SUMMARY

• Politically independent - Hayle First!
• Broad council experience in planning, licensing, affordable housing and environment - I can hit the ground running.
• Heavily involved with town projects
• Focused and dependable with dynamic leadership qualities
• Hayle connection since 1972
• Strong technical and business background

ENDORSEMENTS

SELECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2005-2009

DETAILS

Who am I?

What are my Technical and Management Skills?

How Politically Independent am I?

What is my Local Government Experience?

What Town Projects am I Involved with?

What are my Main Characteristics?

• Hayle Harbour – With the support of other councillors I drove through important changes in ING's position on its harbour proposals.  In particular, the agreement to bring forward repairs on South Quay (which might have taken 10 years or never have happened at all) followed from the amendments I proposed at town council and at district council.
• Hayle Day Care Centre – I assisted the Day Care Centre management team to formulate an application to Penwith District Council resulting in a substantial grant allowing the completion of the conservatory extension and helping to meet the funding shortfall.
• Wave Hub Partnership Board – I represented Penwith on the board and relentlessly pressed for more jobs related to this project to be created in Hayle. The Renewables Business Park to be built on the North Quay, which could offer hundreds of quality jobs, is a result of this pressure.
• The Old Hawkins Motors Site – I was instrumental in negotiating a solution to the Hayle Terrace site that was acceptable to both Hawkins and the people of Hayle. The compromise agreement for six houses to be built adjacent to permanent open space for use by the town was endorsed by the Hayle Residents Association and the Hayle and District chambers of commerce.
• St Michael’s Hospital – The 2006 threat was countered by the well-supported protest march for which I served as march coordinator, resulting in a major change in strategy and management at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust. I continue to monitor developments closely, especially since the dismissal of John Watkinson, who instituted many of the recent improvements.
• Marks & Spencer and the West Cornwall Retail Park – One result of passing these plans was the £75,000 made available through the Hayle Area Plan process, enabling us to promote projects in the town. I voted for the project and lobbied the County and Region to remove threatened vetoes.
• Regional Spatial Strategy - I was the only councillor who had read the lengthy RSS when it came for debate before the Penwith District Councillor. After I identified the numerous ways that the strategy would hurt west Cornwall and Hayle the council voted to adjourn so that councillors could pay more attention to the document.  At the next debate the chamber agreed with my assessment and outrage was expressed.  PDC officers were charged with renegotiating many aspects of the plan - without much success.  Much more needs to be done to protect Hayle from the imposition of between 3,250 and 3,900 new dwellings over the next 20 years.
• Hayle Area Plan Partnership – The HAPP is the result of extensive consultations with residents regarding goals for the town.  The Partnership has Delivery Teams that meet regularly and are comprised of residents in Hayle and the surrounding area.  The objective is to deliver the priorities set out in the Hayle Area Plan.  I chair the Heritage, Culture and Environment team and have already obtained funding for upgrading and adding new blue plaques throughout the town.
• Hayle Area Plan Partnership Management Team -I was a founder member of the Hayle Regeneration Management Team, later renamed the HAPP Management Team.  This was one of the most important groups in the town being comprised of all six Penwith district councillors and all PDC officers who were responsible for activities in Hayle.  This allowed the coordination of Hayle projects and their prioritisation - something which had never been achieved before.
• The Passmore Edwards Institute – I amassed enough grants to cover the £60,000 cost of restoring the 110-year-old slate roof and gutters, securing the building for another 100 years. Additional grants allowed for the renovation of the old billiards room and the creation of the fully restored Denis Hollow Room – all for use by the residents of Hayle.
• Youth Shelter at Ellis Park – Following an extensive consultation with young people, a grant was obtained for installing a youth shelter in Ellis Park.  There were concerns from nearby residents and I led the discussions with them, the police and the district council.  Following installation, I followed up to ensure that any issues that had arisen were being addressed.
• Funding for Town Projects – I obtained funding from Penwith District Council for two town projects:  the allotments on Lethlean Lane and the cleanup and replanting of the wall along Madison Terrace.  These projects are in progress but the funding has been confirmed.
• Hayle in Bloom – Last year Hayle in Bloom won both Gold in our category and the SWTA cup.  I was responsible for the printed portfolio that is presented to the judges detailing our capabilities and projects, and for the web site.  Both of these received positive comments from the judges.
• Communications -I have run a web site since June 2006 filled with information relevant to Hayle and with hard-to-find documents and links to important sites.  I also advertise in every Hayle Pump so that everyone can easily find me and I have supported regular councillors' community surgeries to help with council-related issues.  I also rent a display case outside of Martin's newsagents which I keep up-to-date with local information.

