Woldingham Parish Council Election, 6th May – Dates & Procedures for Potential Candidates

Key dates and Procedures for Parish Council Election 2021
There are nine seats available

22 March 2021

The Notice of Election is published – this means that anyone who wishes to stand in the Parish Council elections can now download or go and pick up a nomination form from Returning Office at Tandridge District Council offices in Oxted.  The link for the form is:
> Nomination Pack for Parish Council Election

8 April 2021

All completed nomination papers must be delivered by appointment only to the Returning Officer at Tandridge District Council Offices in Oxted between 10am – 4pm on any working day after the 22 March 2021 but no later than 4pm on Thursday 8 April 2021. This is also the deadline for withdrawing your nomination form.

(formal checks of the nomination form can be made between the 22 March and 8 April 2021 you can email your form to Chailey Gibb on cgibb@tandridge.gov.uk who will check that you have completed the form correctly before taking down to the Council offices)

The Parish Clerk will be advised how many nomination forms have been submitted and whether an election is to be held.  (If more than 9 nominations forms are received than an election will be held on 6 May 2021.

6 May 2021

The election will take place on Thursday 6 May 2021 – due to Covid restrictions the counting of votes will take longer and the Clerk will not be advised of the results of the election until Monday 10 or Tuesday 11 May 2021.  Once the Clerk is advised of the successful candidates a notice will be posted.

Certain people are disqualified from being elected to a parish council in England and Wales – you cannot be a candidate if at the time of your nomination and on polling day:

1. You are employed by the parish/community council or hold a paid office under the parish/community council (including joint boards or committees).
2. You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
3. c. You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day.
4. You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices and offences relating to donations). The disqualification for an illegal practice begins from the date the person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for three years. The disqualification for a corrupt practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years.

A person may also be disqualified from election if they have been disqualified from standing for election to a local authority following a decision of the First-tier Tribunal (formerly the Adjudication Panel for England) or the Adjudication Panel for Wales.

 

The following people have already put themselves forward as candidates:

---

Neil Foreman

I moved into Woldingham in 2003 with my wife and young family and immediately fell in love with the Village. During my time here I ran the junior section of the tennis club for 7 years and the Friday night social tennis became an unofficial youth club (with the famous bar-b-que at the end of each session) for the younger members of our community. I have also been heavily involved with the Village Pantomime and was Chairman for a number of years. I have run my own Financial Services Company for 30 years and am keen now to put something back to ensure that the unique character of Woldingham is protected for the future.

 

---

Alex Foulds

I moved to Woldingham with my wife and two sons in 2013, and I have been helping on the WPC for the last year and I am currently co-opted as vice chair. I am interested in maintaining the ambience and mood of our village and its surrounding areas – its a great place to live and its worth a bit of effort to keep it that way as well as looking for ways to develop, maintain and improve our services.

I have had a long career in public service, in the rail sector, and I have been a member of several companies executive teams over the years, including a stint at Commercial Director for our local railway services. I do think that my career in public service means I am well placed to continue to serve our community through my WPC duties. I have considerable experience in business planning, project delivery, managing budgets, risk management, commercial and contract management, procurement and sales, and of working with a vast range of local and national stakeholders. I have also volunteered to help many local organisations over the years, mainly sports clubs.

I have found that I have been able to contribute to many parish council activities and I have been involved in developing our plans for the future, our budget setting and management and a whole range of specific projects and reviews. I am currently working on our contribution to the Open Spaces Strategy and our work on speed safety. I have just completed our annual review of our risk management plan and the actions we have ongoing to manage this. I also try to support and help other councillors, and I believe we have become a strong team.

Lockdown has meant the last year has been strange for the council, as everyone else, and I am very much looking forward to the freedom I hope is just round the corner and the opportunities this will create for us all. But we have been able to adapt and continue our work.  I have enjoyed working with a team of committed, knowledgeable and positive individuals on the WPC; it has been good fun.

I would like to continue contributing to sustaining and improving our fantastic village environment and I would ask that you consider voting for me in the forthcoming elections.

 

---

Rebecca Fuller

I am the fifth generation of Fuller to live in the village and my family have always farmed here. Although I have not always lived in the village, I have been lucky enough to be able to experience its natural beauty ever since I can remember and have always considered Woldingham my home. Since returning to the village, now with a family of my own, I realise the importance of a sense of community and feel passionately about giving back to the community.

I’m keen to help with ongoing projects as well as help shape and improve the village for future generations. As a new member of the WBC I feel I can bring some fresh perspective and ideas to the table. I look forward to meeting more members of this great community and getting stuck in!

 

---

Nick Gardner

Having always lived locally, my first memory of Woldingham was riding along station road on a motorcycle having just passed my bike licence at the tender age 20. I was immediately attracted to this peaceful unspoilt village. 

