It's been a really interesting four years and I think LARAC as an organisation in that time has moved on
Lee Marshall, LARAC
LARAC's executive is to meet in Birmingham on Tuesday (January 13) to elect a new figure, who will take over from Mr Marshall with immediate effect.
All 18 of LARAC's national and regional representatives are eligible, with senior representatives and vice chairs Durk Reyner and Carole Taylor, principal policy officer Andrew Craig and communications officer Joy Blizzard all strong contenders.
Ms Blizzard is perhaps particularly significant following her brief stint as chair in 2006 (see letsrecycle.com story).
However, Mr Reyner told letsrecycle.com that nothing had been decided at present and that, above all, the successful candidate would have to have enough time to carry out the role, which requires over twenty days of voluntary work a year, and to work for a council which was willing to spare them.
He said: “No-one has put their name forward at present. We will all be mulling it over and we will reach a consensus.”
Lee Marshall
As outgoing chair, Mr Marshall was congratulated by his colleagues for leading LARAC for four years – the second longest term after that of founding chair, Jeff Cooper. He served the maximum term currently permitted by LARAC.
Mr Reyner said: “I believe Lee has helped move us on to the next level and enhanced the national recognition of the organisation. He has done a great job and will be missed.”
Colin Kirkby, LARAC executive officer, added: “Lee has been a wonderfully consistent chair who has quietly taken the organisation from where it was and grown it in stature.”
Mr Marshall, who is to remain a member of LARAC's executive, said: “My main achievement in the time I have been chairman is that I think I have helped open up a better dialogue with the wider industry. People come to LARAC for wider input – it's more inclusive and very well respected. We are part of the waste industry and we want to work together and move things forward.”
“It's been a really interesting four years and I think LARAC as an organisation in that time has moved on, as has industry. But it is also voluntary and hard work so I am looking forward to a rest,” he added.
Under Mr Marshall's chairmanship, LARAC has grown its membership to 430 councils, meaning that it now represents 93% of local authorities. He also oversaw the launch of both a new development plan for 2009-2012, entitled “From Niche to Mainstream” and an annual action plan for 2009 at its annual conference in November 2008.
One of the main roles of the new chairman will be to implement these plans, which include strategies to increase the organisation's lobbying ability and make it more pro-active at shaping policy.
The chair will also have to manage the transition of many two-tier local authorities into unitary authorities in April 2009, which will see LARAC's membership fall by 40 as some old authorities will cease to exist.
Register for free to comment