About MeI am the Councillor for Canary Wharf ward in the Borough of Tower Hamlets. I was elected in May 2014 and re-elected in May 2018 for another four years as a Conservative but resigned from the party in February 2020. I am now an Independent Councillor but remain in the Conservative group on Tower Hamlets Council, reasons are here. You can get more information about my ward including a map here
I will be an independent candidate in the 5th May 2022 local elections:
I was leader of the Conservative Group at Tower Hamlets Council from June 2018 until February 2020 (which was the the only opposition group until August 2021) It took me months to accept this after I was elected but I am a politician. Admittedly only a part-time politician and I did not join a political party until I was in my 30's and I have spent a lot more time working as an accountant then I have spent in politics but that is what I am. I strongly believe in transparency and sharing information, I hope this site helps explains a little more about me. You can read copies of my newsletters here but I use: Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/1458438024296291/ & www.facebook.com/CllrAndrewWood/ and Twitter twitter.com/Andrewwood17 as my main communication tools. I am also Secretary of the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Planning Forum, this is a resident led non-political group working to make the Isle of Dogs a great place to live. Canary Wharf ward is the fastest growing ward in the country, the population of my ward was 12,500 people in 2011, was 19,000 in summer 2020, and if all known developments complete the population will go to around 35,000 - 40,000 people. The website of the Forum is here www.isleofdogsforum.org.uk I was from July 2017 to April 2018 Chair of the Grants Scrutiny Sub-Committee of the Council. I now sit on the Audit, Pensions, Overview & Scrutiny committee's as well as the Housing & Regeneration, Health and Childrens Scrutiny Sub-Committee's. You can find out more about me on the Council website here In Tower Hamlets there are now 40 Labour Councillors (out of 45) and a Labour Mayor. Cllr Peter Golds (Conservative) was also re-elected as was Rabina Khan (PATH but now Liberal Democrat party) so we are the only opposition now plus Aspire since their August 2021 by-election win of Weavers ward. My main role is to hold the Labour administration to account, to represent my residents & to attend Council meetings and committee's. Background I was born in Nigeria, West Africa, to a German mother and English father. Grew up in Nigeria, Indonesia, Singapore & UK. Have travelled to more then fifty countries for work, holidays and to visit family (who have themselves worked all over the world). I studied Politics at Bristol University but then qualified as a management accountant with CIMA and have worked for a number of large companies including the old British Rail, O2, Global Crossing, MCI-Worldcom, Laing O'Rourke at the London Olympics, Saudi Telecom (in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). But my first and favourite job was as a camp councillor at Camp Cody in Freedom, New Hampshire where I spent eight summers teaching children outdoor and riflery skills. I also served in the Territorial Army latterly in the Intelligence Corps and was a school governor for five years in a secondary school. Born: In an American Baptist Missionary Hospital in Eku, Nigeria - 1969 Parents: Steve, from Brightlingsea, England and Dagmar from Memmingen, Germany Sister: Julie aka she who must be obeyed Niece: Chloe who must have her icecream Dog: Quintus - when my sister allows me to borrow him Home: Cyclops Wharf on Westferry Road, opposite The Space red brick theatre |
To access previous copies of my regular newsletters click here
If you share your email address with me I will send you regular email updates mainly on local issues but occasionally political content as well
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