A Chartered Quantity Surveyor, Jim has been a member of Northamptonshire County Council since 1979 and Leader of the Council since 2005. Jim is also a member of the East Midlands Regional Leaders Board, Chairman of the Regional Joint Strategy Advisory Board, and since 2001 has been a member of Northamptonshire Police Authority.

He is Vice Chairman of the LGA Regeneration and Transport Board, Vice Chairman of Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited, a member of North Northamptonshire Development Company and a board member of Northamptonshire Theatres Trust.

Married to Jenny, Jim enjoys walking, theatre, travel and reading.