Marcus Harling (Chair)
(co-opted)
Ward: The Narth
E-mail: marcusharling@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Member of:
- Finance Advisory Group
- Staffing Group
- Rights of Way Group
I have lived in The Narth with my family for over 10 years. I am a Trustee of the Narth Village Hall where my wife has established 1st Wye Valley Brownies. My enthusiasm for the outdoors was forged when growing up on the edge of Dartmoor and now has plenty of expression in the local area.
After 30 years as a law firm partner specialising in the built environment, I now act as a non-executive director and as Board Advisor and consultant with a focus on the public sector.
I am a Non-Executive Director at Fusion 21 a social value driven and charity owned business that provides an easy to access framework of construction and maintenance services to housing associations and local authorities. I am the independent member of a Board at the House of Commons providing best practice input on redevelopment of the public estate and the transition from construction project to integration as an operational building .
Consultancy advisory work ranges from supporting a large New Hospital Programme project to working with the Board of a financial technology (FinTech) business that provides a system to pay construction supply chain businesses simultaneously.
In the voluntary sector, I have been a Trustee of The National Portrait Gallery for the last seven years where I also chair the Ethics Committee and was instrumental in the redevelopment of the Gallery which reopened in 2023 and was shortlisted for the premier UK architectural award, the Stirling Prize in 2024.
Leanne Wakerley (Vice Chair)
(Independent-co-opted May 2022)
Ward: Catbrook
E-mail: leannewakerley@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Member of:
- Finance Advisory Group
- Biodiversity Advisory Group
- Rights of Way Group
Leanne has lived in Catbrook since 2005 with husband Graham and two teenage sons. Her professional background is in Marketing and Project Management, with brands such as Jaguar, Rover, MG, Mini and Landrover and later property management. She has used her skills to volunteer within the community with Busy Bodies playgroup, Trellech Primary school, Monmouth Comprehensive School, Monmouthshire Association of School Governors and the Catbrook Educational Trust. She enjoys walking in the beautiful countryside around Catbrook with her cocker spaniel and is keen to use her skills and experience to represent the residents of Catbrook ward and the wider TUCC community.
Rosemary Decker-Thomas
(Independent-elected)
Ward: Trellech Town
E-mail: rosemarydt@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Chair of TUCC (2023-2025)
Member of:
- Biodiversity Advisory Group
- Staffing Group
Rosemary moved to Trellech in 2012 and is particularly interested in participation in those activities which enhance the wellbeing of local residents. Increasing and preserving biodiversity throughout our beautiful area is an important goal for her.
She is a retired psychotherapist and has extensive experience in the voluntary sector having set up and run a Counselling Agency in North London for over 15 years.
Rosemary loves living in Monmouthshire and is proud to represent the residents of Trellech and is always happy to hear from them if she can be of assistance.
Alan Poulter
(Independent-elected)
Ward: Trellech Town
E-mail: alanpoulter@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Phone: 01600 860681
Alan was born in Bristol, where he studied for his degree in architecture at what subsequently became Bath University and where he met his wife Stephanie. They moved to Trellech from Bath in 1972. He has worked on the design of many hospitals and schools as well as commercial buildings and more recently domestic and conservation work, winning a number of design competitions. Alan was a founding member of the Wye Valley Riding Club, a founding member and past chairman of the Trellech Society, a former school governer, adviser to Bishop Childs on redundant buildings and has been a voluntary Wye Valley warden and a Community Councillor for some 35 years.
Kate Darlow
(Independent- co-opted)
Ward: Trellech Town
E-mail: katedarlow@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Kate Darlow has lived in Trellech since 2000 when she moved with her husband, Ian, and two daughters to the new home that they built in the village. She has worked in Estate Agency all her professional life, running their own business for the last 30 years. Kate retired in 2022 and went back to work in 2023!
Having moved to Wales in 1986, Kate was then greatly involved in the fundraising and activities of Llandenny Village Hall during the period when Lottery Fund matching first began. Sadly, starting a business and a family paused that lifestyle but Kate is now delighted to be able to contribute to the community again and consequently has joined the small team of Trustees of the Babington Educational Trust and the TUCC. She is looking forward to working well with the TUCC to represent all members of Trellech.
Stuart Geddes
(Independent-co-opted)
Ward: Penallt
E-mail: stuartgeddes@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Member of:
- Staffing Group
A member since July 2022
David May
(Independent-elected)
Ward: Penallt
E-mail: davidmay@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Member of:
- Staffing Group
- Rights of Way Group
David and his wife Anne moved back to his Welsh roots to Penallt in 2007 following a teaching career in London. Keen to get involved in the community, he was jointly responsible for bringing high speed broadband to parts of the village a few years ago. He set up and helps run the village website and its newsletter too and is a Trustee and a past Chair of the village hall (Pelham Hall) committee. A keen (Welsh) rugby and cricket fan, his main competitive sport is orienteering, in which he also has just stepped down from an administrative role as a long-standing member of its International Federation’s competitions committee.
