Tony Egginton
Tony Egginton | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Mansfield | |
| Assumed office 17 October 2002 | |
| Preceded by | New Office |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1951 |
| Political party | Mansfield Independent Forum |
| Website | www.mansfield.gov.uk |
Tony Egginton (born 1951) is the directly elected Mayor of Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, England. He was elected to the position on 17 October 2002, beating Labour's Lorna Carter by 588 votes, ending 30 years of Labour control[1]
He was re-elected in 2007 and again 2011.
He had previously been a newsagent.[2]
Election to Mayor
Egginton was the first elected Executive Mayor in a new position created after a public referendum following a campaign by Mansfield businessman Stewart Rickersey, who in 2001[3] mounted a challenge to the local administration after Mansfield District Council indicated it's preference for a Leader and Cabinet system after a low-profile consultation which Rickersey deemed to be "flawed"[4]
Mansfield District Council had suggested a preference of a Leader of the Council (chosen from within the majority political party – Labour) and a Chief Executive Officer.
At 2002 referendum the electorate voted 8,973 in favour (with 7,350 against, 21% turnout) of a change to a system of directly elected Mayor with Executive powers (instead of a Leader) and a Managing Director (instead of a CEO)[5]
Rickersey then mounted a high-profile campaign entitled Independent Mayor4Mansfield, revealing his nominee Tony Egginton's identity following initial confidentiality during the referendum stages.
Creation of Independent Forum
Following Egginton's successful election to Mayor, Rickersey then recruited many ward councillor-candidates to challenge Labour's traditional domination at the May 2003 local elections,[6] winning control with 25 mostly 'new' (inexperienced) ward members.[7]
Ultimately these banded together as Mansfield Independent Forum – although still remaining 'Independent' of one another and a non-political party. Egginton formed his Cabinet mostly of MIF members[8] including Rickersey as Portfolio Holder for Corporate Issues[9]
Within a year Rickersey was infamously sacked by Egginton.[10][11] Rickersey continued as a ward councillor, later masterminding Egginton's 2007 re-election success when beating Labour's Alan Meale, who was also the town's sitting MP.
Rickersey was also re-elected to his Lindhurst ward, resigning four months later in August 2007 [7]
Ward boundary changes
In his 2007 re-election manifesto, Egginton unilaterally decided to reduce the number of ward councillors from 46 to 36 by applying to the Boundary Commission to re-structure ward layout and boundaries [12]
This major change for the Mansfield electoral area was approved for the 2011 local elections with 36 single-member wards being created from the previous 19 wards (two of which were in the Parliamentary constituency of Bassetlaw until 2010). Re-aligning the wards by considering geographical area and housing density reflected a more-even number of voters per ward. [13]
Personal background
Little is publicly known of Tony Egginton's professional CV. Born in 1951, after attending Mansfield's Sherwood Hall Technical Grammar School he was employed circa 1970 at Blackwell Rural District Council (offices located in Mansfield). He also worked as an apprentice at Metal Box Limited in Mansfield.
In a 2012 BBC Radio Nottingham interview with presenter John Holmes, Egginton stated he was employed at the old Mansfield Borough Council during the building of the Four Seasons shopping centre (land clearance started circa 1973).[14]
Mansfield Borough became a District Council 1 April 1974, merging with the two nearby smaller Urban District authorities of Mansfield Woodhouse and Warsop.
During the 1990s Egginton ran a small retail newsagent and corner sweet shop, becoming National President of NFRN (National Federation of Retail Newsagents) for 1998/9,[15] also being a director of NFRN Commercial Ltd 1997 to 2000 and a director of Newsagents Federation Services Ltd 1996 to 2006[16][14]
In 2002 Jacksons Stores established a new convenience store opposite the newsagents. A planning application submitted by Egginton for change of use (newsagents shop to offices) was approved in January 2004 [17]
The two businesses co-existed until the 2004 takeover of Jacksons by Sainsbury's (rebranded as Sainsbury's at Jacksons). Sainsbury's stock lines included newspapers and magazines, and Egginton News closed, transferring some staff to Jacksons and the delivery service account to another newsagency over a mile away
The (former shop) premises were thereafter used by a company providing waste management solutions and internet sales of industrial tools, equipment and protective clothing
On 31 March 2008 Egginton briefly became the non-executive chairman of Mansfield Town F.C. following James Derry's departure.[18]
Criticism
In 2013, Egginton attracted criticism after the council took the decision to lock his chains of office in a safe. He was accused of "parading around in his bling" rather than focusing on running the town. [19]
External links
References
- ^ http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/new-mayor-s-vision-for-mansfield-s-future-1-695819
- ^ Voters snub parties in mayor polls. BBC News (2002-10-18)
- ^ http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/mansfield-businessman-to-make-changes-1-695596
- ^ http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/second-chance-for-mayor-campaigners-1-696261
- ^ http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/businessman-salutes-historic-victory-in-mayoral-referendum-1-693773
- ^ http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/make-or-break-time-for-independents-1-695015
- ^ a b http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/independent-revolution-s-driving-force-announces-shock-resignation-1-692147
- ^ http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/storm-brews-over-mayor-s-new-cabinet-1-696381
- ^ http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/mayor-unveils-new-mansfield-cabinet-1-709261
- ^ http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/mayor-ousts-businessman-who-sparked-independent-revolution-1-716266
- ^ War of words over mayor's sacking of cabinet member – Local – Mansfield and Ashfield Chad. Chad.co.uk (2004-03-30). Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/have-your-say-on-council-ward-restructure-1-714806
- ^ http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/east-midlands/nottinghamshire/mansfield-electoral-review
- ^ a b Places | MANSFIELD | ANNALS OF MANSFIELD FROM 1086 TO 1999 | Some notable events in the history of Mansfield. Our Mansfield and Area. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Past National Presidents – NFRN. Nfrnonline.com. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ Tony Egginton – free company director check. Director id 904875722 – Companies House Information. Company-director-check.co.uk. Retrieved on 2012-12-31.
- ^ http://www.mansfield.gov.uk/Fastweb/detail.asp?AltRef=2003/1283/WT&Scroll=3&Nothing=4&ApplicationNumber=&AddressPrefix=westfield+lane&submit2=Go
- ^ "Tony Egginton becomes Non-Executive Chairman". 31 March 2008. Retrieved 31 March 2008.
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-23707913