The Role of the Chairman

The Chairman of Hampshire County Council is the civic and ceremonial head of the Authority and represents the County Council at a variety of events and functions in Hampshire organised by businesses, churches, local district and borough authorities and many other organisations throughout the County.  The Chairman also attends events which are organised by County Council Departments, such as opening of community homes, schools, youth clubs and museum exhibitions, etc.  The Chairman is ambassadorial, "flying the flag" for Hampshire both within the County and, at times, in neighbouring authorities.  The Chairman is the "first citizen" of the County of Hampshire.

The Chairman supports the Heroes Welcome scheme.

Ceremonial duties include:

• Being the politically impartial, neutral and non-executive civic and ceremonial head of the County Council
• Promoting the interests and the reputation of the County Council and Hampshire and acting as an ambassador for both.
• Carrying out civic, community and ceremonial activities and fostering community identity and pride.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Presiding over meetings of Full Council to ensure that its' business is carried out fairly and efficiently and to ensure that the meeting is conducted in accordance with Standing Orders of the Council, set out in the Rules of Procedure in Part 3 of the Constitution.
• Ensuring that the Full Council meeting debates matters that concern the local community.
• To uphold the Constitution.
• To promote public involvement in the Council's activities.
• To promote the Council's corporate strategy.

Protocol and Etiquette

Specifically, the Chairman will take precedence (a) during Royal Visits to the County, (b) at events organised by Hampshire County Council or (c) when on Hampshire County Council owned property. However, at events organised within one of the Hampshire Districts or Boroughs, and the event does not conform with (a), (b) or (c), the Mayor or Chairman of that District or Borough will take precedence.

It would be appreciated if the Chairman is met on arrival and escorted throughout the function.

The Chairman should be seated on the immediate right of the person presiding.

In conversation, the Chairman should be addressed as "Chairman".

The preamble for speeches (unless a member of the Royal Family or the Lord-Lieutenant or local Hampshire District/Borough Mayor/Chairman is present) is, "Chairman, Mr Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen".

How to invite the Chairman of the County Council to an event or function

If you wish to invite the Chairman to attend an event, in the first instance, please send an invitation to:-

The Chairman's Office
Serle's House
Gar Street
Winchester
Hampshire SO23 8GQ

Please do not contact the Chairman direct or send correspondence to his/her home address.  All communication should come through the Chairman's Personal Assistant at Serle's House.

The Chairman would also find it very useful if you could provide some background information about your organisation.  This is especially important if you wish the Chairman to make a speech. Please tell us:

• When your organisation started.
• Your organisation's aims and activities.
• Membership.
• Achievements.
• What do you consider to be special about your organisation?

If you have any queries, please contact the Chairman's Personal Assistant, Mrs Jo Blackwell:

Telephone: 01962 826066
Email: chairmanofHCC@hants.gov.uk
Fax: 01962 890467

Councillor McNair Scott, Chairman-Elect of the County Council

Anna was first elected as Councillor for the Candovers Division in 2001 and has served on Select Committees for Children’s Services, Adult Services and Policy and Resources, and also as Chairman of Health Overview and Scrutiny.  She has chaired Scrutiny Panels, producing reports on a variety of issues including School Exclusions, Services for People with Alcohol Problems, Therapy Services for Disabled Children, a joint review with Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire of Ambulance Response Times in Rural Areas and the proposal by the Strategic Health Authority to Fluoridate the Water Supply in parts of Hampshire. She has really enjoyed the range of and depth of this work as well as addressing problems faced by her own constituents. She was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Council in 2010 and was elected Chairman of the County Council at their Annual Meeting on the 19 May 2011.

The challenges facing the County Council in the present financial situation will be uppermost in her mind during her year in office. She hopes to encourage and promote the voluntary organisations whose support for vulnerable people is vital.  She is also concerned for the families of those serving in the armed forces, particularly as Hampshire has more of these than any other county, at a time when so many troops are being deployed abroad.

Before becoming a councillor, Anna qualified at St Bartholomew’s Hospital as a therapist for children with dyslexia and taught for thirteen years before chairing a national appeal for the British Dyslexia Association. She lectured for many years on Phonetics for specialist teacher training courses. In 1996, she became the first Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Development of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford and is still a member of the council. She is also a trustee of the Hampshire Bobby Trust and The Henry Smith Charity.

Anna met her husband Nigel at university and they were married in 1968.  He was brought up in Hampshire in the house they now live in on a farm outside Basingstoke. They have four married sons and fourteen grandchildren. Nigel is this year’s High Sheriff – it is believed to be the first time anywhere in the UK that a married couple have had these two roles at the same time - and they look forward to a busy and interesting year. They very much hope that their roles will complement each other and that they will succeed in carrying out many of their duties together.

Chairman of Hampshire County Council since 1974

Contact Infomation

Chairman's Office
Serle's House
Gar Street
Winchester
Hampshire SO23 8GQ

Telephone:01962 826066
Fax: 01962 890467
Email: chairmanofHCC@hants.gov.uk