Councillor Jonathan Owen elected leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Councillor Jonathan Owen has been appointed as the new leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Following today’s Full Council AGM (Thursday, 13 May), Councillor Owen becomes just the third leader in the 25-year history of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and takes over from Councillor Richard Burton.

Councillor Owen, who represents the East Wolds and Coastal ward, is one of the authority’s longest serving members having first been elected to the council in 1999 and from 2003 served as deputy leader to former leader, Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, until 2019.

In recent years, Councillor Owen has been the council’s lead on the health and well-being agenda and recently was chair of the health and well-being board.

The integration of the health and social care agenda will still remain one of Councillor Owen’s priorities in future months as part of the national agenda but he will also be focusing on tackling inequalities, ensuring suitable housing as well as overseeing the council’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said: “The safeguarding of children and adults will always be a priority for the council and I will continue to ensure those areas are supported.

“But I really want to move forward the inequalities agenda and to make sure we are investing in the right areas to ensure our investments are targeted to ensuring people have the opportunity to lead healthier lifestyles and remain in their own homes for as long as possible with our growing elderly population.

“Helping the economy and tourism industry bounce back following the COVID-19 pandemic is key, I also want to build on the lessons learned over the last year through the pandemic, understanding how we can work more closely with the community and voluntary sector as well as the town and parish councils and support them moving forward.”

Away from politics, Councillor Owen is a keen photographer, collects glassware and antiquarian books, particularly about North and East Yorkshire, as well as travel books from the 1700s and 1800s.

Among his prized possessions are an account of the Mutiny on the Bounty written by the infamous Captain Bligh and a collection of Punch magazines from the 1880s.

Time also is taken up with his family and eight grandchildren.

LEADER AND DEPUTY LEADER

Councillor Jonathan Owen – leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council with responsibility for strategic issues, capital and asset strategy, finance, sub-regional and regional governance

Councillor John Holtby – deputy leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council with responsibility for corporate services including legal, pensions, benefits, human resources, procurement services and member development

PORTFOLIO HOLDERS

Adults, health and well-being – Councillor Vanessa Walker

Children and young people’s education, health and well-being – Councillor Victoria Aitken

Economic growth and tourism – Councillor Jane Evison

Environment and climate change – Councillor Chris Matthews

Public health and tackling inequality – Councillor Kerri Harold

Planning, infrastructure and housing – Councillor Gary McMaster

Cultural and leisure assets – Councillor Mike Medini

Community involvement and voluntary sector – Councillor David Elvidge