Sir John Peace has been appointed as the Independent Chair to lead the newly established Greater Carlton Town Board, an initiative set to empower local communities and shape the future of Greater Carlton and the surrounding areas with £20 million in endowment-style funding over the next decade.
The first meeting of the board was held on Wednesday 10 July at Carlton Le Willows Academy to discuss the next steps in delivering the long-term plan for the area. The board has agreed to launch a consultation, which opened on Monday 15 July, to ask residents for their views on how the money will be spent.
In March, Greater Carlton, including Carlton Hill, Netherfield, Gedling, Colwick, Burton Joyce, Stoke Bardolph, Mapperley and Mapperley Top, were selected to receive Long-Term Plan for Town funding from the government. The establishment of the Greater Carlton Town Board is a pivotal step towards community-driven decision-making, placing local people at the forefront of shaping their town’s future.
The Independent Chair will play a crucial role in leading the Greater Carlton Town Board, bringing together diverse interests and facilitating consensus to develop a comprehensive 10-year vision for Greater Carlton. Following an advertisement for expressions of interest and subsequent assessment of applications, Sir John Peace was appointed as Chair.
Sir John Peace has a long and distinguished business career at the highest levels covering the technology, financial services, and retail sectors. He was formerly Chairman, Chief Executive, and Founder of Experian plc; Chief Executive of GUS plc; Chairman of Standard Chartered plc; and Chairman of Burberry plc—all FTSE 100 companies.
Other board members have also been appointed, including the local MP for Gedling, Michael Payne, the Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE, Nottinghamshire County Councillor Keith Girling as well as local business leaders and community representatives.
Sir John Peace, Independent Chair of the Greater Carlton Town Board, said: “I am very pleased to have been appointed as the interim Chair of the Greater Carlton Town Board. We have an opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of people living in Carlton and the surrounding areas with this funding.
“I am looking forward to hearing from residents about their ideas for the area. I will make sure that the board is fully focused on the needs of the local community, and we will put together a plan that is led by the community that will create growth in the area. I very much look forward to the opportunities that will arise from this project.”
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE, said: “We are incredibly pleased that Sir John Peace has agreed to chair this important board. He has a great track record of success in business, he knows the area well, and like us, he cares about the residents and businesses in Carlton and the surrounding areas.
“We will now start the hard work of creating a real plan that will be community-led. It will be their voices that decide where this money goes, and I am very excited about the possibilities that this project will bring. We have been desperate for investment in these areas, so it’s now time for us to get on with the task of improving the Greater Carlton area.”
