Fareham council leader Sean Woodward steps down from his role at the Solent LEP

Sean Woodward stepped down from his local authority director role at the business support group on Sunday.

Cllr Woodward, who is also leader of Fareham Borough Council, was one of two founders of the organisation in 2011 and is its longest-serving non-executive director.

He said he was saddened to leave his post, but had to do so due to rules from the UK Code of Corporate Governance that say non-executive directors should not serve for more than nine years.

The rules are in place to ensure directors remain independent. He will continue to serve on the LEP's Solent Leader's Forum.

Cllr Woodward said: ‘I have relished the opportunity to serve as a LEP director. I believe that the LEP board and its team has provided excellent support to the Solent area economy since its inception and they will have my full support going forward as will whoever succeeds me.’

Cllr Woodward wrote to all LEP members on Sunday announcing his departure, which he says he hopes allows them enough time to select a replacement before the LEP’s AGM in March.

He added: ‘It is with a heavy heart, that I have to say that it is the end of my term.’

Brian Johnson, Solent LEP Chair, said: ‘Sean has retired from his role as a Solent LEP director and we would like to thank him for his nine years with the LEP.

‘We will be working with our colleagues at councils across the area ahead of announcing a new director to join the board in the coming weeks and will also shortly be launching an opportunity for local business leaders to apply to join our board.’

Cllr Woodward said he was proud to have been part of the Solent LEP.

He said: ‘A key achievement of the LEP in the last decade has been the establishment of and support for the Solent Enterprise Zone at the former HMS Daedalus.

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‘This development makes the case for intervention in what was a longstanding market failure and demonstrates the huge benefits to be gained in a strong partnership between the public and private sector.

‘This more than anything will, I believe, stand the test of time in recognition of the work that the LEP has done.’

Projects over the past decade include Warsash Maritime Academy, Portsmouth National Maritime Systems Centre, Stubbington Bypass construction, the North of Whiteley development including new roads, Solent Enterprise Zone local roads infrastructure, the M27 junction 10 project for the new town of Welborne and Fareham Innovation Centre.

Cllr Woodward also quit his cabinet post at Hampshire County Council in December, citing ‘personal reasons’.

This followed a review into his conduct surrounding grant applications. This panel recommended no further action was taken, commenting that they believed no dishonesty had taken place just a ‘lapse in judgement’.

He remains a county councillor representing Fareham Sarisbury.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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