New chairman elected for Rother District Council

At the council’s annual meeting on Monday, Cllr Jenkins took up the role after Bexhill member, Cllr Joy Hughes, completed her term of office.

Cllr Jenkins was born in Edinburgh but has lived most of his life either in Kent or Sussex. He is married to Beryl and has two adult daughters, who are both teachers.

Before retiring, he worked in the City of London in the discount market and as a trader in sterling and commercial deposits.

He has served on Etchingham Parish Council and in 2003 was elected as district councillor for the Etchingham and Ticehurst ward.

A Conservative, he was elected to his present ward, which embraces Northiam, Beckley, Peasmarsh and Rye Foreign in 2011.

Cllr Jenkins said: “I look forward to serving the council as its chairman, working in partnership with Rother residents and organisations.”

He has been a cabinet member, represented Rother on the A21 Transport Group and the Local Government Association’s coastal issues interest group, served on both the council’s scrutiny committees, chaired Rother Transport Forum and been vice-chairman of Rother Local Strategic Partnership.

Bexhill St Stephen’s ward member Cllr Bridget George was elected to serve as Rother’s vice chairman during 2013/14.

Also a Conservative, Cllr Mrs George was Bexhill’s town mayor in 2009-10.