Roddy has been a District Councillor in Sevenoaks for 14 years. 7 years as Portfolio Holder for Economic and Community Development, 3 years as Commissioner for the Public Realm and 18 months as Leader of the Council.

Previously he was a Sevenoaks Town Councillor for 16 years. He is Chairman of the Kent Branch of the Chartered Quality Institute and works as a Management Systems Consultant. He has an MBA in International Business and Finance.

Cllr Hopgood was Leader of Durham County Council from May 2021 – May 2025. She was honoured to be selected to lead the cross-party Joint Administration and made history by being the first ever female Leader of the Council. Since May 2025 she has been the leader of the opposition.

She is a trustee and member of several organisations within her ward. She is also a director for Durham County Cricket Club and sits on the executive board of the Local Government Association where she is also the national lead member for the Children, young people and families committee.

Amanda was a signatory to the establishment of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority where when she led the council she held the portfolio position of Culture, Tourism, Sport and the Arts.

Prior to becoming a councillor Amanda worked for a major High Street bank as a mortgage adviser for 20 years. She is a director of a not-for-profit childcare provider.

Mike Short is the head of local government and education at UNISON, the public services union. He oversees UNISON’s work in local authorities, schools and the wider education sector. He is the lead negotiator for the joint trade unions on local government and school pay across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. He is also responsible for the union’s bargaining and equality strategies in local government and education, developing campaigns, and UNISON’s work on professional and occupational issues.

Mike lives in Lambeth, where he is a governor at his local primary school, chairing the committee that scrutinises and manages the school’s finances, resources and premises.

Mike was born and grew up in London, and has a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.