Steve Bundred Explained

Steve Bundred
Office1:Chief Executive of the Audit Commission
Term Start1:2003
Term End1:2010
Predecessor1:Andrew Foster
Successor1:Eugene Sullivan
Office2:Chief Executive of Camden Council
Term Start2:1995
Term End2:2003
Predecessor2:Jeremy Smith
Successor2:Moira Gibb
Office3:Member of the Greater London Council for Islington North
Term Start3:1981
Term End3:1986
Predecessor3:Louis Bondy
Successor3:GLC was abolished
Party:Labour
Spouse:Kathleen Bundred

Stephen Bundred (born 1952)[1] is a retired Labour Party politician and public administrator in London, England. He is unusual in having had a career in party politics before holding high-ranking apolitical public offices, including as Chief Executive of Camden London Borough Council (1995–2003), Chief of Executive of the Audit Commission (2003–2010) and Chair of Monitor (2010–2014).

He was a researcher for the National Union of Mineworkers.[2] He was elected as a Labour councillor on Islington London Borough Council in a by-election in 1977 and served for one year (although his wife Kathleen was later an Islington councillor). He then stood for Labour for election to the European Parliament in 1979 for London South East, but lost to the Tory candidate. Bundred served on the Greater London Council from 1981 until its abolition in 1986, representing Islington North. Upon the GLC's abolition, he was elected to represent Islington North on the Inner London Education Authority. On the GLC, he was known as being part of the left and allied to Ken Livingstone.[3] [2]

He entered local government administration as director of finance at the London Borough of Hackney, Birkbeck College, and then the London Borough of Camden.[4] He became Chief Executive of Camden Council in 1995. At Camden, he was involved in a high-profile sexual discrimination case.[3] However, he was described by the Times as "turning round Camden Council".[2]

He was appointed as Chief Executive of the Audit Commission in 2003.[5] His appointment was criticised because of his political background.[6] In 2009, he called for public sector pay cuts.[7] [8] In 2010, he called Tory plans to ring-fence NHS and schools funding "insane".[9] He left the role in 2010[10] and became chair of NHS regulator Monitor.[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bundred to quit Audit Commission. Inside Housing.
  2. News: We don't need business brains. www.thetimes.co.uk.
  3. Web site: Fondling, fraud and }} - just another day in Camden ]. live . subscription . The Independent . 16 May 1998 . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/fondling-fraud-and-feminisim-just-another-day-in-camden-1159314.html . 25 May 2022.
  4. Web site: The standards bearer. Elaine. Knutt 2003-02-21T00:00:00+00:00. Building.
  5. Web site: Profile: Steve Bundred, Audit Commission chief executive. 2 September 2004. Accountancy Age.
  6. News: Watchdog appointment sparks 'bias' row. Simon. Parker. The Guardian . 13 June 2003. www.theguardian.com.
  7. Web site: Audit Commission boss says public sector pay cuts is way out of recession. 5 July 2009. www.telegraph.co.uk.
  8. Web site: Pay cuts? Start with fat cat Steve Bundred's £212k. 7 July 2009. Daily Mirror.
  9. Web site: Ring-fencing NHS and schools budgets 'insane', says Audit Commission head. Stephen. Adams. 22 January 2010. www.telegraph.co.uk.
  10. Web site: Bundred to stand down as Audit Commission head | Public Finance. www.publicfinance.co.uk.
  11. Web site: Bundred to head Monitor | Public Finance. www.publicfinance.co.uk.