Sir Stephen Geoffrey Houghton

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(born 27 April 1958) is an English member of the

United Kingdom Labour party The Labour Party, often referred to as Labour, is a List of political parties in the United Kingdom, political party in the United Kingdom that sits on the Centre-left politics, centre-left of the political spectrum. The party has been describe ...

, a

local government Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of governance or public administration within a particular sovereign state. Local governments typically constitute a subdivision of a higher-level political or administrative unit, such a ...

politician and Leader of

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The cou ...

. "LGA Governance"
''Local Government Association''. 12 April 2022.

Political career

Houghton was first elected as a councillor to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in 1988, and became Leader of the Council and Chair of Cabinet in 1996. He is also a member of the Barnsley North East Area Council and are also appointed to the following outside bodies: Captain Allotts Charity, Cudworth United Charities, Inclusive Economy Board, Leeds City Region Partnership Committee,

Local Government Association The Local Government Association (LGA) is the national membership body for local government in England, local authorities in England and Wales. Its core membership is made up of 317 English councils and the 22 Welsh councils through the ...

(LGA) - General Assembly, Migration Yorkshire (Chair),

Sheffield City Region Combined Authority The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is the combined authority for South Yorkshire in England, with powers over transport (public transport and major trunk roads only), economic development and regeneration. It covers a total a ...

, Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Board, Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities (SIGOMA), and South Yorkshire Leaders' Meeting."Councillor Sir Stephen Houghton CBE"
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council website, 12 April 2022. In 1999, Houghton became Chair of the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities within the LGA.

Education

Houghton graduated from

Birmingham University The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...

with an MSc in Local Governance in 2004.

Honours

Houghton was appointed a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(CBE) for services to Local Government in the

2004 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 2004 were appointments by some of the Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebrations ...

. Houghton was appointed a

Knight Bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised Order of chivalry, orders of chivalry; it is a part of the Orders, decorations, and medals ...

in the

2013 Birthday Honours The 2013 Birthday Honours were appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as part of t ...

for parliamentary and political services.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Houghton, Stephen Geoffrey 1958 births Living people Alumni of the University of Birmingham Labour Party (UK) councillors Politics of Barnsley Knights Bachelor Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Leaders of local authorities of England