 In 1983 he was elected to Nottingham City Council as Labour member for the Clifton West ward.After boundary changes abolished the Clifton West ward in 2003, when the City Council became a unitary authority, he was elected member for the newly created Clifton South ward.As a Nottingham City councillor, he held various positions of responsibility, latterly Vice-Chair of the Notts/Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service.