Meet Your Councillors

Your Green Councillors

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Green Party has active groups of councillors and campaigners across the two districts.

If you are not sure whether there is a group near you, or you'd like to contact a particular person, please get in touch.

Oxfordshire County Council

Oxfordshire Green Party has three members in its County Council Group, of whom two, Pete and Robin are in South Oxfordshire. Since May 2021 the Greens have been in the joint "Fair Deal Alliance" administration with Liberal Democrats and Labour, in which Pete Sudbury holds the Cabinet position for Climate Change and Environment.

Robin Bennett, Berinsfield

Robin Bennett is Deputy Leader and Green group leader at South Oxfordshire District Council. He represents Berinsfield ward, and in May 2021 was also elected a County Councillor. Robin has led opposition to the controversial Conservative local plan, and fought to ensure better environmental policies were added when Secretary of State Robert Jenrick MP intervened to force it through.

In his cabinet role, Robin is working on plans to restart council-led housing provision. He is leading on Berinsfield Garden Village, which aims to help residents to thrive and deliver improved community facilities, and the Local Economic Recovery plan which will use principles of community wealth-building to support an inclusive, green recovery in South Oxfordshire. Robin organises the Greener Festival Award-winning event ‘Wood' at Braziers Park, Oxfordshire and is a self-employed musician. He’s a trustee at The Berin Centre, a charity-run children’s and community centre in Berinsfield, and chair of governors at Dorchester St Birinus primary school.

Dr Pete Sudbury, Wallingford

A retired medical director and psychiatrist, Pete has worked in the NHS and in healthcare and technology consultancy. He is a father of three young children, a keen rower and has helped train several Olympic medal-winning rowers. Since being elected to the County Council in 2019, Pete has been an active campaigner on climate change and has supported tree planting projects across Oxfordshire and the UK.

Thanks to hard work by Pete, who successfully put a motion to full council, it is now easier for local communities to get 20mph zones in villages and towns in Oxfordshire, making our streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Vale of White Horse District Council

In 2019 Cheryl was elected to the Vale of White Horse District council, in 2023 Sarah, Katherine & Viral joined Cheryl to form the official opposition group on the district council.

Cheryl Briggs, Abingdon Abbey Northcourt

I have lived in Abingdon for over 11 years. I am currently an Abingdon Town Councillor and a Vale of White Horse District Councillor. In my time as a Councillor, I have pushed for green and LGBTQ+ issues in both councils. I previously worked as a Youth Worker, so when I was Mayor of Abingdon I chose 2 youth charities to support, DAMASCUS and Yellow Submarine. I have continued to support organisations helping young people.

I am very much a part of the Abingdon community. I keep myself busy by volunteering for a number of local organisations. I am a Governor of Christchurch Hospital. I am a Trustee of NSPCC Fundraising and a Trustee of North Abingdon Community Centre. I am the Council representative for Abingdon Youth Voice. I also volunteer for Abingdon Carbon Cutters, Abingdon Cuts Plastics, One Planet Abingdon and Abingdon Community Fridge.

Sarah James, Hendreds

I have lived in East Hendred for over 20 years and I am known locally as an active member of the community, particularly regarding the environment. I am a parish councillor and I co-founded the local environment group, chairing it for many years.

My professional background is in science and data and I now work in social impact investment, which allows me to support businesses and organisations that make positive environmental and community impacts in the UK and in emerging economies. I have experience of renewable energy technologies and I’m a volunteer guide at a local community owned wind and solar farm. As a parish councillor I am involved in the transport and environment working groups and in the Harwell campus liaison group.

Katherine Foxhall, Watchfield and Shrivenham

I am a committed and active local campaigner with a professional background as an academic historian and policy researcher.

I grew up in rural Devon and now live in Uffington with my young family. I have helped run a local toddler group for several years and re-started the group after COVID. I volunteer for Uffington Community Garden and campaign on a number of local issues including rural broadband, school road safety, improving the construction standards of a new primary school, and sewage dumping in local villages.

I joined the Green Party in 2019, and was the Green candidate for Shrivenham in the May '21 county council elections, gaining 40% of the vote in my first campaign. Since September 2021 I have been Chair of the new South and Vale Green Party branch.

Viral Patel, Watchfield and Shrivenham

I am a software engineering manager, currently working for a multinational engineering software company. I grew up in South East London and have been based in Oxfordshire for the last 25 years. My long experience in the engineering industry means I understand the significance of industry, science and technology and how they can have a positive impact in our daily lives.

I am a strong advocate of social and environmental justice, and have been engaged in environmental and social causes since my teens. I strongly believe that the way to make change happen is from the ground up, locally and by example. I have always felt that it is the responsibility of the whole of society to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE DISTRICT COUNCIL

The South Oxfordshire District Council Green group had five members in 2019, the Group ran the Council in a joint administration with the Liberal Democrats. In 2023 three new green councillors were elected making the green group now eight strong.

