Steve Bundred

Steve Bundred
Chief Executive of the Audit Commission
In office
2003–2010
Preceded byAndrew Foster
Succeeded byEugene Sullivan
Chief Executive of Camden Council
In office
1995–2003
Preceded byJeremy Smith
Succeeded byMoira Gibb
Member of the Greater London Council for Islington North
In office
1981–1986
Preceded byLouis Bondy
Succeeded byGLC was abolished
Personal details
Political partyLabour
SpouseKathleen Bundred

Stephen Bundred (born 1952)[1] is a retired Labour Party politician and public administrator in London, England. He is unusual in having had a career in party politics before holding high-ranking apolitical public offices, including as Chief Executive of Camden London Borough Council (1995–2003), Chief of Executive of the Audit Commission (2003–2010) and Chair of Monitor (2010–2014).

He was a researcher for the National Union of Mineworkers.[2] He was elected as a Labour councillor on Islington London Borough Council in a by-election in 1977 and served for one year (although his wife Kathleen was later an Islington councillor). He then stood for Labour for election to the European Parliament in 1979 for London South East, but lost to the Tory candidate. Bundred served on the Greater London Council from 1981 until its abolition in 1986, representing Islington North. Upon the GLC's abolition, he was elected to represent Islington North on the Inner London Education Authority. On the GLC, he was known as being part of the left and allied to Ken Livingstone.[3][2]

He entered local government administration as director of finance at the London Borough of Hackney, Birkbeck College, and then the London Borough of Camden.[4] He became Chief Executive of Camden Council in 1995. At Camden, he was involved in a high-profile sexual discrimination case.[3] However, he was described by the Times as "turning round Camden Council".[2]

He was appointed as Chief Executive of the Audit Commission in 2003.[5] His appointment was criticised because of his political background.[6] In 2009, he called for public sector pay cuts.[7][8] In 2010, he called Tory plans to ring-fence NHS and schools funding "insane".[9] He left the role in 2010[10] and became chair of NHS regulator Monitor.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Bundred to quit Audit Commission". Inside Housing.
  2. ^ a b c "We don't need business brains" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  3. ^ a b "Fondling, fraud and feminisim [sic] - just another day in Camden". The Independent. 16 May 1998. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
  4. ^ Knutt 2003-02-21T00:00:00+00:00, Elaine. "The standards bearer". Building.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Profile: Steve Bundred, Audit Commission chief executive". Accountancy Age. 2 September 2004.
  6. ^ Parker, Simon (13 June 2003). "Watchdog appointment sparks 'bias' row". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  7. ^ "Audit Commission boss says public sector pay cuts is way out of recession". 5 July 2009 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Pay cuts? Start with fat cat Steve Bundred's £212k". Daily Mirror. 7 July 2009.
  9. ^ Adams, Stephen (22 January 2010). "Ring-fencing NHS and schools budgets 'insane', says Audit Commission head" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  10. ^ "Bundred to stand down as Audit Commission head | Public Finance". www.publicfinance.co.uk.
  11. ^ "Bundred to head Monitor | Public Finance". www.publicfinance.co.uk.