In 2017 I moved here with my family and quickly settled into village life. There is a unique community spirit which thrives here in Woldingham and my desire is to keep our wonderful community safe and welcoming. I am married to Penny who works for the NHS and together we share a son. You may have seen us walking our dogs around Marden woods which we do on a regular basis.  My hobbies include running and cycling and I’ve also been known to dabble in DIY and mechanics. 

I’ve been a serving police officer now for 18 years. I believe with my knowledge and skill set I can support the parish council with our community needs and activities. Our recent challenges with antisocial behaviour, burglary, fly tipping and the numerous nitrous oxide canisters littered around the village is something I am passionate to address. I’d very much like the opportunity to make a real difference and represent our community interests by keeping Woldingham safe, secure, unspoilt, maintained and protected.

 

---

Sarah-Jane Higson

I came to Woldingham five years ago with my two daughters, my husband, and my dog, and you will often see me walking around the village and in the local area with my Norfolk Terrier.  

My first degree was in economics, and I later followed that with a Masters in IT. I worked in the insurance industry, then taught business and economics.  I moved into publishing around twenty years ago and set up the publishing company that I now run. I am currently the chair of the PTA at Woldingham School where I have been an active member for four years. For recreation I study classical civilizations and, when lockdown ends, my first port of call will be the Members’ Room at the British Museum, followed as soon as possible after that by visiting the real thing in Greece and Italy.  

My particular concerns in the village are conservation and personal safety, and these will be my focus for the Parish Council. Perhaps because I was born and bred in a village on the Yorkshire Wolds, I have a passion for the chalk uplands. So Woldingham, its open space, its air, and its physical beauty, immediately felt like home to me. But this idyllic place needs protecting, from unwanted development and from road and air traffic. I will bring a great deal of energy to conservation, and to developing effective strategies to ensure that Woldingham is a safe and secure place for the whole community.

 

---

Irina Hoble-Aldersley

I am a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects with 30+ years experience. I began the process of moving to Woldingham in 2018, when the first part of our house project was completed. Overseeing the works of the house being built gave me the opportunity to meet many neighbours and also made me understand the greatness of being part of such a lovely community. Whilst still living in South-West London suburbia, I attended a couple of Woldingham Parish Council meetings, and this is when I felt a great desire to become involved.

Apart from my career as an Architect, which spans from prestigious landmarks in Central London through to individually designed private houses in and around Greater London and the Green Belt, I am a mother of two (now grown up) children, and I live in the village with my husband and my elderly mother. In my spare time I have been a School Governor for a number of years, and also a committee member and a website administrator for a local Youth Orchestra in Wimbledon.

I would like to think I will make a good Councillor, as on one hand I am experiencing the specific charm of our village and the tremendous beauty of our surrounding countryside just like any other person living and working in this beautiful part of the world, and on the other hand, in my position as an Architect, I have the desire and the willingness to share from my experience for the benefit of our small community. Furthermore, given that we are in the Metropolitan Green Belt and very close to a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, I would specifically like to ensure we continue to preserve, nurture and enhance the village’s special character for generations to come. 

I will feel privileged to be able to bring a real contribution to our local community and I hope the above will inspire you to vote for me in the forthcoming local elections.

 

---

Peter Holbrook

I was born in Purley and have lived in this part of the country all my life. As a child I lived in Sanderstead and since then have lived in Kenley, Caterham and Coulsdon. My wife and I moved to Woldingham almost 4 years ago.

After leaving grammar school I studied Structural and Civil Engineering at Brixton School of Building for which I was sponsored by Higgs and Hill, who at the time were one of the best construction companies in London. After 8 years with them various job opportunities arose which allowed me to work for Percy Bilton and John Laing.

In the mid seventies there was a strong draw to join the family business. Holbrook Construction has been building in the Croydon area for over 150 years and it was a privilege for me to work within the company set up by my great grandfather.

Having retired a few months ago I decided to look for something to help occupy my time and felt that becoming a Parish Councillor would enable me to put some of the skills and knowledge I have acquired over the years to good use and help to protect the wonderful environment we live in, here in Woldingham.

 

---

Kate Holmes

As a relative new-comer, it was the rural but accessible nature of Woldingham that drew us to the village. As a professional and a new mum, I look forward to working with the Parish Council to maintain the existing character of the village, whilst meeting the demands of the community to enable it to flourish.

 

 

---

Peter Hutchinson

I moved to Woldingham in 1999 together with my wife and two children and we were immediately struck by the unique character of the village. A rural environment but still within simple commuting distance of London and easy access to many local amenities. Although our children have now moved away, my wife and I look forward to spending many more years here.

An accountant by profession, I worked for several of the UK’s best known companies both here and overseas, finally “retiring” in 2013. This was however very short-lived and for most of the time since then have worked on the financing of infrastructure projects in the developing world. Whilst I still undertake some part time roles, I have “retired” again and have more free time.   

