List of Members 2019/2020
Cllr Dr Mike Wise (Mayor) In 2001, I retired after 37 years working as a scientist and engineer in industry and universities, and in voluntary work for engineering institutions, and moved to Faringdon to take a position with Tetronics Ltd. I joined the Town Council in 2004 because I wanted to offer my skills and experience to the service and benefit of the Town. Since then I have served on all its committees and been mayor representing and promoting the Town locally, nationally and internationally. I was the lead on the Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan and, more recently, helped to establish ‘The Place’ of which I am most proud. I continue to strive to ensure that the Council serves the people of Faringdon to maintain what’s good and to improve wherever possible. cllr.wise@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr. Kiera Bentley  I have lived in Faringdon for the last 7 years having moved from Shrivenham. I love the countryside and nature and find the balance of town activities, sense of community and convenient transport links suits my lifestyle well. With an entrepreneurial spirit I have done and achieved many things including working in the service and leisure sector but find my most fulfilling time is spent working with charities and developing communities. I also like singing and spending time with my mules which is financed by running my own business from Faringdon. I am determined to use my skills where I can in order to see FTC be an effective, responsive and respected body that is efficient and provides good value to our growing population. Never frightened to challenge the status quo, I try to galvanise change through empowering and supporting people who have good ideas. I am currently the Deputy Mayor and chair the Facilities Committee. I joined Faringdon Town Council in 2016 during which time I have undergone various relevant training courses to improve my understanding of local government Cllr.bentley@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Jane Boulton  I was brought up just outside of Highworth and was married to a local farmer for 25 years. My qualifications are in accounts, business studies and IT. I moved to Faringdon in 1996 with my partner. We both had plans to join Faringdon Town Council. I joined Faringdon Town Council in 2006 after his death in 2005. I have been Chair of Recreation & Open Spaces for several years and when it was amalgamated with Venues to become Facilities I was Chair of that committee. I am currently Chair of Planning & Highways. I was one of the instigators of the Faringdon Neighbourhood Plan together with other people. I support Faringdon Town Council and our residents in making where we live a vibrant community rather than a dormitory town. cllr.boulton@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Rosalind Burns  I have been lucky enough to make my home in Faringdon for the past six years. Since retiring from teaching, I have immersed myself in this fine community, helping out at the library, our fair trade shop and running a U3A activity group. I support local businesses and take part in many local ventures. Last year I joined the Faringdon branch of the Labour Party and have recently been elected as its chairperson. In May 2019 I was elected as a town councillor and continue to look for ways to serve our local community, by involvement in the different committees, with particular focus on projects such as the reintroduction of Young Traders market, town regeneration and in the preservation of some of the green spaces in Faringdon. cllr.burns@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Peter Castle  cllr.castle@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr James Famakin cllr.famakin@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Angela Finn  cllr.finn@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Steve Leniec  cllr.leniec@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Lucy Martin I have lived variously in Yorkshire, Oxfordshire & Gloucestershire, settling in Faringdon in Autumn 2014. For fifteen years I worked as an archaeological illustrator, radiographer & photographer and now work in the Science Department at Faringdon Community College. My two children attend the Infant & Junior schools here so I have a foot in each school! I was integral in the setting up of the photography, board game and crochet groups in Faringdon which all still meet regularly, and I have a couple of other projects bubbling away. What really gets me excited and the reason I wanted to be a councillor was the chance to help with some of the amazing community initiatives here, like The Place, The Pump House Project and the new climate change working group. cllr.martin@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Kimberly Morgan  I moved to Faringdon six years ago. In 2017 I became a British citizen and in May I was elected as Faringdon town councillor . In addition to being a town councillor, I am also a community governor for Faringdon Infant School, a trustee for Wantage Independent Advice Centre and a member of the White Horse Medical Practice Patient Participation Group. All of that keeps me very busy but my most treasured role is being a single mother to a young son. Feel free to say hello when you see us out and about in town! cllr.morgan@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Stephen Smith I am the National Officer for Managers In Partnership, representing senior NHS managers across south central England and in London. I am a member of Faringdon United Church, the Vale of White Horse Masonic Lodge, volunteers at Homeless Oxfordshire and an active trade unionist and Labour Party member. I hope to play a full and active role in the community I have chosen to make my home and I am grateful for the opportunity to give something back. I hope to bring experience of private, voluntary and public sector work to the council table. I strongly believe that active and engaged citizens in close contact with their elected representatives is the best way of ensuring the voice of Faringdon residents is heard and acted upon llr.smith@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Liz Swallow  I have lived in the Vale most of my life, now with my husband and two young children.I am a STEM ambassador (a former software engineer), work at Faringdon Junior School, currently and have previously volunteered for different bodies (working with toddlers, juniors and youth) including Science Oxford and community groups based in Faringdon, Children and Wantage. Elected as a town councillor in May 2019 I seek to make a difference and give a voice to those who support looking after our planet and more sustainable living. I seek to be a positive influence as a local resident and Green party member on the Town council. I am the chair of the Town Council Climate Change working party and joint lead of the Nature action group. cllr.swallow@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Bethia Thomas Fifteen years ago I chose Faringdon as a place work and to raise my family and have taken it to my heart. In this time, I have worked in private business and with local councils supporting Faringdon, promoting the best of what the town has to offer, supporting our local schools and special needs groups, raising funds and a supporting a variety of local projects. Recently I have secured a major source of funding to keep the Pump House Project thriving over the next few years providing vital community services in Faringdon. I am also a District Councillor for the Vale of White Horse. cllr.thomas@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Committee Membership
Cllr. Mike Wise – Town Mayor and Cllr. Kiera Bentley Deputy Mayor are ex-officio members of all Committees.
