London Councils Vice Chair knighted for services to local government

London Councils Vice Chair Mayor Steve Bullock has been awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to local government.

Mayor Bullock, who is also the directly elected Mayor of Lewisham, was honoured in the awards announced on Saturday (June 16).

A councillor for the London Borough of Lewisham from 1982 to 1998, he has chaired the council's finance and leisure committees, as well as being Deputy Leader. He was Leader of the Council from 1988 to 1993, and became the borough's first directly elected Mayor in May 2002.

Mayor Bullock chaired the Association of London Authorities - a predecessor to London Councils - as well as the Local Government Management Board. He has also been the Deputy Chair of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities.

Mayor Bullock said:

"It is a privilege to have received this honour. I became a politician to help improve the lives of local people and I am deeply touched that my efforts have been recognised in this way.

"It was a huge surprise when I found out I had been given a knighthood, and a lot of credit also has to go to the people I have worked with over the years at Lewisham, London Councils and the other bodies I have served on."

Chairman of London Councils, Councillor Merrick Cockell, said:

"I am delighted that the hard work and dedication that Steve has put into serving not just the people of Lewisham but London as a whole has been properly recognised.

"He has worked tirelessly for many years, and I believe this is a fitting honour for his efforts."

Rodney Brooke CBE, who recently chaired the independent review of London Councils' pan-London grants scheme, was also awarded a knighthood for public service.

Cllr. Cockell said:

"I am also pleased to see that Rodney's long service to local government has been recognised."

Mayor Bullock is originally from Redcar in North Yorkshire. He moved to London in 1976 and worked at the former GLC. He is a long serving school governor, and was Chair of Lewisham Hospital for five years.

He is currently a Trustee of the Horniman Museum and lives in Forest Hill with his wife Kris.

Rodney Brooke CBE is the chair of the General Social Care Council. Previously he has been Chief Executive of Westminster City Council and West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council, Rodney Brooke is also a former secretary of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities.

He chaired the Independent Grants Review into the future for the pan-London grants scheme between 2004 and 2005. He has also recently chaired the Independent Panel on the Remuneration of Councillors in London.

Any member of the media wanting more information should contact Stewart Henderson on 020 7934 9620 or at stewart.henderson@londoncouncils.gov.uk