HOLDING the authority to scrutiny will be the key issue for the new leader of the opposition on Stratford District Council – Alcester councillor Susan Juned.
Liberal Democrat Coun Juned, pictured, returns to Elizabeth House after securing the Alcester Town ward at the elections earlier this month, and she heads an 11-strong contingent of Lib Dems, up from just four, on the council. The Conservatives remain in power with 20 seats out of 36.
“We fully intend to hold the council to account – it’s what democracy is all about – and we have the people who are willing to raise issues and to question and we now have a strong enough group to do this in a proper manner,” she said.
The environment and how to protect it figures high on her list of priorities.
“One of my passions is the environment and what we can do to improve it for everyone,” she said.
“I’m also interested in the rural economy and the economy in general, in renewables and how they can go together for the benefit of everyone.”
As a trustee of the advice line and conservation organisation Act on Energy and chair of Litter Free Alcester she is activity on the natural environment.
She is also keen to see more done for the district’s young people.
“I know this is mainly a county issue but I want to make sure the point of view of young people is put across,” she said.
Locally she wants to see improvements to Alcester’s flood protection, has got herself up to speed on the ongoing saga of the Greig Hall, and would like to see the play area in Hopkins Precinct improved.
Coun Juned is a veteran campaigner who has lived in Alcester for more than 30 years. A retired environmental consultant and researcher at the University of Birmingham, she represented Alcester on Warwickshire County Council for 12 years and was also a district councillor until 2014.
She is well versed to the cut and thrust of politics having stood as the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Stratford-on-Avon in three general elections and once in Redditch.
