Chairman of the Council
Chairman
Councillor Gordon Yarranton, Ward Member for
Wribbenhall, was elected as the new Chairman of Wyre Forest
District Council in May 2010. He replaces outgoing chairman
Cllr Mike Salter.
Councillor Gordon Yarranton is looking forward
to his year as Chairman of Wyre Forest District Council. He
is aiming to promote the district of Wyre Forest as a whole, but
particularly wants to focus on tourism and small businesses.
He says,
“We live in a beautiful area with some
brilliant attractions, which sometimes I think we take for
granted. During my year as Chairman I’d like to highlight
these to locals and help attract people from outside of the area. I
also want to promote small businesses – these are the ones which
create the jobs and we need them to survive this difficult
time. We want to encourage people to use local businesses and
employ local people.”
Gordon is a local through and through.
He was born in Bewdley and has lived there for most of his life,
only moving to the Teme Valley for a few years as a youngster. When
he returned to the district he went to St John’s School and Harry
Cheshire High School. Like many he started his working life
in the carpet trade. It was while working at CMC that his
interest in pipe fitting started. He went onto qualify as a
plumber and set up his own central heating business at just
19. Gordon has always been fascinated with the building trade
and went onto build several homes, including his own in
Bewdley.
Gordon has always been interested in politics
but he admits his first venture into political arena was by
accident – he had just returned from a year in Mexico (where he had
been building a house for his daughter) when he met a councillor in
a supermarket. She persuaded him to stand for election for
the District Council in 2004 – but on this occasion he wasn’t
successful. A year later he stood in the County Council
elections and was elected to represent the Wribbenhall, Wolverley
and Cookley division. He is still a County Councillor and was
also elected to represent Wribbenhall on the District Council in
2006. He serves on many more groups and committees
including Kidderminster Foreign Parish Council and the Fire
Authority.
“I am a real people’s person and I like
meeting people – that’s why I’m looking forward to my year as
Chairman. I came into politics to put something back into the
community – I believe that we’re all here to deliver for the
public. We may come at it in different ways but we are all
after the same goal of making the district a better place to live,
work and visit.”
Gordon was concerned about taking on the role
of Chairman. He says he’s ‘a grafter’ and was worried that
the role may interfere with the work he does on ‘his patch’.
However, he knows he has the support of Councillor Mike Salter as
Vice Chairman and is confident he can work all his
commitments.
Gordon will be Chairman until May 2011. His
chosen charity for fundraising is Kemp Hospice as he wanted to
support the good they do in the community. He has already got
planned a carol service, an charity dinner and auction and he’s
also looking for the tallest building in the district to abseil
down – all to raise money.
Vice-Chairman
The Vice-Chairman of Wyre Forest District Council is Councillor
Mike Salter, Ward Member for Mitton.
Chairman's Invitations
The Chairman welcomes invitations to attend events held by local
organisations, however due to demand it may not be possible to
attend every event to which he is invited. If you would like to
invite the Chairman of the Council to your event please contact the
Chairman's Secretary on 01562 732928 or email Worcestershire
Hub. If he is available to attend your event, you will be
contacted within 2 working weeks.
View the List
of Chairman's Engagements 
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