Councillors
Derek Zanger
I was born in Kettering and educated at Stamford Road School for Boys - leaving at the age of fifteen to train as a shoemaker with Loake Bros.
In 1968 I left home to seek a new career in London, and took up a position in hotel management. I then moved into retail management with a nationwide TV rental company.
In 1972 I moved back to Kettering where I met my wife Paula, and we married in 1973. I continued to follow my career in sales until 1978 when I joined the Fire Service.
I served both in Kettering and Northampton in various positions as a junior officer, including training and fire safety, before finally taking up a position as petroleum licensing officer. I retired in 2002 after 24yrs service before starting working for myself as a consultant.
As a town councillor, I am a member of the finance and general purpose committee, and the sports and leisure group. I have also become very involved in local issues, such as helping to start up residents associations and neighbourhood watch schemes. I am a founder member of BLAST, and a member of Friends of St Mary's. I also chair the pocket park committee, was involved with the urban design workshops, and brought the successful farmers market to town.
I have been responsible for securing finance from developers, enabling the council to build a multi-sports area at King George V recreation ground and improve the children's play area. I am now involved in trying to secure the land and finance to allow the council to build an indoor sports facility.
I was elected chairman of the town council in 2004 and 2005, and again in 2008. I have attended many functions on behalf of the council, meeting civic leaders and representatives of other town and borough councils - working hard to promote the town and raise its profile within the borough. I was also instrumental in the town council recommending that the chairman should be known as the Town Mayor.
Over the next five years I envisage the town continuing to expand, and it is my ambition to be in a position to say that the necessary infrastructure is in place to cope with this. I am passionate about Burton Latimer and want to make sure that any changes are for the betterment of the town and the its residents.
As a borough councillor I chair the licensing committee. I am a member of the planning task & finish group, the eco-friendly task & finish group, and the research & development committee. I also represent the borough council on the countywide scrutiny group and I am a board member of the groundwork trust.