Cllr. Kiera Bentley ( Mayor )  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 Liz Swallow ( Deputy Mayor) 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 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  I retired some 6 years ago after almost 50 years as an Environmental Health Officer working mainly in local authorities from the Vale of White Horse to Kensington and Chelsea. I moved to Faringdon to be close to my two daughters and their children. I undertake voluntary work with Oxfordshire’s Youth Justice Service both as a referral panel member and acting as an appropriate adult at Abingdon Police station on a rota. I was encouraged to put myself forward for election to the Town Council by my daughters and had the privilege of being elected. My focus is both on the environment in its broadest sense and on stimulating the town centre to be a vibrant hub not only of some retail shops but especially of places for eating and drinking and general social interaction which I believe is the way to proceed. I live in the town and have enjoyed my time here and working with the other Councillors to try and improve life for all inhabitants of Faringdon. cllr.castle@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr James Famakin cllr.famakin@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Angela Finn  cllr.finn@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr Steve Leniec  I was first elected in 1994 and have seen the Council evolve and develop into a team that works hard to look after the town and its residents. Faringdon has grown and changed and I believe the Council is in a good position to meet the challenges of these uncertain times. My role as Chair of Finance is to work with the committee to ensure the Council is financially stable, able to meet its statutory responsibilities and react to changing circumstances without placing an excessive burden on council tax bills. Away from the Council my interests are live music, most sport, walking and exploring the countryside on my mountain bike. 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 cllr.smith@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 |
Gene Webb I was born in Faringdon and have lived here pretty much all my life. I really like it: It’s the place I want to be and the place I care about most. I’ve been involved with a few things in Faringdon over the years – Folly Tower and Woodland, various health groups, Ferndale choir. I created www.faringdon.org with a friend in 2000 and have been maintaining it since. I hope now to join with others to make Faringdon an even better place to live. A place that looks well cared for and one that encourages community spirit and engagement . I am particularly interested in initiatives that help Faringdon become greener, cleaner, livelier and even more attractive. cllr.webb@faringdontowncouncil.gov.uk |
Cllr. Dr Mike Wise  In 2001, after 37 years working as a scientist and engineer in both industry and universities 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, gained over many years of voluntary work for the engineering profession, 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’. 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 |
Committee Membership
Cllr. Keira Bentley – Town Mayor and Cllr. Liz Swallow- Deputy Mayor are ex-officio members of all Committees.
| Finance and Audit |
| Chair : Steve Leniec |
| Vice Chair :To be elected at the next meeting |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| Rosalind Burns |
| Peter Castle |
| Angela Finn |
| Kimberley Morgan |
| Stephen Smith |
| Liz Swallow |
| Mike Wise |
| Planning & Highways |
| Chair : Jane Boulton |
| Vice Chair : To be elected at the next meeting |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Peter Castle |
| James Famakin |
| Stephen Smith |
| Liz Swallow |
| Mike Wise |
| Facilities |
| Chair : Rosalind Burns |
| Vice Chair : To be elected at the next meeting |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| James Famakin |
| Angela Finn |
| Steve Leniec |
| Lucy Martin |
| Liz Swallow |
| Community and Partnerships |
| Chair : Peter Castle |
| Vice Chair : To be elected at the next meeting |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Lucy Martin |
| Kimberly Morgan |
| Stephen Smith |
| Liz Swallow |
| Bethia Thomas |
Working Parties and Sub Committees
| Strategic Working Party Appointed May 2021 Parent = Full Council |
| Chair : To be elected at the next meeting |
| Members : ALL Members |
| Town Clerk |
| Staff Sub Committee Appointed May 2021 Parent = Finance |
| Chair :Cllr. Leniec |
| Members: Mayor, Deputy Mayor, All Committee Chairs, Finance and Audit Chair and Vice Chair |
| S106-CIL Working Party Appointed May 2021 Parent = Full Council |
| Chair : To be elected at the next meeting |
| Members: |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| Peter Castle |
| Angela Finn |
| Steve Leniec |
| Liz Swallow |
| Grants Sub Committee appointed May 2021 – Parent = Finance |
| Chair: Angela Finn |
| Members: Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| Rosalind Burns |
| Peter Castle |
| Steve Leniec |
| Mike Wise |
| Town Centre Regeneration and Covid-19 Recovery Working Party Appointed May 2021 Parent = Full Council |
| Chair : To be elected at the next meeting |
| Members : |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| Rosalind Burns |
| Angela Finn |
| Lucy Martin |
| Stephen Smith |
| Liz Swallow |
| Town Clerk |
| Parking Working Party Appointed May 2021 Parent =Planning & Highways |
| Chair : To be elected at the next meeting |
| Members: |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Jane Boulton |
| Peter Castle |
| Kimberley Morgan |
| Liz Swallow |
| Climate Change Appointed June 2019 Parent = Full Council |
| Chair : To be elected at the next meeting |
| Members : |
| Kiera Bentley |
| Rosalind Burns |
| Peter Castle |
| Steve Leniec |
| Lucy Martin |
| Liz Swallow |
Trust Membership
| War Memorial Trust |
| Chair : Cllr. Lucy Martin |
| Vice Chair : Cllr. Peter Castle |
| Members: ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS |
| Tuckers Recreation Ground Trust |
| Chair : Cllr. Kimberly Morgan |
| Vice Chair : To be elected at the next meeting |
| Members: ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS |
Outside Body Membership
| Representatives to Outside Bodies/ Organisations | |
| Bromsgrove Day Centre | Bethia Thomas |
| Community Bus Executive Committee | Rosalind Burn (Mike Wise Deputy) |
| Faringdon Twinning Association | Mike Wise |
| Faringdon United Charities | Stephen Smith and Kiera Bentley |
| Neighbourhood Action Group | Kimberly Morgan |
| Oxfordshire Association of Local Councils | Kiera Bentley |
| Parish Transport Representative | Stephen Smith (Mike Wise Deputy) |
| Pump House Project | Rosalind Burns and Lucy Martin |
| Traffic Advisory Committee | Jane Boulton and Kimberly Morgan (Mike Wise: Deputy) |
| Public Access Defibrillator Committee | Rosalind Burns and Angela Finn |
| The Place | Kiera Bentley (Mayor/Trustee) and Lucy Martin |
| Vale Community Impact | Kimberly Morgan |
| Westmill Solar Cooperative | Mike Wise |