Nicholas Rushton lives in Ashby de la Zouch, in North West Leicestershire. He has been the Leader of Leicestershire County Council since 2012 and his portfolio includes Strategic and External Relationships, Economic Development, Resilience and Planning for Minerals and Waste.
Due to personal circumstances he has stepped aside as Leader and Deborah Taylor is currently the Acting Leader of the Council.
He has been Chairman of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority since 2015.
Nicholas has been a county councillor from 1989 to 1993 and again from 2001 to the present. He also sits on North West Leicestershire District Council where he is currently the Corporate Portfolio holder.
Under Nick’s leadership, Leicestershire County Council has recently taken on the role of Lead Authority and Accountable Body for the East Midlands Freeport.
On the national and regional scene, Nick is a former Vice-Chairman of the County Councils Network, the national body representing upper tier county authorities lobbying government for finance and local government reform and a past spokesman for Finance. Nick is also an Executive Board member of the Midlands Connect Strategic Steering Group and a Board member of the East Midlands Development Company Ltd Oversight Authority.
Outside of politics, Nicholas is a successful businessman, is married to Daniella (an author) and his son Bertie, recently graduated from King’s College London with a first-class honours degree and has followed his father by becoming a Leicestershire County Councillor.
Nicholas is also a keen follower of Leicester City Football club and Leicester Tigers RUFC.
The role of Leader
The Leader is a County Councillor who has been appointed to the position by the County Council and chairs the Cabinet meeting. He also represents the County Council on national and regional bodies.
He or she chooses which County Councillors make up the Cabinet.