The Chairman of Blaby District Council

Each year at the Annual Council Meeting in May a Member of Blaby District Council is elected as Chairman of the Council for the ensuing year. The Chairman attends a variety of engagements during the Civic year and each event is processed by the Civic Officer.

Events include attending Galas, Fetes, Church Services, visiting Care Homes and local businesses, as well as attending and hosting a number of receptions and charity events.

The Chairman's aim is to establish and maintain links with people in the local community and this is classed as a very important part of the Civic year. 

The Chairman wears a Chain and Badge of Office on all ceremonial occasions in the District and at all Meetings of the Council. The Chain has 24 links representing each parish in Blaby District. A Millennium Link was added in the year 2000. The Badge depicts the Council's Coat of Arms and an explanation of it's origins and design can be obtained from the Chairman or the Civic Officer.

The Chairman of Blaby District Council for the municipal year 2008/09 is Councillor Mrs Jo Fox. She was elected on 13th May, 2008. 

Councillor Mrs Fox was born in a tiny town called Ballina in County Mayo, West Ireland and is one of 7 children.

Jo went to local school until she was 10 years old when she was granted a place a a Convent Boarding School.  The family moved to London in the early 1960's where she went to senior school.  After she left school she was a PA before moving into education.

Jo married Phil in 1969 and had 3 children.  In the early 1980's Jo and Phil moved to Leicester where Jo worked as a senior Lecturer teaching woodwork and associated trades.  she now works in city education as a Lead Tutor in Arts and Humanities teaching lecturers and teachers with the aim of improving standards in education throughout the city.

Jo has been a Labour District Councillor since 1995 and is currently serving on the Three Oaks Housing shadow board.  She also chairs the HR sub-committee.  She has been Labour Leader of Braunstone Town Council for 13 years and was Town Mayor in 1997.  She is also a strong Union member.

Jo's interests apart from husband and family are community projects, politics, woodwork, music, reading and foreign holidays.  She is a committed Roman Catholic and is a Governor of Winstanley School.

Jo's mother Julia is a constant companion and will be one of her Consorts during her term of office as Chairman, her other Consort will be Phil.

Her nominated charity through her term of office as Chairman is Commuinity Action Fund for Youth (CAFFY).  This charity was founded in 1997 by the then Chairman of Blaby District Council and continues to serve the young people of the District.

If you live in Blaby District, please feel free to invite the Chairman of Blaby District Council to take part in your event perhaps by judging a competition, distributing prizes, drawing a raffle, making a speech etc. There is no fee to pay when you invite the Chairman to your event.  The Chairman's office is available to assist you with your invitation and advice on matters of protocol.

For more information please contact Jean Neesham, Civic Officer at the Council Offices for more information. Tel: (0116) 272 7512 Fax (0116) 272 7600 Email jn@blaby.gov.uk.