The leader of Blackpool Council is Councillor Simon Blackburn
Councillor Simon Blackburn - Leader of Blackpool Council
Simon Blackburn has been Leader of Blackpool Labour Group since 2010 and Leader of the Council since 2011.
Simon is a father of three, a former children’s social worker, and the former Deputy Chief Executive of a Blackpool supported housing charity.
Simon sees housing - and particularly housing market reform, as a key part of the solution to Blackpool's socio-economic and health challenges.
The pioneer of the Blackpool Fairness Commission, Simon is keen to encourage a focus on reducing income (and therefore health) inequalities both within the borough and across the region - utilising his role as a Director of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership to further that ambition.
Simon has a longstanding involvement with the Local Government Association, currently serving as a member of the LGA Executive, Chairman of the Safer Stronger Communities Board, Labour Group Chief Whip, and serves as both a mentor for new Leaders, and a peer reviewer in the fields of Children's Services, Adult Social Care, Planning, Corporate Governance and Highways.
A fellow of the British American Partnership, Simon has spearheaded Blackpool's twinning with the City of Sanya in Hainan province, China.
He serves on National Joint Committees in relation to local government services, coroners, and fire officers.
He is a member of both the EU Committee of the Regions, and the Council of the Congress of Europe.
Since 2016, Simon has also served as Chairman of the Shadow Combined Authority for Lancashire.
In the little spare time he enjoys, he takes pleasure in walking in the mountains of both Scotland and Wales, and is an avid follower of motor racing.