Councillors
Chard Town Council was established in 1974 following the changes in local government, it is comprised of fifteen councillors representing the town’s five wards: Avishayes, Combe, Crimchard, Holyrood and Jocelyn. It has five standing committees, these being;
- Finance & Audit
- Amenities & Events
- Human Rescources
- Planning & Highways
- Appeals
Additionally to this there are a number of working groups. Chard Town Councillors are supported by Officers based at the Guildhall, Chard.
Somerset Council continues to hold all parish and town councillor Registers of Interest electronically and has amended the Somerset Council website to reflect the change. The webpages for each parish and town council now displays the following:
“From 29 June 2026, the change in legislation under Section 32A of the Localism Act 2011 requires all councillors to opt-in to publishing their home addresses. Somerset Council continues to hold all registers internally for transparency and oversight, and to manage any potential conflict of interests. We will publish updated parish and town records when consent has been clarified with councillors via their clerk. If a copy of a current register of interest is required, please contact the relevant clerk. For further information, see the NALC website Local authorities must no longer publish members’ home addresses
Town Councillors
Mayor Councillor Tricia O’Brien
Member for Crimchard Ward
Party: Liberal Democrats
Committee membership: Planning & Highways, Human Resources, Amenities & Events, Finance & Audit, Appeals
Deputy Mayor Councillor Craig Hussey
Member for Coombe Ward
Party: Independent
Committee membership: Planning & Highways, Human Resources, Amenities & Events, Finance & Audit, Appeals
Councillor Victoria Bates
Member for Avishayes Ward
Party: Liberal Democrats
Committee membership: Planning & Highways, Human Resources (Chair), Amenities & Events
Councillor Garry Shortland
Member for Holyrood Ward
Party: Liberal Democrats
Committee membership: Human Resources, Amenities & Events (Vice Chair)
Councillor Jason Baker
Member for Holyrood Ward
Party: Liberal Democrats
Committee membership: Finance & Audit, Amenities & Events (Chair), Appeals (Vice Chair)
Councillor Dave Bulmer
Member for Jocelyn Ward
Party: Independent
Committee membership: Finance & Audit, Planning & Highways (Chair), Amenities & Events, Human Resources
Councillor Banah Crook
Member for Avishayes Ward
Party: Independent
Councillor Tim Eggins
Member for Jocelyn Ward
Party: Green Party
Committee membership: Finance & Audit, Planning & Highways (Vice Chair), Amenities & Events, Appeals
Councillor Shakil Hassan
Member of Holyrood Ward
Party: Liberal Democrats
Councillor Andy Kenton
Member for Avishayes Ward
Party: Liberal Democrats
Committee membership: Finance & Audit (Vice Chair), Amenities & Events, Appeals
Councillor Jenny Kenton
Member for Coombe Ward
Party: Liberal Democrats
Committee membership: Finance & Audit, Human Resources (Vice Chair), Amenities & Events
Councillor Claire Richter
Member of Crimchard Ward
Party: Independent
Committee membership: Amenities & Events, Planning & Highways, Human Resources
Councillor Natasha Watson
Member for Shepherds Lane Ward
Party: Green Party
Councillor Zak Williams
Member for Crimchard Ward
Party: Liberal Democrats
Committee membership: Finance & Audit (Chair), Amenities & Events, Appeals (Chair)
Councillor Harry Tribble
Member for Jocelyn Ward
Party: Reform
Committee membership: Planning & Highways, Finance & Audit, Amenities & Events
Officers and Staff
Stephen Hill
Town Clerk & RFO
Deputy Clerk & Operations Manager
Teresa Turnbull
Finance & Admin Officer
Beverley Newman
Democratic Services Officer
Tim Bickham
Events Officer
Ingrid Edginton
Stakeholder Liaison Officer
Charlotte King
Events Assistant
Administrative Assistant/Reception
Unitary Councillors for Chard
Councillor Conner Payne
Councillor for Chard South
Party: Conservative Party
07508 263404
Councillor Martin Wale
Member of Blackdown & Tatworth ward
Party: Conservative Party
01460 65190
Councillor Jason Baker
Member for Holyrood Ward.
Party: Liberal Democrats
Committee membership: Finance & Audit, Amenities & Events (Chair)
The Guildhall, Fore Street, Chard TA20 1PP
07736 310805
Councillor Jenny Kenton
Member for Coombe Ward.
Party: Liberal Democrats
Committee membership: Finance & Audit, HR & Personnel (Vice Chair), Amenities & Events
The Guildhall, Fore Street, Chard TA20 1PP
07921 574019