| Finance and Audit |
| Chair Steve Leniec |
| Vice Chair Angela Finn |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| Peter Castle |
| VACANCY |
| James Famakin |
| Stephen Smith |
| Bethia Thomas |
| Mike Wise |
| Planning & Highways |
| Chair Jane Boulton |
| Vice Chair Mike Wise |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| Rosalind Burns |
| Peter Castle |
| James Famakin |
| Stephen Smith |
| Liz Swallow |
| Bethia Thomas |
| Facilities |
| Chair Kiera Bentley |
| Vice Chair Liz Swallow |
| Jane Boulton |
| VACANCY |
| James Famakin |
| Angela Finn |
| Steve Leniec |
| Liz Swallow |
| Mike Wise |
| Community and Partnerships |
| Chair Bethia Thomas |
| Vice Chair Liz Swallow |
| Peter Castle |
| VACANCY |
| Lucy Martin |
| Kimberly Morgan |
| Stephen Smith |
| Mike Wise |
Working Parties and Sub Committees
| Strategic Working Party Appointed May 2019 Parent = Full Council |
| Chair Mike Wise |
| Members : ALL Members Town Clerk |
| Staff Sub Committee Appointed May 2019 Parent = Finance |
| Chair Steve Leniec |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| Angela Finn |
| Bethia Thomas |
| Mike Wise |
| S106 Working Party Appointed May 2019 Parent = Full Council |
| Chair |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| Rosalind Burns |
| Peter Castle |
| VACANCY |
| Stephen Smith |
| Liz Swallow |
| Mike Wise |
| Town Clerk |
| Grants Sub Committee appointed July 2019 – Parent = Finance |
| Chair Angela Finn |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| Peter Castle |
| VACANCY |
| Steve Leniec |
| Bethia Thomas |
| Mike Wise |
| Town Centre Regeneration Parent = Full Council Appointed June 2019 |
| Chair Rosalind Burns |
| Members : Kiera Bentley VACANCY Steve Leniec Town Clerk |
| Climate Change Parent = Full Council Appointed June 2019 |
| Chair Liz Swallow |
| Members : Lucy Martin Stephen Smith Town Clerk |
Trust Membership
| War Memorial Trust |
| Chair |
| Vice Chair |
| Members: ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS |
| Tuckers Recreation Ground Trust |
| Chair |
| Vice Chair |
| Members: ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS |
Outside Body Membership
| Representatives to Outside Bodies/Organisations | |
| Bromsgrove Day Centre | Bethia Thomas |
| Community Bus Executive Committee | Rosalind Burns |
| Faringdon Twinning Association | Bethia Thomas |
| Faringdon United Charities | VACANCY |
| Kiera Bentley | |
| Neighbourhood Action Group | Kimberly Morgan |
| Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils | Kiera Bentley |
| Parish Transport Representative | Stephen Smith |
| Pink Pigeons Trust | Angela Finn |
| Pump House Project | Kiera Bentley |
| Lucy Martin | |
| Traffic Advisory Committee | Jane Boulton |
| Kimberly Morgan Deputy: Mike Wise | |
| Public Access Defibrillator Committee | Rosalind Burns |
| Angela Finn | |
| The Place | Mike Wise |
| Lucy Martin | |
| Liz Swallow | |
| Wantage Independent Advice Centre | Kimberly Morgan |