The Chairman of the County Council

The Chairman is elected by the whole county council to chair and control the proceedings of full council meetings in a non-political, fair and neutral manner, ultimately having the 'casting vote' on the decisions made.

All full council meetings are webcast and can be watched online. 

What does the Chairman do?

• Hosts receptions, afternoon teas and celebration evenings to show the county's appreciation for services given to the people of the county by communities, volunteers, groups and individuals.
  
  
• Promotes the objectives and services of the county council and Staffordshire itself.
  
  
• Supports the core values with the council's Strategic Plan 2022 to 2026.

The current Chairman and Vice-Chairman were elected on 18 May 2023.

You can view a list of past chairmen from 1889 to present day.

Chairman – Phil Hewitt 

Phil was born in Walsall and moved to Cannock Chase 40 years ago. He was elected as a County Councillor in 2017 and re-elected in 2021. He worked for Glaxo Smith Kline in various sales management roles for over 40 years before taking early retirement in 2018. He has spent a large part of his life working as a volunteer with young people, involved extensively with youth football and church youth clubs.  He is also a Parish Councillor in the village he and his wife live in.

His wife Adrienne will be his consort, she is a District and Parish Councillor she was originally from Coventry but lived in South Africa for 20 years. Phil and Adrienne are both widowed and have two children each, with four grandchildren and as this was written a further one on the way.

On a personal level Phil and Adrienne are very family orientated and love spending time with family.

Vice Chairman – Colin Greatorex

Colin’s parents met while serving in the Army and he was born in Nairobi, Kenya.  His schooling then took place while a forces child in Kenya, Rhyl, Malaysia, Germany and finally Burton on Trent.  He was then a graduate in Business Studies at Manchester Metropolitan University.  He spent 30 years in the drinks industry for Bass, Molson Coors and Punch Taverns, all based in Burton.  He moved to Lichfield in 1990, where he became interested in the local political scene.  He went onto District Council Cabinet roles and became Mayor and Sheriff of Lichfield City Council.  Recently, Colin has been a government officer in Warwickshire and an Employment Tribunal Member for the West Midlands.

His wife Donna is his Consort.  She worked in Social Services and they have three children, schooled in Lichfield.