Neil Reeve is an experienced Chartered Engineer with 40+ years’ experience. He was previously the chair of an energy industry division of ISO, the international standard-setting organisation. He is a councillor at High Easter Parish Council. At Uttlesford District Council he is currently Portfolio Holder for the Economy, Investment and Corporate Plan. In his spare time he volunteers for nature conservancy causes.
“It’s very straightforward. We need a second term to finish the job at UDC. As a Ward Member for Broad Oak and the Hallingburys, I’ve really valued working with the four parish councils, and my colleague Geof Driscoll. I feel that we are helping the community and making a difference. I remain frustrated by the Westminster driven parties. We have found a lot wrong with what we inherited at UDC. We are putting a lot right, but there is still much to do. It’s very important that residents are listened to. We do that. We need local residents’ views, local decisions, and more local infrastructure” Neil Reeve
- Uttlesford District Broad Oak and the Hallingburys Ward (Councillor)
- High Easter Parish (Councillor)
Where you live and how long you’ve lived in the area?
My wife and I have had a home in Uttlesford for more than 20 years. After my retirement in 2012 I became increasingly involved in village, parish and local issues. Prior to this we lived and worked all over the world, including Malaysia, South Korea, Denmark, New Zealand and The Netherlands.
Our three children each have their own families (giving us 5 grandchildren in total) and lead diverse lives. One lives in Kent and works for Kent County Council. One lives in Holland and works in the University of Utrecht Library. One is currently working for Oxfam in Myanmar.
Any councillor or political experience you may have?
I’ve been a UDC councillor for the Broad Oak and the Hallingburys ward since 2019 and at UDC I lead the Economy, Business, Council Strategy and Investments portfolios. I am also a member of the High Easter Parish Council.
Any work details that you may want to highlight that add to your experience?
I am a Chartered Engineer with approximately 40 years of international experience. I worked with Royal Dutch Shell until I retired from them in 2012. For the first third of my career I worked as a Structural Engineer designing, building and maintaining offshore platforms. Thereafter I developed Shell’s system of specifications and standards for all their operations worldwide. In this capacity, I became chair of the committee in an International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) responsible for international standards the oil and gas industry. I maintained this role till mid-2019. I have learned how to listen to very diverse groups and lead the parties to an agreement (a consensus standard).
Are you involved in any community or residents’ groups, boards, charities, or volunteering?
I’m a director, trustee and treasurer of the East of England Apples and Orchards Project (EEAOP). This is a charity, with a trading arm (i.e. under Charities Commission and Companies House), whose aim is the collect and conserve the region’s heritage fruit trees; and get these (re-)planted throughout the region.
I am also a treasurer, and committee member of the Essex Beekeepers Association (EBKA) (Braintree Division).
Why did you stand for Residents for Uttlesford?
I was impressed that in a short time Residents for Uttlesford had already made an impact for our district. In 4 years of leading UDC, we’ve made significant improvements for residents. We need 4 more years to finish the job.
The key point is that R4U is a party for local issues, not national ones. It can therefore be more agile to steer the district council in a direction that residents in the Uttlesford want, rather than as directed by a Westminster-based party.
