Council
The Council year runs from May
The year starts at the annual meeting when a Chair and Vice Chair are elected by the councillors. In all our meetings there has to be a quorum to pass resolutions (minimum of either three Councillors or one third of the Council).
Councillors are elected for a 4 year term. If a vacancy occurs during this term, it can be filled by either an election or by co-option.
Become a Backwell Parish Councillor! For more information, click here.
The last election (for the whole Parish Council) was held on 4 May 2023. Information and how to stand is available.
In Backwell we have one main Council Meeting per month and two weeks later we have a Planning Committee Meeting. The Council spends a significant amount of time considering development such as house building within the Parish of Backwell.
We post our Council policies, staff policies, accounts and papers relating to our meetings. We are developing a Diary / Calendar of Events (below) but it is work in progress:
What We Do
A Council (a Parish Council in a rural area is the same as a Town Council in towns) must do what Parliament requires it to do and must only do what Parliament says it may do.
One of the most important things we do is to set a local precept (tax) for the year which is used to fund all expenditure by the Council. Once a year we give grants to local voluntary organisations who ask for help. This is not automatic and has to be approved by the Council.
Part of the regular work of our Parish council is informing and contributing to North Somerset Council’s planning system. In addition we respond to consultations relating to major proposals in and around our Parish. For example, we try to influence and inform the North Somerset Council Local Plan 2041, Bus Services Improvement Plan and Bristol International Airport. We can influence other organisations such as North Somerset Council or local Members of Parliament.
More information about the 2025 consulation on the North Somerset Council Local Plan 2041 can be found here.
Our Neighbourhood Plan was created almost 10 years ago and it is now time to review and update the Plan. Backwell Parish Council are undertaking this review with support from specialist consultants, Backwell Residents Association and other interested Backwell residents /and local groups. Follow our progress and share your ideas as we review and update our Neighbourhood Plan!
We are non political and all Parish Councillors are unpaid volunteers. Each member of the council makes a Declaration of Interests and our Code of Conduct is available.
Councillors
Sarah Ould
Awaiting Bio
Phil Harris
Mo Bowerman
Awaiting Bio
Barbara Harland
Charles Hatcher
Jodie Hollis
I have experienced living in numerous places across Britain throughout my life. Eight years ago, my husband and I were searching for the right place to raise children. We were fortunate to buy a home in Backwell, and it has truly proven to be a special place to live. Backwell offers so much for families and the community—opportunities and amenities that we didn’t find in other places we lived, with the bonus of being a semi-rural location. I wanted to become a Parish Councillor to do my bit to help preserve and enhance what makes Backwell such a wonderful place for everyone.
Patrick Horner
Bob Martin
Hilary Power
Hilary moved from London to Somerset in 1982. She was a police officer for 26 years, mainly in uniform, starting in Yeovil as a response officer. A spell in the Traffic Department gave her experience in road safety and collision prevention. She later became Head of Avon and Somerset Police’s custody units, supervising the detention and treatment of prisoners. Her particular interest was detainees’ welfare, working closely with the Independent Custody Visitors Association, as well as sitting on the local prison’s suicide and self-harm prevention group. She was trained as a national Hostage Negotiator, which also included undertaking suicide interventions. Her final role before her retirement in 2010 was working in the Force’s Professional Standards Department, overseeing the investigation of complaints against police officers as well as internal disciplinary matters. Her main hobbies are DIY, cooking and embroidery, but with her husband’s encouragement she has developed an interest in railways and trains. She can often be seen walking her dogs on the many footpaths in Backwell, checking the stiles and kissing gates enroute.
Paul Ramos
After growing up in the Greater London area and living in the centre of Bristol for many years, Paul has fallen head over heels for Backwell. It’s brought him and his young family everything they crave – calm, nature and community. Paul has been an advertising creative for most of his working life. Working for some of the world’s biggest brands and winning many awards, he now manages a creative team for BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce. Paul believes that his experience will serve Backwell Parish Council and the Backwell community well. Standing up for what you passionately believe in, with the odd tricky conversation with colleagues and very critical clients are all par for the course. Paul enjoys painting and playing the guitar. He’s also starting to enjoy gardening, with aspirations to be the next Monty Don of Backwell.
James Sharkey
Bob Taylor
I moved to Backwell in the late 1970’s together with my wife Brenda, and our two sons, Paul and Chris, and became the village newsagent in Rodney Road for over 30 years. It didn’t take long for me to get involved with village life, particularly the Junior Football. I formed an under 10 and an under 11 team and took them on through to under 16, when I became Chairman and Sponsor of the Junior Football Club. Later I became Chairman of Backwell Playing Fields, holding that position for 18 years and in that time secured the Leases on all six clubs before handing over to Michael Pratt, to enable me become a Parish Councillor. I retired as the village newsagent in 2013. I have been a Councillor since 1995, and was Vice Chairman for 2 years and Chairman for 7 years. During that time my proudest moments were my involvement with the purchase of the Allotment site, the Youth Club and Drop In Centre, and of course as Chairman of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Party and its subsequent adoption.
Staff
Clerk to the Council
Clare Melton
Assistant Clerk
Hannah MacCallum
Planning and Communications Officer
Amy Symonds
Office Assistant