The Role of the Chairman

The Chairman of Hampshire County Council is the civic and ceremonial head of the Authority and represents the County Council at a variety of events and functions in Hampshire organised by businesses, churches, local district and borough authorities and many other organisations throughout the County.  The Chairman also attends events which are organised by County Council Departments, such as opening of community homes, schools, youth clubs and museum exhibitions, etc.  The Chairman is ambassadorial, "flying the flag" for Hampshire both within the County and, at times, in neighbouring authorities.  The Chairman is the "first citizen" of the County of Hampshire.

The Chairman supports the Heroes Welcome scheme.

Ceremonial duties include:

• Being the politically impartial, neutral and non-executive civic and ceremonial head of the County Council
• Promoting the interests and the reputation of the County Council and Hampshire and acting as an ambassador for both.
• Carrying out civic, community and ceremonial activities and fostering community identity and pride.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Presiding over meetings of Full Council to ensure that its' business is carried out fairly and efficiently and to ensure that the meeting is conducted in accordance with Standing Orders of the Council, set out in the Rules of Procedure in Part 3 of the Constitution.
• Ensuring that the Full Council meeting debates matters that concern the local community.
• To uphold the Constitution.
• To promote public involvement in the Council's activities.
• To promote the Council's corporate strategy.

Protocol and Etiquette

Specifically, the Chairman will take precedence (a) during Royal Visits to the County, (b) at events organised by Hampshire County Council or (c) when on Hampshire County Council owned property. However, at events organised within one of the Hampshire Districts or Boroughs, and the event does not conform with (a), (b) or (c), the Mayor or Chairman of that District or Borough will take precedence.

It would be appreciated if the Chairman is met on arrival and escorted throughout the function.

The Chairman should be seated on the immediate right of the person presiding.

In conversation, the Chairman should be addressed as "Chairman".

The preamble for speeches (unless a member of the Royal Family or the Lord-Lieutenant or local Hampshire District/Borough Mayor/Chairman is present) is, "Chairman, Mr Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen".

How to invite the Chairman of the County Council to an event or function

If you wish to invite the Chairman to attend an event, in the first instance, please send an invitation to:-

The Chairman's Office
The Castle
Gar Street
Winchester
Hampshire SO23 8UJ

Please do not contact the Chairman direct or send correspondence to his/her home address.  All communication should come through the Chairman's Personal Assistant at Serle's House.

The Chairman would also find it very useful if you could provide some background information about your organisation.  This is especially important if you wish the Chairman to make a speech. Please tell us:

• When your organisation started.
• Your organisation's aims and activities.
• Membership.
• Achievements.
• What do you consider to be special about your organisation?

If you have any queries, please contact the Chairman's Personal Assistant, Mrs Jo Blackwell:

Telephone: 01962 846441
Email: chairmanofHCC@hants.gov.uk
Fax: 01962 847006

Councillor Andrew Joy Chairman of Hampshire County Council

Andrew Joy was commissioned from Sandhurst into the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers (REME) in 1965.  Flying experience at Sandhurst later led him to become an RAF pilot and he was one of the instructors who brought the Chinook helicopter into service.  He served principally in the UK, Northern Ireland and Germany and was on the staff of the Falklands Task Force in 1982.  

Qualified in aerosystems evaluation and defence procurement, he subsequently held senior sales and marketing posts with American multi-national companies dealing primarily with Defence and Government.  For many years he focused also on voluntary work, principally sports-related, before returning to public service in elected local government.

He and his wife Katie, a physiotherapist in private practice, have a son and a daughter.  They moved to Alton from RAF Odiham almost 40 years ago.

With a life-long interest in sport including winter sports and sailing, he has been closely involved in coaching and administration of youth and schools rugby.  He ran Hampshire Schools RFU competitions for over 10 years.  A long-serving rugby referee he has also been an RFU Liaison Officer with international sevens teams, having looked after the West Indies, Russia and particularly Portugal at the IRB London Sevens for 7 of the last 10 years.

He views local government far more as a business than a political forum, to be run efficiently for the benefit of its shareholders, the constituents.  He believes strongly that there is need, scope and opportunity for positive change.

Lengthy involvement in a controversial housing development led to his election as an East Hants District Councillor for Alton (Ashdell) in 2007, subsequently holding cabinet posts including the Whitehill & Bordon EcoTown project and Communities.  He was elected County Councillor for Alton Town in 2009 and is a strong believer in joint working.  His particular interests embrace planning, the environment, transport, social services and fair taxation, amongst many others.  He has served on HCC’s Regulatory Committee and Safe and Healthy People Select Committee, is a trustee for local schools and currently chairs the Alton Museums Partnership Advisory Group.

Elected Vice Chairman in February 2012, he was elected Chairman of Hampshire County Council on 17 May 2012.  

Chairman of Hampshire County Council since 1974

Contact infomation

Chairman's Office
The Castle
Winchester
Hampshire SO23 8UJ

Telephone: 01962 846441
Fax: 01962 847006
Email: chairmanofHCC@hants.gov.uk