CLLR LESLEY RIDEOUT - MARK HALL WARD

Contact Cllr Lesley Rideout

Cllr Lesley Rideout Hawthorns, Monkswick Road, Harlow CM20 3NU tel 01279 437541 email Cllr Lesley Rideout

About Lesley

Lesley was born in London, and lived in the metropolitan borough of Finsbury until it was amalgamated with Islington to form the London Borough of Islington in 1965. She lived in Hoddesdon for a few years before moving to Harlow in 1983.

Lesley was a teeny-bopper who loved David Cassidy (she's just bought his autobiography) - but she likes to think she's grown up since then, and now enjoys Genesis and Phil Collins. She gave up being a Beaver leader due to the time commitment involved in being a councillor.

Lesley is married to Ian, a London black cab driver, and they have three teenagers, two of whom are twins.

Roles and responsibilities

• Vice Chairman, Housing Committee
• Member, Standards Committee
• Member, Employment Appeals Panel
• Representative, Age Concern
• Member, Harlow Recreation Trust
• Representative, Mark Hall & Netteswell Community Association
• Member, South Anglia Housing Board
• Representative, Young People's Advice & Information Centre

Why I'm a Liberal Democrat

"I'm a Liberal Democrat because our policies hold a future for the next generation and beyond. Our tax policy is much fairer for the low paid; and we're not judgemental of others. We're not stuffy, we can think for ourselves - and most importantly we haven't got backers like the trade unions influencing our decisions.

The reason why I become a councillor was to help people resolve local issues, and I've been very proud to represent the people of Mark Hall as a councillor for the last four years."

Current issues

"I'm very pleased with the new playground at the Stow, which I pressed the council for. As Vice Chairman of the Housing Committee, housing issues have of course been very important to me this year. Though there may be teething problems with the new tenant engagement through Service Improvement Teams and forums, I'm very pleased that we are talking to more tenants than we have ever done, especially with the 'sounding board' for people that do not want to attend meetings. One of my top priorities is making sure we keep on target with achieving the Decent Homes standard for local housing.

What do I still want to do to for our area? Get a suitable planning application agreed by the council for the former Charvills site at the Stow; make the Stow an alcohol-free zone; and get a youth shelter and kick wall established for young people in Mark Hall.

Finally it would be good if developers in the Town Centre North area could make some room for Age Concern and an Older People's Information Centre - a real service to our older citizens."

10 things you didn't know about Lesley

1. Lesley was born in St Bartholomew's Hospital, in the City of London.

2. When she got married, Lesley received a dowry from the Lord Mayor of London, left by an Italian merchant for girls born in the City.

3. Lesley started delivering leaflets for the SDP in 1982, when her sitting Labour MP defected.

4. Lesley was a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages for the London Boroughs of Islington and Enfield.

5. Lesley officiated at a few famous people's weddings ...

6. ... as well performing marriage ceremonies in Pentonville Prison and registering births at Holloway!

7. Lesley attended the Old Bailey trial of former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe.

8. Lesley has 1 Newfoundland dog, 2 cats, 4 rabbits, 3 guinea pigs, 3 chinchillas, I snake and 1 hamster.

9. Lesley owns a timeshare in Tenerife: she enjoys holidays in the sun and being with her family ('corny but true'!).

10. Lesley's hobby, if she has time, is reading Agatha Christie, any murder mysteries and biographies.