West Devon Borough Councillors
Our elected councillors are our voice, they act on behalf, raising issues and fighting our corner. In order to carry out this important role they must represent our views so here at Dartmoor Links we thought we should learn a little about our councillors and find out how to contact them.
Cllr Robert Oxborough (Tavistock South East Ward)
Robert has been a councillor since May 2011 in Tavistock South and now Tavistock South East. His background includes school teaching as a first job before then spending 17 years in the Army. He is now a retired Lt Col running a stationery business from a unit in the Crelake Industrial Estate.
During the transition years between Army and civilian life (he was medically discharged in 2002), Robert became involved in local politics at the Parish level and then 5 years after relocating to Mary Tavy, became an elected member at WDBC. This desire to serve the community is a natural follow on from his service to country. He strongly believes in community and particularly that we can all pay a part in making life better for all.
His interests include sport, particularly swimming and running. His days as a Rugby player are long gone so it is now a case of supporting from the armchair! History is another keen interest, particularly in terms of applying lessons learned to today’s problems.
Robert’s work as Lead Member for the Economy on the Hub at WDBC presents him with a considerable challenge. With meagre resources, influencing the economy at the local level is not easy. There are frequently issues arising from businesses within his ward and within the WDBC area so he is active in seeing these resolved satisfactorily. He has been a consistent driving force behind the initiative to see improvements to the Car parking services and is behind the drive to see Business Voice events focussed on areas that make a difference to smaller local businesses.
Cllr Annabel Roberts (Ward of Dartmoor)
Representing Dartmoor ward on West Devon Borough Council is a huge privilege.
For many generations my family have farmed in the area and been very involved in parish life.
WDBC is a dynamic organisation bringing together people from a wide variety of backgrounds, a melting pot of skills, backgrounds and concerns. I am a freelance journalist and over the decades have worked in lots of different places in Britain and overseas, covering everything from daily news, politics, rural issues, business, royals... to the lighter stuff.
I also have three children.
My motive for becoming a councillor was simple: to contribute something to the community I live in. This community and the environment we all share is so important to me. Working together, bringing to the table our various skills, seems to me to be the way to move forward. There are many challenges - but that is what makes the role so interesting.
Cllr Graham Parker (Tavistock South West Ward)
I became a councillor six months ago, as I thought I could use my many years of experience in town planning to represent people in the Tavistock area. I now sit on the Hub Committee and the Planning & Licensing Committee, and have enjoyed having the opportunity to give help and advice to local residents on housing benefit claims, rehousing issues and planning problems.
I grew up in Sheffield and initially took a job at a steel factory before training in town and country planning and working for Bristol City Council for 18 years. I then ran my own planning consultancy where I was involved in numerous developments including the Radisson Hotel in Bristol and leading the planning team on the first Lidl proposal in Tavistock. I retired from the planning consultancy last year after being diagnosed with Leukemia, for which I am now undergoing chemotherapy treatment. I have been involved in the Rotary Club for 20 years and was President of the Bristol branch in 1998. Walking with my dog Gemma is one of my favourite pastimes - Gemma was rescued from Rumania and has become a wonderful family companion. I also enjoy playing the viola and getting together with friends for a bit of country and western music. I am married to Ginny, and have a daughter, Emma, and two grandchildren who live in Boston.
Cllr Jess Evans (Tavistock South West Ward)
I have lived and worked in the Tavistock area since I was a little girl, attending Tavistock Primary and Tavistock College. It is a great town and I am enthusiastic for its future, especially to see it prosper in the employment and affordable housing sectors and to include vital support for residents of all ages.
I have been a Parish Councillor for four years and my desire to expand my knowledge of how my local Government works encouraged me to stand for the Tavistock South West Ward. It has been a huge learning curve but an enjoyable one.
As a mum of four, I feel that it is important to build on our communities for future generations and in my work at Tavistock College I perceive lots of students learning and developing into adulthood. I think it would be fantastic if we could encourage the younger generation to live and work in the area which would support the local economy, rich heritage and stunning countryside.
In my spare time I enjoy popping down to my allotment to unwind and harvest the fruit and vegetables, this combines well with my love of cooking and baking. I also help out at various Parish events at the village hall and primary school, the latest one being our Christmas Fair which was very successful. Since becoming a Borough Councillor I have attended various functions from taking part in the Tavy Tidy event to meeting the street and school pastors who do a wonderful job. I look forward to meeting more groups and taking part in more of the excellent events that take place in and around Tavistock.
Along with my fellow Ward Council member, Graham Parker, we aim to work closely together with the residents of the Ward and make their priorities our priorities.
Cllr Debo Sellis (WDBC - Tavistock South East Ward; DCC Tavistock, Lamerton, Sydenham Damerel & Gulworthy)
I became a councillor for the Walkham ward in 2007 and knew that I wanted to use the opportunity to make a difference. I am chairman of the Planning & Licensing Committee and sit on the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Internal) and the Parking Focus Group.
I moved to Devon about 14 years ago, having been born and bred on the Isle of Man. I became a state registered nurse in 1980 and worked in many different aspects of nursing care. I was elected as a County Councillor in 2009 and really enjoy being involved at both borough and county level. I am a member of Cornwall & West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site Partnership, Tamar Valley AONB and Tavistock Heritage Panel. I sit on the Tavistock College endowment trust as a trustee and helped to set up Political Speed Dating with Tavistock College where students meet cross-party councillors and question a councillor for 7 minutes before moving on to the next councillor.
I am passionate about maintaining Tavistock's heritage as a vibrant market town and keen to support opportunities to create employment, improve disabled access points in Tavistock encourage young people to vote and be involved in local politics and improve youth provision generally. I work hard and play harder, using meditation, music and long walks with my dog Pepper to keep things in perspective. My children are now in their 30s while my husband John has 2 sons and 4 teenage grandchildren.
