The current chairman of CIC is the Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, who took office on 8 June 2006.

Nick Raynsford has been the Member of Parliament for Greenwich and Woolwich since 1997 (Greenwich 1992-1997). He joined the Government in 1997 and held responsibility for housing, planning and construction as well as being Minister for London. He was Minister for Local and Regional Government in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister from 2001 to 2005. He was made a privy councillor in the 2001 New Year’s Honours.

He was Shadow Minister for Housing and Construction from 1994 and front bench spokesperson for London from 1993. He was a member of the Environment Select Committee from 1992 to 1993.

He was Member of Parliament for Fulham from 1986 to1987 and was a councillor for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham from 1971 to 1975.

He was Director of SHAC, the London Housing Aid Centre from 1976 to 1986, and Director of Raynsford & Morris Housing Consultants from 1987 to 1992.

Nick Raynsford is a Vice President of the Town and Country Planning Association, an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and of the Royal Town Planning Institute. He is President of the Labour Housing Group and Chairman of the NHBC Foundation, the Fire Protection Association Council and the London Open House Supporters at Large Group. He is a Non-executive Director of Rockpools and of Hometrack.

Read the speech given by Nick Raynsford to CIC Council on 8 June 2006