End of an era as Hampshire councillor Ken Thornber retires after four decades

Cllr Ken Thornber has spent four decades in local government, playing a pivotal role in the political process and making decisions that will shape the region for years to come.

After joining the county council in 1977 he rose to become leader of the authority and held the position for 14 turbulent years.

Part of his reign coincided with the austerity regime imposed by the government following the financial crisis of 2008.

The county council was forced to make a total of 1,800 people redundant after being hit by £130 million of Whitehall cuts and a sharp rise in the cost of providing services.

Cllr Thornber also became a key figure in other organisations across the county, including Hampshire Police Authority and the New Forest National Park Authority.

Now the 84-year-old Tory has decided to call time on his political career - a decision largely influenced by poor health.

He was forced to miss last week’s Beaulieu Estate Dinner, an annual event for tenants and other guests including many of Hampshire’s movers and shakers.

The host, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, told diners: “Cllr Thornber has just announced his decision to stand down at the next election due to declining health.

“Ken has been a very conscientious ward councillor and was also a dedicated leader of the county council. He rarely missed a meeting and always made a positive contribution to those he attended.”

Married with four sons, Cllr Thornber has lived in the New Forest for more than 50 years.

Formerly a management consultant with Price Waterhouse and other leading companies he has been a member of the county council for 39 years and also served on Hampshire Police Authority for 22 years.

He is a former chairman of Hampshire Ambulance Trust and an executive member of the Local Government Association.

Cllr Thornber became leader of the county council in 1999, succeeding Cllr Freddie Emery-Wallis.

Renowned for his outspoken nature, he wrote to the government just six months later and demanded that ministers reject plans to build more than 100,000 homes in the county.

He also threatened to raise council tax precepts to double figures unless local authorities were given extra funds.

Cllr Thornber was never far from controversy. In 2005 he found himself fielding questions from constituents on the ITV show Tonight With Trevor McDonald, with residents grilling him about what they described as the council’s “bloated” £1 billion budget.

Four years later it was revealed the authority was creating hundreds of jobs and would soon have 40,000 staff - more than the Royal Navy.

But one of the biggest controversies surrounding his reign involved his decision to create the Hampshire Senate, with himself as chairman.

Cllr Thornber was dubbed “Emperor Ken” by his critics after setting up the unelected group, which comprised representatives from local authorities across the county.

Campaigners called for the Senate to be scrapped after it was revealed that members met in a four-star hotel at taxpayers’ expense in 2008.

Further cracks appeared in 2010 when Eastleigh and Fareham councils pulled out, saying it was “undemocratic” and “irrelevant”.

Cllr Thornber also proved to be a controversial ward councillor for Brockenhurst.

A traffic calming scheme comprising nine chicanes was installed at Burley Road at his request in a bid to cut the number of animal accidents.

PICTURED: Ken Thornber, centre, and other winning candidates celebrate after the Tories retained control of Hampshire County Council at the 2013 local elections

But the scheme was dubbed “Ken’s Bends” by critics of the scheme, who claimed the chicanes posed a danger to drivers using the twisting cross-country route.

The row resulted in three of the obstacles being ripped out in a bid to placate the objectors.

During his reign as leader of the county council Cllr Thornber was described as King of the Castle - a reference to the name of the authority’s Winchester headquarters.

But he renounced his throne in three years ago after seeing the Tories retain control of the county council in the local elections.

At the time the elderly politician was making a daily journey from his home in Sway to his office in Winchester - a round trip of about 60 miles – to lead an authority that had a budget of £1,752 million and presided over a population of 1.3 million people.

Cllr Thornber said: “It’s a six-day-a-week job that takes ten or 11 hours a day if you include the travelling.

“It’s been a privilege to lead one of the top councils in the land and I feel very sad to be standing down. With God’s grace I’ve still got years I can give, but one recognises that the time is right.”

His resignation followed a bruising leadership battle the previous year, when Cllr Thornber polled just two votes more than his rival, Cllr Roy Perry.

The contest resulted in more than half the Conservative councillors refusing to back Cllr Thornber, with some claiming he was “autocratic and dictatorial”.

He was also accused of reneging on a “gentleman’s agreement” to stand down in 2011 and make way for Cllr Perry.

But the controversial council boss hit back, claiming many Tories had privately asked him to stay on and lead the party to victory in the 2013 local elections.

Now he has signalled the end of an era by announcing his decision not to seek re-election as a councillor at next year’s poll.

Cllr Thornber said: “I have come to the very reluctant conclusion that after 40 years I have done my bit. But I have to say I have reached that conclusion with great sadness.

“It was a pleasure and a privilege to serve as leader of the county council. I’ll look back on it with a huge fondness.”

FELLOW members of Hampshire County Council have praised Cllr Thornber for his outstanding record of public service.

Cllr Roy Perry, pictured top, who succeeded him as leader of the Tory-run authority in 2013, said Cllr Thornber had devoted almost 40 years of his life to helping the community.

“During this time he not only represented the people of Hampshire, but was also a voice for local government on the national stage with roles as chairman of the County Councils Network as well as chairman of the Local Government Association’s resources panel,” he said.

“He championed new ways of working in local government, introducing a voluntary partnership to bring public services in the county together.

“I would like to personally thank his wife Lin for the unfailing support that she has given Ken in carrying out these roles over the years.

“On behalf of my colleagues at the county council, I extend our appreciation for their dedication and commitment to the people of Hampshire and wish them both the very best for the future.”

Cllr David Harrison, pictured bottom, a Liberal Democrat member for Totton and Marchwood, also paid tribute to Cllr Thornber.

He said: “It’s sad to hear that Ken has decided not to re-stand for election in May next year.

“He is an ultra Tory loyalist and has served with distinction for 40 years on the county council, much of the time as leader.

“I can’t say we are close friends or that I agree with his politics but I do have respect for him because of his commitment to public service and his achievement in steering the county council towards the widely respected organisation it is today.

“He agreed with me on the shortcomings of a Cabinet system of running local authorities and even supported my attempt to reform the county council.

“I also worked with him on the New Forest National Park Authority and found that he was particularly good at scrutinising matters, always expecting the highest standards.

“He will be a great loss to local government generally.”