Philip Sanders Buckland Monachorum Ward and Leader of the Council
I was born into a Devon farming family, attended Tiverton Grammar school and read Agriculture at Nottingham University. I spent 4 years in hotel management before joining the National Health Service in London bashing a stopwatch and installing bonus schemes. I moved across to managing hospitals before becoming Trust Board Director. I was the commissioning officer for the first phase of Derriford hospital and was at the front door to welcome our first patient on the 9th of June 1981. Surgeon Captain John Soul persuaded me to stand for West Devon when he stood down in 2007. Two years after this I was elected to Devon County Council.
My family has always served the community and I ran a youth club for many years and trained and assessed young people in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme a role I still perform. I served for 26 years in the Tavistock section of the Dartmoor Rescue Group and I am still involved in a number of charitable organisations.
Being a councillor can be very hard work and my role as leader of West Devon Borough Council is certainly challenging but like everything else in life you get out what you put in. It is very satisfying when you are able to help someone sort out a problem and most of the time I really love what I do.
I can be contacted on: cllr.philip.sanders@westdevon.gov.uk
Home tel: 01822 612265
Mobile: 07899 917008
David Cloke Burrator Ward
Mayor of West Devon
I moved to St Budeaux, Plymouth from Portsmouth at the age of eleven and left school at fifteen to take an apprenticeship in HM Dockyard, Devonport. My wife Jackie and I have lived in Horrabridge since 1972; we have two children and five grandchildren.
I have always been interested in the local community and have been involved with village organisations such as, the Youth Club, Horrabridge Twinning Association, school Governorship and have regularly attended Horrabridge Parish Council meetings. In 1991 I was elected to Horrabridge PC and became Chairman in 2000. I remained as Chairman until 2006 when I stood as Deputy Chairman. I was elected to West Devon Borough Council as an Independent in 2007 and have been returned in 2011 and 2015. I was Deputy Mayor in 2014/15 and was elected Mayor of the Borough of West Devon in May this year. Jackie is the Mayoress of West Devon and we shall be in office until May 2016. Although performing the dual functions of Councillor for Burrator Ward and Mayor, Jackie and I are still involved with local organisations and attend as many village events as possible.
Contact: 01822 854193
Robin Musgrave Bere Ferrers Ward
I was originally elected as a ward member for the Bere Ferrers ward and served in this role from 1991 till 1995, again being elected in 2007, re-elected again in 2011 and again in 2015. I have worked in business for 30 years in the Information technology sector in various management and technical roles. After a change of career I qualified as a teacher and for the last five years before my retirement I worked in a special school teaching young people with special educational needs. I have worked with young people throughout my adult life in a voluntary capacity and have been particularly involved with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and the Tavistock and District youth Forum. My wife and I also provide respite fostering. I have a particular interest in sport and am a member of the Tavistock Athletic Club, the Weir Quay Sailing Club and the Tamar & Tavy Gig Club. For many years I have coached young athletes in the Athletic Club.
Contact: 01822 841064
Diana Moyse Burrator Ward
As Parish Clerk to a neighbouring Parish (following on from being the Clerk at Burrator Parish Council) I was invited to go to a briefing session at the EU in Brussels. It was mentioned to me that I should put myself forward for being a Councillor in West Devon. I laughed and said I would never get elected but fought hard in my first election when I realised I would not like being beaten! I have visited Burrator for many, many years and have lobbied passionately as a Dartmoor National Park Member on applications by South West Water to commercialise the area – let us leave a beautiful part of Devon for those who like to walk, cycle and ride in peace. Anyone who wishes to eat around the reservoir could always bring a sandwich!
I can be contacted on 01822 820407
e-mail on cllr.diana.moyse@westdevon.gov.uk.
Mike Benson Bere Ferrers Ward
I moved to Bere Alston in 1975 having worked as a professional photographer for most of my life. Enamoured with the area and a keen sailor, I joined Weir Quay Sailing Club and became involved with local issues. My journey to becoming a councillor began with trying to prevent a housing development. Having lost that argument, I determined to learn more about the process and joined Bere Ferrers Parish Council. I was elected to West Devon Borough Council for the first time in 2011, where I am now lead member for the Environment. Ironically, I now chair a neighbourhood planning group, Bere Peninsula Plan, having learnt that we do need a limited number of houses in rural locations to provide accommodation for young people and to ensure that we have a vibrant community. Hopefully the reconnection of the railway to Tavistock will improve our viability. Although Bere Alston is the largest village in Devon, it sits within the very rural parish of Bere Ferrers with most of its boundaries made up by the rivers Tamar & Tavy. Its shear isolation presents its own problems and my aim has always been to help local residents deal with issues, littering being one of my concerns.
Contact: 01822 840209
mobile: 07768240107
email cllr.mike.benson@westdevon.gov.uk
Ric Cheadle Buckland Monachorum Ward
I decided to stand as a Borough Councillor for the Buckland Monachorum Ward at the last election to try and ensure that the Parish was represented by at least one Borough Councillor who actually lived in the Parish! And it’s important that there is because, as a Parish Councillor, I am co-ordinating the production of the Parish's Neighbourhood Plan which, once approved, will guide future development within the Parish. It will be really important that the Plan represents the views of those who live in the Parish so I will look forward to receiving comments when it is published for consultation this year. I’m very keen that residents and business owners living and working in the Parish are supported by both the Parish and Borough Council so please do contact me if you feel that I can help.
My email address is rcheadle@wdbc.gov.uk or you can ring me on 01822 854710.