Although I have never been a council member before, I hope my experience of general and financial management will be of value to Woldingham so I was interested when the Parish Council advertised for new members through the magazine.

We will always live in times of change, some call it progress. However it is essential to ensure that any changes do not alter the fundamental character of the village as a community. The Covid pandemic has certainly shown us the value of community. There are bound to be challenges in the future but I will always try to reflect the maintenance of the Woldingham community as a central point of reference.

 

---

Carole North

I moved back into Woldingham in early 2020 having lived here from 1968 – 1980. We were famous for our three rescue donkeys who regularly went on walk about round the village. During my teens I ran WAG, the local youth group, appeared in many pantomimes and play readings and helped organise the Silver Jubilee village celebrations. I recently retired from running my 100-strong healthcare marketing business and, since then, have successfully made an application to OpenReach to bring community fibre into 87 properties in the Southfields, Upper Court, Butlers Dene and Slines Oak Road areas. We live in a beautiful and unique village and I’m passionate about retaining the unique Woldingham culture and character, supporting the Neighbourhood Plan in every way I can.

 

---

Holly Richards

I moved to Woldingham with my husband Phil 5 years ago and since then our three children, Jack, Harry and Lily have arrived. I was instantly struck by a sense of community when we moved here, which I’ve felt even more keenly over the past year of lockdown. Having firmly planted our roots in Woldingham as a fantastic place to raise our young family and call home, I am passionate about getting involved in community projects, helping to retain the unique culture of our village and supporting with projects to improve the village for the next generation.

 

---

Deborah Sherry

I have lived in our wonderful village for nearly 11 years and have been on the Woldingham Parish Council for two terms. I have been Chairman since May 2019 and am the longest serving Councillor of the current Parish Council.  I care passionately about preserving our beautiful Woldingham for future generations and ensuring the village provides enjoyment for all people of ages. Currently Chief Commercial Officer of Future Plc, with an MA Law from Oxford, an MBA from the London Business School and executive experience in business, I work on a wide variety of critical issues to the village, from planning to airspace concerns to preservation of our greenbelt lands. I also support our efforts to drive events that bring the community together.   

I have had the privilege of working on our Woldingham Neighbourhood Plan from planning to adoption and I continue to drive the Parish Council to fulfil its ambitions.  I have focussed the Council on safety and village improvements and we are currently pursuing security improvements as we survey additional CCTV locations, undertake speed surveys to further address speeding in the village, and work on additional improvements to our public areas, including The Crescent, The Green, footpaths and signage.  To try and protect the North Downs Golf Club from development, I ensured the Council had it designated an Asset of Community Value and I continue to work with the community to seek viable long-term solutions for this beautiful greenbelt land.  As commenting on planning applications is a vital Parish Council function, to bring new Councillors up to speed on planning, I have written a new Councillors guide to Greenbelt planning, which remains a reference for use by the Parish Council. I am also working hard to encourage others to join the Council to continue its vital work. 

And as we move out of the pandemic way of life and begin to come together again, I would like to focus the Council on events that help our community reconnect.  I would be honoured to continue to serve our community in order to preserve and protect the unique character of our village for current residents and future generations.  Given my strong track record and my commitment to the village, I hope you will vote for me in the upcoming election.

 

---

Denise Todd

I have lived in Woldingham for over 17 years yet, to many in the village, we still live ‘in the Crompton’s house’! But this is where we made our home and started our family; our boys as teenagers are now also able to appreciate the benefits of living in such wonderful surroundings.

In a previous incarnation as a professional violinist with a BBC orchestra, I performed extensively in this country and abroad. I also became heavily involved in educational outreach programmes and later changed career to qualify as a primary school teacher. I now combine both careers by teaching violin to both individuals and groups in schools.

Facilitating larger, village events has been a shared interest for my husband, David, and me, including running the village fete and the annual jumble sale in recent years. I have also presented a large number of concerts in the village with pianist friend, Yvonne, providing evenings for informal socialising and, at the same time, raising money for charitable causes.  I also ran the 123 Club toddler group and, with friend and fellow mum, Julie, worked to raise funds in order to renovate the playground on The Glebe. 

The most recent venture for Team Todd has been the Coffee Bar, held last winter in the Church Room on Sunday afternoons. We hope to welcome villagers again as the nights draw in but, as in every other area of our lives at the moment, this is subject to the confines set by the Coronavirus.       

My motivation for joining the Parish Council has been to extend this involvement in village life, in particular to provide opportunities for people to come together, especially those who might struggle or otherwise be marginalised. In my experience, Woldingham residents are very supportive of fresh initiatives and I look forward to working with many of you further as we emerge from these current restrictions.