Ed Webb
(Independent)
Ward: Trellech Grange
E-mail: edwebb@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
George Weston
(Independent-elected)
Ward: Llanishen
E-mail: georgeweston@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Phone: 01600 860560
Member of:
- Biodiversity Advisory Group
George was born and raised in Hampshire, from where he began a long career with BT sales and customer service, simultaneously clocking up 27 years’ service as an army reservist. He and his wife Pat moved gradually west with his job, eventually settling in Llanishen in 1988. On taking early retirement from BT, he took a forestry and arboriculture course at Coleg Gwent, which led to another career as Tree Officer with Monmouthshire County Council, from which he retired in 2013. George is currently Secretary of Llanishen Village Hall Committee. One of his interests is rock and pop music, and he plays guitar. George originally became a Community Councillor in 1998.
Sallie Roderick
(Independent-co-opted)
Ward: Llanishen
E-mail: sallieroderick@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Member of:
- Finance Working Group
- Biodiversity Advisory Group
- Rights of Way Group
Sallie moved to Llanishen from Hampshire in June 2021 and is enjoying living in the Monmouthshire countryside and being active in the local community.
When working she was a GP for many years and then a Director of Public Health and she retains a strong interest in health and wellbeing for both individuals and communities.
She is married with three grown up children and enjoys being outdoors, particularly walking in hills and mountains. She set up a Public Rights of Way Group for the Llanishen area in 2024 with the aim of improving access to and enjoyment of local footpaths for the local community and for visitors. She also volunteers for the Monmouth Food Bank.
Sallie is a keen gardener and keeps fit through cycling, Pilates, tennis, yoga and swimming. She’s also interested in the cinema and theatre and is an enthusiastic member of two book groups.
Peter Ash
(Independent-co-opted)
Ward: Whitebrook
E-mail: peterash@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Member of:
- Rights of Way Group
Peter moved to Whitebrook in 1986 with his wife Janet and two children
He qualified as a Dental Surgeon and spent forty years in the profession, finishing his career as a Consultant and Director of Dental Outreach Units for Cardiff Dental School.
He has been actively involved with the Whitebrook Village Hall Committee from early on and in 1999 was appointed as one of the two Trustees of the Village Hall. A post he still retains.
Outside of Whitebrook, he and his wife enjoy time with their family and grandchildren, as well as spending time in France and sailing around the Biscay coast. Peter commenced being a Community Councillor in December 2024.
Clare Dunsford
(co-opted)
Ward: The Narth
E-mail: claredunsford@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk
Member of:
- Biodiversity Advisory Group
Clare and her husband Paul moved to Pen-y-fan from Bristol in 2018 and have embraced the outdoor life along with their various rescued greyhounds. She works as an IT Project Manager for various sectors ranging from banking and insurance to not for profit organisations.
In her spare time Clare enjoys walking in the beautiful Wye Valley, gardening, cooking, endless DIY projects and playing netball and cricket.
Ward Vacancy: Catbrook
If you would like to find out more about becoming a Community Councillor for the Catbrook area, take a look at the information below and contact the Clerk for further information or an informal chat.
Ward Vacancy: Penallt
If you would like to find out more about becoming a Community Councillor for the Penallt area, take a look at the information below and contact the Clerk for further information or an informal chat.
Councillor Vacancies
Trellech United Community Council currently has councillor vacancies for Catbrook and Penallt available for co-option (open for resident applications rather than an election process).
NB You do not need to live within the specified ward to be eligible to take up the role.
If you would like more information please contact the clerk (admin@trellechunited-cc.gov.uk).
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
You must:
- be at least 18 years old
- be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any member state of the European Union, and meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
a. You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the parish/community in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.
b. You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish/community area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election
c. Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish/community area.
d. You have lived in the community area or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.
In addition, you are NOT ELIGIBLE if any of the following apply:
a. You are employed by the community council or hold a paid office under the community council (including joint boards or committees).
b. You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.
c. You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day.
d. You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices and offences relating to donations). The disqualification for an illegal practice begins from the date the person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for three years. The disqualification for a corrupt practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years.
A person may also be disqualified from election if they have been disqualified from standing for election to a local authority following a decision of the First-tier Tribunal (formerly the Adjudication Panel for England) or the Adjudication Panel for Wales.