Name: Town Council meeting
Start: 2026-05-28T19:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-05-28T19:00:00+01:00
Location: Stow Youth Centre, Fosseway

Town Council

What are Local Councils

“Local councils” is a universal term for parish/town councils. They are first tier of local government and therefore closest to the communities they serve and are elected by residents every 4 years. They can raise their own precept – a form of council tax. There are 10,000 local councils in England and 120,000 councillors who serve on these local councils.

What do Local Councils do?

Local councils were created in law back in 1894, they can only act within the law by exercising their powers and functions which have been conferred on them by Statutes (Acts of Parliament). Anything a local council tries to do outside of these powers is ultra vires, in other words, outside the law.

Stow on the Wold Town Council has overall responsibility for the well being of its residents which fall into three categories. Below are some examples but is not an exhaustive list of what a local council can deliver.

Delivery of services – some examples:-

Allotments
Burial grounds, cemeteries etc
Bus shelters
Local illuminations
Community centres
Parks and open spaces
Festivals and celebrations
Maintain war memorials
Tourism
Clocks

Improve quality of life through:-

Local housing and infrastructure through neighbourhood plans
Promoting dementia friendly communities
Tackling loneliness
Acting as community hubs
Funding community projects and vital services that have been cut

Giving communities a voice through representing:-

To the local police and health services
On planning matters with principal authorities and developers
To parliamentarians and government

Where does the council get their funding from?

Each year a sum of money called a “precept” is collected through resident’s council tax. This money is invested back into the community to improve facilities within the parish. It can also apply for grants and loans and if they own any property can receive money from rents or leases. It can also borrow money from the Public Works Loan Board.

Council Staff

The council employs a full time Clerk & Responsible Financial Officer and a part time Deputy Clerk.

The council normally meet on the last Thursday of each month, except August, at 7.00 pm at Stow Youth Centre, Fosseway, Stow on the Wold GL54 1DW.

Cotswold District Council

Cotswold District Council (CDC) is the second tier of local government.

CDC is responsible for:-

Waste & recycling collections
Street cleaning and litter bins
Planning services, including development management, strategy, planning enforcement, heritage and conservation and tree protection
Environmental health services
Council managed leisure centres and swimming pools
Helping the homeless and those at risk of homelessness
Supporting development of affordable housing including council housing
Providing support with rent payments and council tax for low income households
Public conveniences
Supporting tourism, economic development and regeneration
Supporting arts, sports and cultural activities including museums
Operating council managed car parks
Reducing crime and anti social behaviour and environmental crime
Collecting council tax and local business rates

Stow on the Wold is represented by Cllr Dilys Neill

Alison Tighe

Mayor

(Elected in May 2023)

Roles

Chair of Council
Finance & General Purpose Committee

Represents council on:
Cllr Neill’s Informal Stow Fair Group & SAG

Email: alison.tighe@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

Website: alison.tighe@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Alison Tighe (PDF, 505.13 Kb)

Jenny Scarsbrook

Deputy Mayor

(Elected in May 2023)

Roles
Vice Chair of Council
Planning Traffic & Parking Committee
Burial Board
Parks & Square Committee

Represents council on:
Neighbourhood Plan Implementation Group
Cllr Neill’s Informal Stow Fair Group & SAG

Email: jenny.scarsbrook@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Jenny Scarsbrook (PDF, 537.53 Kb)

Ben Eddolls

Councillor

(Elected in May 2023)

Roles
Parks & Square Committee
Staffing Committee

Represents Council on:
Gloucestershire Market Towns Forum
Climate Emergency Working Party

Tel: 01451 830678 / 0777169145

Email: ben.eddolls@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Ben Eddolls (PDF, 331.87 Kb)

Alun White

Councillor

(Elected in May 2023)

Roles
Planning Traffic & Parking Committee
Finance & General Purpose Committee
Staffing Committee

Represents council on:
Neighbourhood Plan Implementation Group

Email: alun.white@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Alun White (PDF, 459.34 Kb)

Simon Clarke

Councillor

(Elected in May 2023)

Roles
Planning, Traffic & Parking Committee
Parks & Square Committee

Represents council on:
Stow Community Land Trust

Tel: 07971 287732

Email: simon.clarke@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Simon Clarke (PDF, 561.48 Kb)

Jo Davies

Councillor

(Elected in May 2023)

Roles
Parks & Square Committee
Burial Board
Staffing Committee

Represents council on:
Cllr Neill’s Informal Stow Fair Group & SAG
Stow Social Club Committee
St Edward’s Hall Committee

Tel: 01451 831591

Email: joanna.davies@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Jo Davies (PDF, 475.55 Kb)

Val Davies

Councillor

(Elected in May 2023)

Roles
Parks & Square Committee
Burial Board
Planning Traffic & Parking Committee

Represents council on:

Email: val.davies@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Val Davies (PDF, 400.11 Kb)

Valerie Goddard

Councillor

(Co-opted in March 2024)

Roles
Planning Traffic & Parking Committee
Burial Board
Staffing Committee

Represents council on:
N/A

Website: val.goddard@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Valerie Goddard (PDF, 257.04 Kb)

Merlyn Stracey

Councillor

(Elected in May 2023)

Roles
Planning Traffic & Parking Committee
Finance & General Purposes Committee
Burial Board

Represents council on:

Neighbourhood Plan Implementation Group

Email: merlyn.stracey@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Merlyn Stracey (PDF, 510.47 Kb)

Sophie Woods

Councillor

(Elected in May 2023)

Roles
Finance & General Purpose Committee
Parks & Square Committee

Represents council on:

Neighbourhood Plan Implementation Group

Snow Warden

Email: sophie.woods@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Sophie Woods (PDF, 471.85 Kb)

Agnieszka Wright

Councillor

(Co-opted in February 2025)

Roles
Finance & General Purpose Committee

Represents council on:
N/A

Email: agnieszka.wright@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

PDF document icon Declaration of Interests - Agnieszka Wright (PDF, 309.98 Kb)

Marie Pawley

Tel: 01451 832585 / 07752 290761

Email: clerk@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

Liz Sajewicz

Email: deputyclerk@stowonthewold-tc.gov.uk

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

MP - House of Commons

Telephone: 020 7219 5147
Email: cliftonbrowng@parliament.uk
Address: Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA

Cllr Daryl Corps

Gloucestershire County Council

Tel: 07487 579845

Email: daryl.corps@gloucestershire.gov.uk

Cllr Dilys Neill

Telephone: 01451 830656
Mobile: 07799 431044
Email: dilys.neill@cotswold.gov.uk