AN award-winning town clerk has taken over the reins at Letchworth Garden City Council. Richard Bowran was recently named Clerk of the Year for parish or town councils by the National Association of Local Councils. He started work in Letchworth GC at the

AN award-winning town clerk has taken over the reins at Letchworth Garden City Council.

Richard Bowran was recently named Clerk of the Year for parish or town councils by the National Association of Local Councils.

He started work in Letchworth GC at the beginning of September after joining the council from Newport Parish Council in Essex.

Mr Bowran, who is 58 and lives in Langley in Essex, started working in local government four years ago after a career as a chartered accountant.

After qualifying as a clerk he went on to help train other clerks in Essex, and is set to do the same in Hertfordshire.

Mr Bowran said that his role at LGCC is to do what he had been able to do for his other councils.

"First of all I want to bring an era of stability to what we're doing.

"I want to help the council focus on its initial objectives and I want to help raise the profile of the town council so that it can be seen as being truly representative of the people who elected it into being," he said.

Mr Bowran said he has spent some time over the last few weeks getting to know Letchworth GC, and was quick to sing its praises.

He said: "I think it is a very striking town, I love great areas of the architecture in the town.

"I think it is well laid out and I've already gathered it's got a very proud history.

"I'm looking forward to making a contribution to the town's life."

The council has also employed an administrative assistant, Muffi Dawson, who is from Letchworth GC, to help at its office in Icknield Way.