Andrea Powell, Benson and Crowmarsh

I have lived in the ward for 25 years, and worked at CABI in Wallingford for 26 years as the Chief Information Officer and Publishing Director. I am passionate about supporting the local economy and addressing the challenges of climate change through local activism and district council leadership. Since being elected in May 2019 I have served as the Cabinet member for Corporate Services, Policy and Programmes, overseeing a huge IT transformation project and the plans to move to a new sustainable Council headquarters at the Didcot Gateway site. I also led the work to produce the SODC Corporate Plan, which reflects the priorities of our residents and businesses - protecting and restoring nature, working in an open and accountable way and dealing with the challenges of a changing climate. I have worked closely with all four parish councils in my ward, ensuring strong two-way communication and representation.

Robin Bennett, Berinsfield

Ali Gordon-Creed, Chinnor

I’ve lived and practised as a professional locally since 1996 and been a volunteer for Natural England for over 20 years. I am a volunteer wildlife rescuer for Tiggywinkles and have been an eco warrior in one way or another since I was a child growing up in South Africa. I am a passionate environmentalist and biodiversity advocate and want to preserve and find the right balance for all of us to thrive. Without finding that balance we really don’t have a future.

Peter Dragonetti, Kidmore End and Whitchurch

Cllr Peter Dragonetti was elected to South Oxfordshire District Council in 2019, after many years as a parish councillor, mainly as chair. Before moving to Goring Heath some 35 years ago, he was a keen cyclist in London, and was heavily involved in the London Cycling Campaign as the Treasurer and an organiser of events. Now Vice Chair of the Planning Committee on SODC, he is still involved in many roles in his parish and local area ranging from volunteering with BBOWT to rescuing a closed pub from developers.

Sam Casey-Rerhaye, Sandford and the Wittenhams

I have lived in Culham in South Oxfordshire for 17 years, after periods in Spain, London and, originally, Cheshire. I work as a Public Health professional working in Oxfordshire County Council, specialising in drug & alcohol treatment services. Having studied politics and philosophy at university, I have been involved in environmental & animal rights campaigning for many years.

I was elected as District Councillor for Sandford and the WIttenhams in 2019 with 73% of the vote. I chair the District's Climate and Ecological Emergencies committee and I am the Cycle and Active Travel Champion for the District.
I am a parish councillor as well as a District Councillor, campaigning with the local community on over-development, more active travel infrastructure and local climate mitigation actions such as hedgerow and tree planting, achieving lower speed limits, and new bus routes. I was also a governor at John Mason school for 5 years and am now a member of Abingdon Learning Trust.

James Barlow, Wallingford

I’ve lived in Wallingford for over 20 years, with my wife raising 3 children here. Taught about climate change in the mid–1990s, I’ve worked in both professional and voluntary capacities on sustainability and human rights since 2003. I have significant senior corporate experience in companies such as Unilever and PepsiCo. Today I am a director of a community interest company supporting organisational leaders to build the skills needed by society for the transition we face in the next 40 years. I was a founding member of Sustainable Wallingford from 2003 until 2010, served as a governor of St John’s Primary School from 2008–2021 (including time as Chair & Vice-Chair) and as a director of the Oxfordshire Primary Education Network Academy Trust. I am a keen cyclist, dog walker and river sailor / swimmer. I hold Masters degrees from the Universities of Bath and Cambridge.

Jo Robb, Woodcote and Rotherfield

I am a Green Party District Councillor for the Woodcote and Rotherfield Ward, elected in May 2019. Since my election I have been working hard to promote Green policies and ethos in my very Conservative ward. I am known in my ward for being dedicated, responsive and hard-working.

As South Oxfordshire's River Thames Champion, I have led the campaign for cleaner rivers and an end to sewage pollution and initiated SODC's efforts to achieve Bathing Water Status for Wallingford. I have successfully supported parishes considering 20mph limits, in the face of opposition from their Conservative County Councillor. I am a member of the Oxfordshire Pension Fund Committee where I am a leading voice calling for faster divestment of fossil fuel investments. Within the branch, I have been a dedicated and hard-working Green Party member with an active role in producing leaflets, press releases and consultation responses.

I believe in working collaboratively with others to achieve positive change and in being truthful, compassionate and open-minded in my dealings with residents, parish councils, colleagues and those from other parties.

I was pleased to be elected Chair of the council for 2021.

James Norman, Woodcote and Rotherfield

I am a farmer and nature conservationist. I have been the tenant of Path Hill Farm on the Hardwick Estate for 24 years where we run an organic, pasture-fed Hereford suckler herd and arable system, and look after many species-rich pastures and rare floodplain hay meadows. I also manage a large area of ancient coppice woodland in Bromley, Kent. Since the 1980s I have been an active member both of the organic movement and of the Green Party, and have stood in several council elections. Since 2008 I have also been a director of a renewable energy company specialising in the installation and maintenance of biomass boilers. I am active in local environmental groups, such as Pangbourne and Whitchurch Sustainability Group, and sometimes give talks. I am a sometime writer on farming matters, and am currently writing a book about global land use. I have a large family of grown-up children, all doing wonderful things, and a beloved partner, Jane.

