Councillor Ram Parkash Lakha is Chairman of Scrutiny Board 3 since May 2010, which previously dealt with Economic regeneration which encludes Economy, Learning Skills and Employment; Transport and Housing. But now this is to deal with Jobs, Skills and Growth for Economic development. He is also member of Environmental and Community Safety Scrutiny Board (Scrutiny Board 4 ) which deals with Cleaner, greener streets and open spaces, making a positive environmental contribution, tackling climate change and Community Safety. He is also member of Scrutiny Co-Ordination Committee. Previously he was also member of Standards Committee for one Municipla year ending in May 2012. In year 2002 he was the Chairman of Scrutiny Board 1 which dealt with Resources such as Finance and Human resources and acted as Audit Committee of City Council.
From May 2008 till May 2010 he was Deputy Chair of Scrutiny Board 3 which was dealing with Environment, Housing, Economic Development and Transport during 2009/10. During that time he was also member of Planning Committee and Coventry Partnership Board (Local Stretegic Partnership) since many years. Previously he was Deputy Lord Mayor from June 2004 till June 2005. Then he became Lord Mayor from 2005 toll 2006 for one year.
Ram was the Assistant Whip of Coventry Labour Group since May 2009 till May 2012.
He has been the school governor of Willenhall Community Primary School since 1991. Previously he also served as School Governor of Stoke infant School and Stoke Junior School in Briton Road, also the Stoke Park Secondary School and Community College for many years. He also served as Governor of former Coventry Technical College - Butts in 1989 - 90.
He is Director of Willenhall Community Forum (Ltd.) which runs Willenhall Education, Employment and Training Centre (WETEC) and children's nursery. It ha also taken on the responsibility to manage the Hagard Community Centre since the start of 2011.
As a Trustee of Tiny Tim's Children's Centre since 2005 Ram takes interest in the welfare and development of the Centre which provides support and care for disabled children or children with special needs.
Ram also sits on the committee of Coventry Association for International Friendship known as CAIF
Previously he was the Chairman of Diabetes Support Group for few years. He supported various Charities such as Prince's Trust to help the young people for employment, Diabetes UK to raise funds and awareness as his nominated Charities During his Mayoral time. He also supported "Globle Care" and "Sewa International" to raise funds for the homeless people who were the victims of Tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka and India. Ram also supported to raise funds to support the victims of earthquake in Pakistan in 2005. Locally he supported Asian Blind Association. He incouraged the development of the "Tooth" a project to support young people which is part of YMCA and suppoted it financially from Lord Mayor's budget.
To help the low paid workers in textile industry in Coventry and to povide the support to textile industry Ram as Chairman of Clothing Resources Centre - the position he held for more than five years - introduced the "Charter" for the local textile businesses.
He was a Shadow Cabinet Member for Customer, Workforce and Legal Services from May 2007 till May 2009. Previously he held various responsibilities such as Chair of Scrutiny Board 1 for Policy and Resources of City Council, Deputy Chair of Scrutiny Board 3, Chaired the Community development & Voluntary Secter Team as Team Leader, Deputy Chair of Property Management Committee which contributed to many new developments in the city.
He was the first person from non-white communities to become the Deputy Lord Mayor in May 2004. Then he served as Lord Mayor of Coventry for 2005-06. As Lord Mayor he was the Chairman of Coventry City Council. Ram was active in the communities and served on Executive Committee of Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha Coventry from 1978 till 1984. Most of this time he served as honorary General Secretary with the responsibility to manage the Shri Guru Ravidass Temple at 17/19 Jesmond Road Coventry. During this time in 1980 he served as Senior Vice President of Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha UK and then the President in 1981. Shri Guru Ravidass Sabha UK has its Head Office at Shri Guru Ravidass Temple, Union Row, Handsworth, Birmingham. During that time he led the campaign to raise funds to start Shri Guru Ravidass Technical College for girls in Phagwara City in Punjab (India). He also served as Treasurer of Fedration of Indian Organisations UK for couple of years. During that time he also served as Joint Secretary of Indian Overseas Congress Coventry branch which he served till 1989 and then decided to step down from that responsibility. Since September 10th 2011 Ram is the Honorary General Secretary of IWA (Indian Workers Association) Coventry (GB). Before that he worked with IWA for many years as Assistant Secretary and executive committee member. He served on the West Midlands Fire and Civil Defence Authority for one year as representative of the council.
He also served as a Non-Executive Director of Whitefriars Housing Group for few years. He Chaired Binley & Willenhall Ward Forum meetings for few years as local Councillor for the area. Ram also Chaired few review groups of various services of City Council such as Best Value Review for Corporate Services, Planning Services and Caterring Services and made recomendations for the policy developments for the City Council. In 2010/11, he chaired the group to develop Car Parking Strategy of City Council which was approved by the Scrutiny Board 3 and also by the rulling Labour Group.
Ram joined the Labour Party in 1977 and served on various positions of responsibilities such as Secretary St Michael's Ward and Vice Chair of South East Constituecy Labour Party and Executive Member of District Labour Party for couple of years.
He also served as Deputy Chair of Lower Stoke Ward in 2011. During this time he acted as Chair of the Ward because of serious health problems leading to his death of the Chairman Jack Harrison MBE. Ram acted as Chair of the Ward till the new Chair was elected on 13th September 2011.
Ram sits on the Executive Committee of the "Friends of Binley Little Woods" to support them for the protection and development of Binley Little woods as part of his commitment for better environment.
He was born in a small village (Nawan Pind Naicha) in Indian Punjab in 1949. He graduated from Punjab University (India) in 1969 and is married to Meto. Meto was a Radford Ward Councillor from May 1992 - May 1994 and has also been a Foleshill Ward Councillor from May 2000 to 2004. Meto was the first woman from Black and Asian (Non-white) communities in Coventry to become a City Councillor. She served as Deputy Lady Mayoress for one year and then Lady Mayoress of Coventry for the following year. Sadly Meto passed away on 14th February 2012. Councillor Lakha has one daughter, two sons and is a grandfather. Councillor Lakha has worked in various fields and was a civil servant in India for five years. Here in Coventry he started work on the shop floor and then worked as part of management for over about fourteen years in metal finishing and painting industry. He then worked in the voluntary sector. He managed Ravidassia Community Centre on job share basis in a deprived area which was originally developed by the community he led and initiated services for young people such as youth club and physical fitness, training for carers and support for elderly and then he worked as Community Liaison Officer to provide support for Health and Social care for Warwickshire for couple of years before joining a private company for parcel delivery services for about six years starting as warehouse-worker on night shift then became Night Operations Controller the job he had to leave because of care duties for his disabled wife and serious illness of late mother whom he cared for fifteen years. He also worked as a shop-keeper for more than five years. He is now a full time Councillor and enjoys working with cumminity. He has been awarded OBE in the new years list - published on 31st December 2009. The Investiture Ceremony was performed by HRH Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace on 23rd April 2010
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