Chair of the council

About the chair

The chair is the ceremonial head of the council. The chair must be a serving county councillor but must remain politically impartial. A chair must not be a member of the Cabinet.

Ceremonial duties include:

• being the politically impartial civic leader of Oxfordshire
• promoting the objectives and services of the county council and Oxfordshire 
• acting as an ambassador for the county council and Oxfordshire
• fostering community identity and pride.

Key responsibilities include:

• presiding over meetings of the full council
• accepting invitations on behalf of the county council to attend events
• inviting individuals and representatives of key organisations to events at County Hall and other venues.

Chair,  Councillor Alison Rooke

Councillor Rooke has lived in Abingdon for over 40 years. 

She has been a local councillor for over 20 years, serving as both a town and district councillor in the past. 

She has been both Mayor of Abingdon and Chair of the Vale of White Horse District Council. She has been County Councillor for Abingdon East division since 2013.

Vice Chair, Councillor Mark Lygo 

Mark Lygo (Labour) is a County Councillor for Marston & Northway Division.  Mark is also an Oxford City Councillor for Churchill Ward.  A Labour Spokesperson for public health and is on the Oxfordshire Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  Mark is Vice Chair of OCC JCC for the uniform members of the fire service, sits on the corporate parenting panel, a member of HOSC and is a Well-being Champion for the County. 

Mark has also raised money for many local charities.  Married with two children. Hobbies include tennis/football/running/swimming, reading and culture events.

Events

If you would like to invite the Chair to an event, email  chair@oxfordshire.gov.uk