Town and Parish Councils

Cheryl Briggs, Abbey - Abingdon Town

Sarah Nohre, Park - Didcot Town

As a firm believer in democracy and the power of local community I hope to represent Park Ward on Didcot Town Council.

My professional background is in mental health, and education for young people based at the charity SOFEA in Didcot. Through this work I have come to understand the needs of our community much more deeply, especially the need to empower our young people and set them up for success in our area. Their voice needs to be heard on our council and I believe I can support this.

Why I am standing

I want to ensure power is in the hands of residents through regular consultations with you to promote a healthy local democracy. I will put transparency and openness of council's actions as a top priority in my work for you.

I believe a collaborative approach with other councillors is needed to put Didcot’s needs above politics. Tax paying residents deserve to have quickly repaired roads, efficient and reliable bin pickups and for their views to be taken seriously on local housing development in the area.

James Brooks, Stanford-in-the-Vale Parish

James Brooks has lived in Stanford in the Vale for over 30 years, and was co-opted to the parish council at the end of 2022. An active participant in the community, he has been a community first responder, school parent governor, nature reserve warden, conservation volunteer, and COVID vaccination data entry volunteer.

Over the years, James has worked in science and technical information services for the disease vector management, public health, and water industry sectors. Part-time and short-term roles have included researcher supporting innovation in small- to medium-sized businesses, secondary school examinations invigilator, and night-shift Christmas post sorter.

Kevin Middleton, Stanford-in-the-Vale Parish

Kevin is a parish councillor in Stanford in the Vale and currently chair of the council. He has been a councillor since 2018 and in that time he has helped the council develop its plans for a new recreation field, draw up a climate and environmental emergency resolution, and secure new rural bus stops, as well as the day-to-day job of listening to local concerns, trying to improve people’s quality of life, and working to build more resilient, sustainable communities.

He is a member of the Green Party's Tax and Fiscal Policy and Science and Technology Working Groups and a volunteer good neighbour with Vale Community Impact.

Helena Richards, North - Thame Town

I strongly believe that representation at local council level makes a difference. I have been on Thame town council for 18 months and have been working hard to raise the environment agenda. I also work as a GP and am passionate about building a fairer as well as a greener society. I want to see real action on climate change and more investment in public services.

David Dawson, South - Thame Town

I’ve lived in Thame for over ten years and I have several family members living here including my son. It’s a wonderful town with a strong spirit of community in which people can thrive. I’m actively involved in projects that support the community as it grows and I work to ensure that everyone benefits from the unique environment we have here.

I set up Cosy Thame to help people reduce their fuel bills, reduce the carbon footprint of their homes and make them cosier. As well as offering people thermal images of their homes I’ve established partnerships with the sewing circle A Stitch in Thame to offer free draught excluders for those on low incomes, and I set up the Thame Curtain Exchange to help get unwanted curtains to those in most need. I work in a local infant school each week listening to the children reading. I’ve always believed that there should be high quality education for all. As a novelist I’m passionate about the central role that reading has in a child’s education. In 2022 I lobbied the council successfully for Thame to have a twenty mile per hour speed limit throughout the town. I want our town to be safe, secure, and to provide opportunities for all.

Local Campaigners

Adam Grindey, Didcot Greens

Adam Grindey has lived in Didcot for the last 26 years. He is married with three grown up children, who inspire him every day to protect our fragile environment and to fight for social and climate justice. Adam has worked in Retail Information Technology throughout his working life and takes a keen interest in how technology can be best used to protect the environment, allow consumers to be more environmentally conscious and to support the needed energy transition away from fossil fuels. Working in senior business roles means that Adam understands both the benefits and limitations of the market economy.

Having stood for local council as a Green Party candidate on two occasions, and come close to being in a position to represent Didcot both times, Adam is a committed advocate of active travel and of ensuring that urban design meets the needs of everyone, in the most climate and environmentally manner.

Cathy Gaulter-Carter, Thame Greens

Cathy Gaulter-Carter has lived in and around Oxford for most of her life. Cathy has a long track record in environmental campaigning with Sustrans and Friends of the Earth. She and her husband brought up their three daughters in Watlington and Thame. She has always enjoyed using her bicycle as her main form of transport and walking her dogs. She worked with a group to support Sustrans to build The Phoenix Trail, a hugely popular greenway for walkers, cyclists, and horse riders between Thame, Towersey and Princes Risborough. The group also worked with local schools and councils make walking or cycling to school much safer. Cathy is a qualified teacher and cycle trainer. Most recently she has been volunteering in Thame Oxfam Bookshop and working in local libraries. She is on the steering group of Thame's Green Living Plan and continues to campaign for Active Travel.