DETAILS

Who am I?

I was married to my late first wife, Megan Coombe, the daughter of J&F Pool's works director Ken Coombe, at Phillack Church in 1972. My son was born at Bolitho's nursing home in Penzance and my daughter at Treliske.

My career took me to Spain, Switzerland, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the USA, but we returned to the family home on the Towans every year (and frequently received copies of The Cornishman by mail). I retired to Hayle nearly five years ago and immediately got involved with volunteering in the local community - including becoming a town and then a district councillor.

I am now married to Donna Anton, who is of Greek ancestry and hails from Chicago and Boston. Donna also volunteers full-time for organisations and charities in and around Penwith.

What are my Technical and Management Skills?

I have an honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and I am a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology. I am registered as a professional engineer in the UK, Europe and the USA.

My work experience was primarily in large meteorological, environmental and aviation systems across the world, including Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur International airport, Hong Kong's Chep Lap Kok International airport, the Athens Olympic Games, Kuwait's water distribution system, the Saudi Arabian environment and aviation departments. I also worked around the USA in meteorological modeling, satellite remote sensing and much more.

I have run companies and been a director (and a Fellow of the Institute of Directors until retirement) and operated at a senior management level. Involved with computing since I started programming in Algol on an Elliott 803 computer at Bath University in 1968, I subsequently have run scientific computer centres with multi-million pound budgets, using one of the first Linux Beowulf clusters, and have written programmes for advanced airport systems and embedded controllers for concept cars. I have negotiated and signed numerous contracts and successfully implemented the resulting projects. And I hold commercial pilot and flight instructor ratings.

How Politically Independent am I?

What is my Local Government Experience?

I was first elected to Hayle Town Council on 11 March 2005 (standing 'for thoughtful development of the harbour') and re-elected on 3 May 2007.  I was first elected Deputy Mayor on 15 May 2008.  My election to Penwith District Councillor was on 10 November 2005, standing as an Independent. 

At Penwith District Council, I had the following experience:

• Member of the Social, Economic and Environment committee
• Member of the Licensing Committee and regularly chair of licensing hearings
• Alternate member of the Planning committee and a frequent substitute. I sat on all of the meetings involving Hayle Harbour.
• Alternate member of the Planning Sites committee and a frequent substitute
• Alternate member of the Resource committee
• Champion for Sustainable Energy and Climate Change. After my background in environmental science became known I took on the Champion role and also became the council's nominated member on the Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership, the Cornwall Air Quality Forum and the Climate Change Working Group.

What Town Projects am I Involved with?

I am involved with the following organisations:

• Trustee and director of Harvey's Foundry Trust working to continue the job creation potential of the Foundry area
• Hayle Children's Centre steering group to help support the work of this vital organisation
• Governor of Penpol School - an outstanding school
• Member of the Wave Hub Partnership Board where I have pressed for maximum job creation in Hayle
• Chairman of the Hayle Area Plan Partnership Heritage, Culture & Environment delivery team focused on regeneration of Hayle and the protection of its environment.
• Treasurer of the Passmore Edwards Institute, where I have obtained grants for the £60,000 renovation of the roof and complete refurbishment of the former billiard room
• Towans Partnership focused on issues related to the beach and towans from Hayle to Godrevy
• Hayle Harbour Advisory Committee - a statutory body concerned with representing all harbour users
• Liaison to the Hayle and District Chamber of Commerce.
• At no charge, I provide web sites for
  • Hayle Town Council (www.hayletowncouncil.net),
  • Hayle in Bloom (www.hayleinbloom.org.uk),
  • Hayle Area Plan (www.hayleareaplan.org.uk),
  • The Passmore Edwards Institute (www.hayle-pei.org.uk)
  • The Cornwall Archaeological Society (www.cornisharchaeology.org.uk)
  • A30 Support Group (www.a30.org.uk)
  • Morrab Library, Penzance (www.morrablibrary.org.uk)

• Strong leadership and management skills
• Dependable and consistent
• Resourceful and informed
• Focused, no-nonsense
• Technically competent
• Collegial - able and willing to work with all parties
• Accessible