Councillor Richard Williams

Biography:

Richard Williams is the Leader of Southampton City Council as well as being Leader of the Labour Group.

He was born in Derby and attended John Port School in Etwall in South Derbyshire. He was both an undergraduate and post-graduate in the Geography Department at Southampton University culminating in the award of a PhD for research on flooding.

In the 1980's he worked on a local radio station in Portsmouth and was involved in the production of records by pop groups such as Style Council, The Stranglers and Motorhead. He was awarded a silver disc for his technical contribution to the UK Top 3 single, 'Papa's Got A Brand New Pigbag' and produced the independent Southampton LP 'City Walls' in 1981.

His skills in data exchange have led him to become an independent technical auditor for the European Union in Brussels and Luxembourg, which involves evaluating information technology projects for EU funding support.

He has represented the Woolston Ward in Southampton since 1996 and was the parliamentary candidate for the Labour party in Gosport in the 2001 and 2005 General Elections.

From May 2000 until May 2003 he was the Executive Member for Transport and Environment within Southampton City Council, and his responsibilities included waste management and public transport policy.

In February 2008 Richard took up the post of Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, and was responsible for managing the European Union funded project that delivered 'SH14' for the Urban South Hampshire area with the new Draft South East Plan (2006-2026).

Richard's interests include cricket and football.