Our councillors
Councillor Bob Samra
Bob Samra
The Dairy
Cold Norton
ST15 0BF
I have been living in Staffordshire since the year 2000 when I relocated from Wiltshire due to a new promotion and job opportunity with ABB, Stone. My family followed at a later date when we chose to live in Cold Norton at Lakesedge. We enjoy living in Staffordshire and appreciate the rural elements of where we live currently. Whilst working at Westinghouse for 18 years, I traveled the world and worked on some major projects – Turkey for 8 years and Indonesia for 1 year (on the oil rigs for the sultan of Brunei. In later years I moved to sales and covered 50% of the UK and a large chunk of the world. My Travels continued with the move to ABB and working on even bigger projects – Channel Islands £50 million – connecting Jersey and Gurney to the French electrical Grid.
For the last 4 years, I have been running my own Consultancy business and am also a Sales director for another company. I am now semi-retired which has allowed me to explore further opportunities as I am developing and managing my consultancy business for the Electrical industry – mainly for the likes of National Grid/Network Rail and utilities. I have diverse skills in management and technical knowledge as my background is in engineering.
I am interested in keeping abreast of local activities and what is happening in our local area and how it affects communities. I feel at this time in my life I would like to offer myself to get more involved in my community and to be able to make valuable contributions toward relevant policy decisions.
In my spare time, I enjoy watching and playing sports – especially Darts – while working overseas and in the UK I managed to continue to improve and won many trophies – Locally I played for the Green Man in Milwich.
Councillor David Wills
David Wills
6 Meadow Court
Norton Bridge
ST15 0PB
As a teenager I grew up in Great Bridgeford, where my Dad still lives. I moved back to the area in 2014, moving to Norton Bridge where I have lived ever since.
I like to be involved in the community and am a member of Friends of Norton Bridge, I also volunteer to do the weekly check on the defib. I decided to stand as a councillor as I see the good work the Parish Council has achieved since I have lived here, and look forward to helping with further projects in the future to protect and improve our community’s way of life.
In my career I worked for a local housing association for 8 years then went to work for an Ombudsman Service where I have worked since 2023. In my spare time I am a member of a pub quiz team and enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Councillor Donna Matthews
Donna Matthews
2 The Glebe
Norton Bridge
Stone
ST15 0NY
Councillor Jeremy Pert (SBC/SCC)
More details of what I am doing are available from my website along with an option to sign up to my regular newsletters from : www.jeremypert.co.uk
Councillor Julie Lawson
Julie Lawson
The Cottage
Park Lane
Chebsey
ST21 6JU
Councillor Margaret Ainsworth-Hickman (Chair)
Margaret Ainsworth-Hickman (Chair)
The Dove
Chebsey
ST21 7JU
I have lived in Chebsey most of my life. I have an active role in village life and am a founder member of Chebsey Parish Local History Group and Friends of Norton Bridge. During my working life I worked as a Youth and Community Officer and brought a wealth of experience in empowering communities. I am passionate about matters that affect the parish and have been involved in numerous local initiatives e.g., refurbishment of the recreation area; securing Tommy Trail footpath; creation of local Drop In; reduced speeding in Norton Bridge etc.
Councillor Peter Jones (SBC)
www.staffordbc.gov.uk/councillor/councillor-peter-w-jones
Councillor Richard Hopley (Vice Chair)
Richard Hopley (Vice Chair)
Halfhead Farm
Shallowford
ST15 0PA
I have lived and worked on the family farm at Shallowford all my life.
I have been a councillor for Chebsey Parish Council for around 15 years, and when I joined, I was the youngest Parish Councillor in the Country.
Councillor Sarah Edge
Sarah Edge
Oxleasows Farm
Chebsey
Stafford
ST21 6NX
I have lived in Chebsey since 1981. I was married to a farmer and we bought up 3 children who are now all married with families. I am a qualified Optician and have owned 3 successful local practices.
I am a parochial church council member, Chebsey parish hall committee member, Stafford Knot Rotary Club member. Staffordshire local optical committee member and a member of the worshipful company of spectacle makers.
I enjoy gardening, walking, travel and playing tennis.
Our staff
Parish Clerk Sue Stokes
Sue Stokes
357 Stone Road
Stafford
ST16 1LD
How to become a councillor
A parish council is the tier of local authority closest to its community as it elects representatives from within that community. Parish councils are democracy on your doorstep. Anyone can stand as a candidate provided they meet the qualification requirements or you can find out more by contacting the local borough electoral services department.
You should be:
- Aged over 18.
- A British, Commonwealth citizen, or Euro-national citizen (who is a registered elector)
- Resident for 12 months prior to the day of election – either in the parish or within 3 miles of the boundary.
- Occupied land or premises for 12 months as owner or tenant – either in the parish or within 3 miles of the boundary
- Had a principal place of work – either in the parish or within 3 miles of the boundary.
You cannot become a councillor if:
- You hold a paid office with the council.
- If you are subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order or an interim order creates disqualification which dates from the judgement or execution and generally ends one year after the relevant order is made.
- If you have within five years before the election or since election been convicted in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man of any offence and been sentenced to not less than three months imprisonment (whether suspended or not) without the option of a fine.
- Imprisonment probably includes any type of custodial sentence.
- This disqualification begins when the ordinary period for making an appeal is finally dismissed or abandoned or fails for want of prosecution.
You can get further information from the Staffordshire Parish Councils’ Association.