being a design engineer to a managing director. He has also founded three companies – two in the UK and one in the US.

After selling up his business interests in 2000, Maurice was recruited to manage the Department for Trade and Industry’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships business support scheme in the east of England. Working with companies and university partners he provided advice on new business plans so that companies could develop new products and processes and grow profitably. He was also a member of a grants committee that scrutinised business plans from across the UK for approval. Since retiring from full-time activities in 2010, Maurice has continued to work as an assessor to grade completed projects.

Maurice, who is stepping down for personal reasons, said: “I have really enjoyed my time in local government but the time has come for me to move on with my life.”

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Everyone at the council wishes Maurice and his family well for the future and a by-election will be held on 4 May to fill the ward member vacancy – the same day as a by-election in Shefford to fill the ward member vacancy there.

Cllr Richard Wenham will succeed Maurice as Deputy Leader and Cllr Brian Spurr will take on the Health Portfolio. This will create a vacancy in Brian’s current role as Executive Member with responsibility for Community Services and Cllr Ian Dalgarno, currently Brian’s Deputy Executive colleague, will assume that role.

Tributes to Maurice have been made by many councillors, many of whom have praised him for his commitment, experience, wisdom and support.