The Chair of Council 2025 – 2026 County Councillor Peter Strong
Appointment of the Chair
- The Chair, who is the Civic Head of the Council, is elected in May of each year at the Annual Meeting of the County Council.
- The Chair must be a serving Councillor and must remain politically impartial during their year of office.
- During the Annual Meeting of Council the Chair appoints a Consort for their term of office.
- The Vice Chair of the Council is also appointed at the Annual Meeting and will represent the Chair at meetings and events in his/her absence.
The Role of the Chair
The Chair has the following responsibilities:
- To preside over meetings of the Council so that its business can be carried out efficiently and with regard to the rights of councillors and the interests of the community.
- To uphold and promote the purposes of the Constitution when necessary.
- To ensure that the Council meeting is a forum for the debate of matters of concern to the local community and the place at which members who are not on the executive are able to hold the executive and committee Chair to account.
- To promote public involvement in the Council’s activities.
- To be the conscience of the Council.
- To attend such civic and ceremonial functions as the council and he/she determines appropriate e.g. royal visits, charitable events, supporting local cultural activities (whilst representing the County the Chair wears a Chain of Office). By stature, the Chair takes precedence within the County, with the exception of His Majesty the King or his representative for the County, the Lord Lieutenant.
- The Chair can nominate a charity of their choice and host fund raising events throughout their term of office.
- The Chair acts as First Citizen for the County fostering community identity and pride by actively promoting local areas and raising the profile of Monmouthshire and the Council.
County Councillor Peter Strong
Chair 2025 – 2026
I was born and brought up near Newbury in Berkshire, moving to Bristol at the age of 18 to attend university. After a three year spell working in the NHS, during which time I married Jackie, a Bristol girl, I trained as a history teacher, spending the whole of my teaching career at Caldicot Comprehensive School. We moved to Caldicot in 1986 and both our children attended Caldicot Comprehensive. I served for many years as School Representative and District President for the National Union of Teachers/National Education Union. After retirement from teaching I worked in the school for another six years as an examinations invigilator -a post I had to give up when I was elected County Councillor for Rogiet in 2022.
I continue to keep up Bristol connections, being, for example, a keep supporter of Bristol Rovers Football Club -a frequently disappointing experience!
Outside of politics my main interest is in local history. I am Secretray of Caldicot and District Local History Society and of the Gwent County History Association. I have written a number of booklets and articles on aspects of the history of ‘old’ Monmouthshire and have delivered a range of talks to local organisations.
Within the council I have the honour of serving as Armed Forces Champion, liaising with the armed forces community from cadets, through serving personnel to veterans and their families.
My wife Jackie is also a county councillor and it will be a particular pleasure that our year as Chair and Consort will include our 50th wedding anniversary.
I continue to keep up Bristol connections, being, for example, a keep supporter of Bristol Rovers Football Club -a frequently disappointing experience!
Outside of politics my main interest is in local history. I am Secretray of Caldicot and District Local History Society and of the Gwent County History Association. I have written a number of booklets and articles on aspects of the history of ‘old’ Monmouthshire and have delivered a range of talks to local organisations.
Within the council I have the honour of serving as Armed Forces Champion, liaising with the armed forces community from cadets, through serving personnel to veterans and their families.
My wife Jackie is also a county councillor and it will be a particular pleasure that our year as Chair and Consort will include our 50th wedding anniversary.
Please support the Chair’s Charity 2025-26 – Little Troopers
If you would like to invite the Chair to an event or would like them to visit a community facility, please contract Julia Boyd in the Chair’s Office – Tel: 01633 644206 or email juliaboyd@monmouthshire.gov.uk alternatively write to: The Chair’s Office, Monmouthshire County Council, County Hall, Rhadyr, Usk NP15 1GA. (It would be appreciated if all correspondence could please be sent via the Chair’s Office and not directly to the Chair).
Should the Chair be unable to attend an event due to a prior commitment the invitation will be passed to the Vice-Chair, County Councillor Martyn Groucutt