Urgent Call for New Parish Councillors

Shiplake Parish Council currently has four councillor vacancies.

Two long serving councillors (David Pheasant, who led the Neighbourhood Plan to delivery and Ann Manning who served as the Memorial Hall representative on behalf of the PC) resigned at Monday's AGM and we thank them both for their dedicated service over many years. However, this means we urgently need more talented help to enable the Parish Council to function effectively.

ShiplakePC as you know plays an important role in Planning as a consultee body.  However, the PC is also active in many other tasks including:

•  Investing in community infrastructure such as the two playgrounds, new footpath along the A4155 and the bus shelters in Lower Shiplake and maintenance of the War Memorial in Lower Shiplake
• Managing the Shiplake Villages website and working closely with a volunteer editorial/development team for the website and its update (to be launched later in 2026)
• Liaising with and helping shape the actions of SODC, OCC, Thames Valley Police Memorial Hall, Shiplake Primary Schools and Shiplake College, Sonning Quarry and other local stakeholders
• Making grants to worthy local causes and groups

We meet once a month for two hours (second Monday of the month) at he Memorial Hall. For some councillors, working on a sub group, there may also be a Planning or Finance meeting to attend. We are all volunteers, we are not-politically aligned, and our council working approach is friendly, co-operative and collaborative. Our dedicated and long serving Parish Clerk does most of the administrative tasks of the PC, freeing Councillors up to help define policies and approaches.

Ideal councillor candidates will have general management skills, and we are especially interested in those with Communications, Planning or Finance interests and experience.  To note: we are currently light on Lower Shiplake representation. Candidates must be  aged 18 or above, and live or work within the parish (or maximum 3 miles beyond the parish boundary).

If this sounds like something you might be interested in and you have been thinking about how you can give back to your community and have some time available to help make Shiplake an even better place to live,  please make contact with the Chair of Shiplake PC, Chris Penrose chair@shiplakepc.com to discuss the opportunity of joining ShiplakePC. Or come along to the Annual Parish Meeting on Thursday 21st 1830 at Memorial Hall and speak to me there. 

Posted by: Chris Penrose | 15/05/2026 6:34 pm