Personal Assistant to Council Leader / Executive
01795 417438
janetdart@swale.gov.uk
Last updated on 29 January 2010
All priorities
Councillor Andrew Bowles - Biography
Cllr Andrew Bowles was born into a farming family on the North Kent Coast in the Borough of Swale and has been a director of the family farm since leaving school.
Andrew joined Graveney Parish Council in 1976 at the age of 23, became Chairman in 1980, a post which he subsequently held for 11 years. Having played in a leading part in a campaign to keep the village school open he became a school governor in 1980 and has served at various times as Chairman, Vice Chairman and Chairman of Finance. Andrew is still a member of Graveney Parish Council and a Graveney School Governor.
Andrew has been a Swale councillor for the Conservative Party since 1987, representing the Boughton and Courtenay ward. He became Leader of Swale Borough Council in 2002.
Within Swale he takes the roles of Conservative Group Leader, Leader of the Council and Chair of the Cabinet and Executive. He is a member of Kent County Council and takes the role of Deputy Cabinet Member for Localism and Partnerships.
Andrew’s other current responsibilities include:
· Chairman of the LGA Rural Commission.
· Chairman of the South East Rural Forum.
· Vice Chairman of the Thames Gateway Kent Partnership.
· Member of the Thames Gateway Strategic Partnership.
· Board Member of the Mid Kent Improvement Partnership.
Among the initiatives for which Andrew has taken personal responsibility are:
· Establishing Swale Rural Forum – this was one of the first acts of the Conservative administration under Councillor Andrew Bowles when they took control in 2002. This is a joint forum with representation from the National Farmers Union, Swale Branch Kent Association of Local Councils and officer and member level at Kent County Council.
· Securing duelling on the A299 Thanet Way.
· Re-structuring the Borough Council’s management and Local Strategic Partnership.
· Reworking the Borough Council’s Standing Orders and Constitution .
· Various planning appeals.