Introducing Colin Seagers

Colin Seagers

It is my privilege, albeit tinged with much sadness, to be nominated as CONSERVATIVE candidate to stand for election on May 2nd 2013 as your Essex County Councillor in ROCHFORD SOUTH DIVISION, following the passing in December of the late County Councillor Roy Pearson. He was also for many years a District Councillor and was a former Chairman of the District. It was he indeed that first persuaded me to stand for election to become a Rochford District Councillor in 2002.

My record in that role since has been diligent, with one of the very highest attendance levels at RDC meetings and an active participation in the great improvements in the running of the District Council since it became Conservative controlled, following periods of mismanagement under both Labour and Liberal Democrat control. I have also undertaken the great amounts of training that is such essential preparation to ensure a District Councillor can perform at that level or hope to cope at the next higher level for County.

Prior to my retirement in 2011, I worked in City of London insurance and investment management firms as an international investment manager, then as a financial services regulator and most recently as the Compliance Officer of a major international investment management firm’s UK subsidiary. The highest ethical standards required and the attention to the small print needed in that work have provided an invaluable grounding in my council roles to date. My present role at District level is as an RDC Executive Member holding the Finance & Resources Portfolio since May 2010.

In seeking to represent you at County level, along with the Leader and Deputy Leader of Rochford District Council standing in other local Divisions, my aim is to continue Cllr Pearson’s efforts. We will seek especially to improve the Rochford District’s share of Essex CC funding for roads and other infrastructure. Working in support of the Rochford Ward Councillors Jill Lucas-Gill and Keith Gordon particularly, together we were able to exert pressure to ensure safety and improvement works were undertaken by Essex County Highways at Sutton Ford Bridge with greater urgency.

However, to achieve funding for projects of greater size and cost it will be essential to present a united front with fellow County Councillors representing the southern part of the County. Pressures on the South East of England’s infrastructure mounted under the last Labour Government’s uncontrolled admittance of over 1.9 million immigrants, directly impacting demands on all forms of infrastructure provision, but especially pressuring housing, health and transport. I strongly support the renegotiation of the UK’s terms of membership of the EU and the setting of a referendum on those terms promised by the Conservative Party, which will be the first such vote in some forty years since the then EEC proclaimed itself as simply a free trade area.

My involvement particular to my own Foulness & Great Wakering Ward has been much concerned with problems arising from the expiry on 1st July of the Association of British Insurers agreement with government to continue flood cover in areas at risk. An initial leaflet survey of households by the Great Wakering Parish Council is indicating that a number of residents are already facing refusals to renew cover, heavily loaded excesses or large increases in premium.

With the support of James Duddridge, Conservative MP for Rochford & Southend East, and my fellow Ward Councillors, Barbara Wilkins and Trevor Goodwin, I am seeking to establish from the Environment Agency the level of protection provided by our local sea wall defences, and attempt to expedite any improvements necessary to ensure provision of affordable insurance cover in the foreseeable future.

Colin Seagers Foulness & Great Wakering Ward, RDC

Email: cllrcolin.seagers@rochford.gov.uk