About the Town Deal Board
The Town Deal Board is
the vehicle to establish the Town Investment Plan for Worcester,
inform the deal and coordinate the stakeholders to ensure that key
local institutions, businesses and communities are involved in the
development of the strategy and vision.
The Town Deal Board
provides overall strategic oversight and direction in the
development of a Town Investment Plan, leading to a Town Deal for
Worcester. It will provide assurance to Government and to the
governing bodies of Board Member organisations that the Town
Investment Plan is being developed according to the requirements of
Government and is within the scope of the organisational approvals
established by the Board Members.
The Board shall act as
an advisory body, steering the direction of the work of the Lead
Council (Worcester City Council) and considering issues which
require referral for further approval by Member
organisations’ governing bodies and/or which have a material
impact on the delivery against Government requirements.
Terms of Reference
The Board’s
Terms of Reference were agreed at its first meeting in January 2020
and were amended in September 2023. They can be viewed here:
Agenda for Town Deal Board on Thursday,
7th September, 2023, 5.00 pm - Modern Council
(worcester.gov.uk)
Member Profiles
Craig Moule (Sanctuary)
The Chair of the
Board, Craig has been with Sanctuary for over 30 years, having
joined the organisation in 1989 from Coopers & Lybrand. Craig
was appointed Group Chief Executive on 1 January 2019. Prior to
this he was the Group’s Chief Financial Officer. While
holding this position, Craig oversaw Sanctuary being the first
housing association to implement a SAP enterprise solution and the
formation of a Corporate Shared Service Centre. Craig is an
ex-officio member of the Sanctuary Group Board.
Councillor Lynn Denham (Worcester City Council)
Lynn is the Leader of
Worcester City Council and Labour Group Leader at the Council. Lynn
has lived in Worcester for over 30 years, working as a hospital
pharmacist and senior NHS manager. She
has been a Worcester City Councillor since 2012 and is involved in
many community projects. She is Chair of the Friends of Fort Royal
Park and Worcester Dementia Action Alliance.
Councillor Robyn Norfolk (Worcester City Council)
Robyn is the current
chair of the City Council’s Place and Economic Development
Committee. She has lived in Worcester for the last 24 years, and is
an IT Security Architect for a global computer services
organisation. Robyn has been a Worcester City Councillor since
2021, representing the St. John Ward, and following recent boundary
changes, the new Ward of Dines Green and Grove Farm.
Tom Collins (Member of Parliament)
Tom was elected as a
City Councillor representing the Rainbow Hill Ward in 2018. He
served for 4 years to 2022. He has been the Member of Parliament
for Worcester since July 2024, having gained the seat after the
incumbent MP Robin Walker stood down. Before becoming an MP, Tom
worked for Worcester Bosch for 19 years.
Michelle Dowse (Heart of Worcestershire College)
Michelle is the
Principal and Chief Executive of the largest further education
college in Worcestershire. She has
extensive experience of the private sector and has worked in
education since 2008. The College
offers a wide range of vocational and
technical courses in specialist subject areas alongside a vast
array of apprenticeships and higher education courses. Michelle is
passionate about nurturing the brilliance of every student and
ensuring that learners develop both technical and employability
skills to meet regional needs.
The Revd Canon Dr Stephen Edwards (Worcester Cathedral)
As the Dean of
Worcester, Stephen is responsible for governing and directing the
life and work of Worcester Cathedral, working with the rest of the
Cathedral Chapter. He became a Residentiary Canon in 2019, then
Vice-Dean in 2021 and Interim Dean in 2023 before being appointed
as Dean in June 2024. Previously he was an incumbent of parishes
firstly in north Wales and then in Manchester. He trained for
ministry at Westcott House Cambridge, being ordained deacon in 1996
and priest in 1997.
Sally Ellison MBE (Worcester Community Action)
Sally has over 20
years’ experience of working in the voluntary sector
finishing as Chief Officer of Worcester Volunteer Centre. She has
experience of project management, funding bid writing, development
of policies and procedures, governance, registering charities etc.
Sally also has vast experience in managing volunteers, recruiting
and retaining volunteers, support & training volunteers.
Councillor Simon Geraghty (Worcestershire County Council)
Simon is the Leader of
Worcestershire County Council. He has a keen interest in seeing
Worcestershire businesses grow and succeed and he represents the
County Council on the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Simon has been a County Councillor since 2005 and was a City
Councillor for the St. Clement Ward from 2000 to 2024.
Professor
David Green CBE (University of Worcester)
David is the Vice
Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Worcester. He
has been the University’s executive head since 2003 and is
accountable to the University’s Board of Governors for the
strategic leadership, overall performance and management of the
University. He has led Worcester to successful applications for
full University title in 2005, and for Research Degree Awarding
Powers in 2010.
Councillor Mrs Lucy Hodgson (Warndon Parish Council)
Having served on
Warndon Parish Council since 2019, Lucy became Chairman in May
2023. Until the May 2023 Elections she had been a City Councillor
for 20 years and was Mayor in 2008/09. In recent years Lucy chaired
the City Council’s Place and Economic Development Committee
and was also the Heritage Champion.
Mohammed Iqbal (Community Representative)
Mohammed Iqbal is
Secretary General of Worcester Muslim Welfare Association, a local
charity based in Worcester which has been serving the local Muslim
community since 1979.
Councillor Roger Knight (St Peter’s Parish Council)
Roger has lived in the
city since 1991 and has served as both a Parish and a City
Councillor, having been first elected in 2004. A retired retail
executive, he is a former Mayor of Worcester.
Jan Scrine BEM (Worcester Civic Society)
Jan is Vice-Chair of
Worcester Civic Society. A former Mayoress of Bromyard, she was
awarded the British Empire Medal in 2016 for services to roadside
heritage, being a founder member of the Milestone Society, where
she has served as Honorary Treasurer and Chair. Jan is a
well-qualified human resources professional, having held Board
appointments in blue chip companies.
Sam McCarthy (Worcester BID)
Worcester Business
Improvement District (BID) has been in operation since April 2010
and is a non-for-profit organisation with the aim of improving the
trading conditions for the businesses who contribute a BID levy.
Sam joined the BID team in 2015 and was appointed Chief Executive
in February 2022. She has worked on managing key partnerships and
has actively developed brand awareness within the city.
Gary Woodman (Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership)
The Chief Executive of
Worcestershire LEP, Gary has a wealth of business insight and
networks as well as considerable experience of Government policy
and delivery. Educated at the University of Wales, Cardiff, where
he obtained his degree in Leisure and Recreation Management, and
the University of Gloucestershire, where he studied for his
postgraduate diploma in Business Administration, he previously
worked for Gloucestershire County Council’s market towns and
economic development arm, then went onto become Head of Policy and
Education at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of
Commerce.
Register of Members’ Interests
Board Members are
required to declare any disclosable pecuniary and/or non-pecuniary
interests. A Register of Interests is in place for all Board
Members and is available on request. Contact committeeadministration@worcester.gov.uk
