THE Leader and Chief Executive of Fenland District Council have paid a warm tribute to Councillor Peter Skoulding MBE, who died suddenly at the weekend. Cllr Skoulding, a member of the council s Cabinet, was the portfolio holder with responsibility for fi

THE Leader and Chief Executive of Fenland District Council have paid a warm tribute to Councillor Peter Skoulding MBE, who died suddenly at the weekend.

Cllr Skoulding, a member of the council's Cabinet, was the portfolio holder with responsibility for finance.

Cllr Geoffrey Harper, the council leader, and Tim Pilsbury, the chief executive, said: "Cllr Skoulding, who was Fenland's longest serving councillor, championed the causes of local people for more than 40 years. He was a key member of the Cabinet and his sound financial expertise will be sorely missed.

"Everyone at the council is deeply shocked at his sudden death. He has been such a powerful influence shaping the success of the council over so many years.

"A little over a year ago, the Queen presented him with the MBE for his long and impressive service to local government.

"Peter built a successful business empire but he successfully managed to put something back into the community for four decades.

"He started out in politics as a councillor with the old March Urban District Council at the age of 29 and, apart from a brief period when he took time out to recover from illness, he has been a stalwart of local government in the district.

"Peter was the last of the original Fenland councillors at the time of the major national re-organisation of local government back in 1974.

"In his time, Peter has held most senior posts on the council. He was twice chairman of the council and vice chairman once. He chaired the Housing Committee, the Sports and Leisure Committee and Scrutiny Committee and he was a key member of the Cabinet up until his untimely death.

"Peter dedicated his life to the people of Fenland and his considerable energies have made Fenland a better place to live. We all owe him a deep debt of gratitude. He will be greatly missed and will certainly be an impossible act to follow.