Councillor information

There are 38 councillors, each one is elected for a period of four years to represent the residents in part of the district known as a Ward. 

The role of the district councillor

Each elected Member serves on full Council, which determines strategic policy and approves certain matters "reserved" to Council, such as setting the budget and Council Tax.

Councillors also serve on one of two Area Planning Committees, and may also serve on other committees, such as Executive Committee, Overview & Scrutiny or the Licensing and Appeals Committee.

An important part of the councillor's role takes place away from the Council itself and in their ward, where they act as a point of contact between the district council, parish and town councils and residents on a range of community matters. 

Many Councillors are also representatives on outside bodies.

The Leader and Chairman of the Council

No single party or group is currently in control of Malvern Hills District Council. Instead the Council is run by the Democratic Alliance Group (a partnership between independent and Green Party councillors).

The Leader of the Council is Councillor Sarah Rouse and the Deputy Leader is Councillor Tom Wells.

In May 2021 Councillor Cynthia Palmer was elected as Chairman. Councillor Caroline Bovey was elected Vice-Chairman.

Portfolio Holders

There are six pdf Portfolio Holders (586 KB)  with specific responsibilities for different areas of our work. 

Cllr Sarah Rouse, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services

Responsibilities:  Lead on emergency planning including Covid-19 matters, strategic leadership and direction, corporate communications and reputation management, lead on external matters including LEP, SEP and LIS, community transport. Waste management, refuse collection and recycling, delivery of the carbon reduction plan, promotion of the district as a low carbon economy, street scene services, parks and grounds maintenance, biodiversity and the natural environment, environmental campaigns including litter, plastics and energy reduction.

Cllr Daniel Walton Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Tourism

Responsibilities: Economic growth and prosperity, urban regeneration and town centres revitalisation, rural economy and growth matters, tourism and visitor economy, strategic business liaison, skills and apprenticeships.

Cllr Tom Wells, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Services

Responsibilities: Deputise for the leader as appropriate, community engagement and development including parish councils and schools, leisure strategy and delivery including sports promotion, lead on voluntary sector including CAB, youth action plan, WRS lead member (including licensing), community safety, policing and crime matters (including OPCC links).

Cllr Peter Whatley, Portfolio Holder for Resources

Responsibilities: Lead on financial impacts of Covid-19, business planning, financial strategy, planning and budget matters, ICT matters, corporate performance and strategy, property strategy and investments, human resources and legal, property and land assets, Civil Parking Enforcement.

Cllr David Harrison, Portfolio Holder for planning, infrastructure, and flooding

Responsibilities:  SWDPR strategic planning and JAP lead member, neighbourhood planning, heritage matters, building control, land charges and street naming, strategic transport and infrastructure, strategic and urban design policy and initiatives, land drainage and flooding, planning enforcement.

Cllr Natalie McVey, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health

Responsibilities: Strategic housing function, homelessness and rough sleeping, private sector housing, strategic links with registered providers, health and wellbeing, ageing well, healthier communities campaigns, arts and culture.

Member Champions

Malvern Hills District Council has appointed member champions to promote and support various interests of the community.

The roles will focus on four themes including Heritage, Rural, Young People and the Armed Forces.

Acting as a positive focus for the local community, they will make contact with local organisations, familiarise themselves with the needs of the relevant section of the community, act as advocates on their behalf and feedback the decisions of the council. You can view the full role descriptions.

The appointed member champions are:

The aim of the role is to work closely with the schools in the district to improve the council’s engagement with young people, consulting them on our key priorities.

The aim of the role is to raise and maintain the profile of the district’s rural areas, drawing the council’s attention to rural issues and working with the council to improve the service delivered to rural areas.

The aim of this role is to work with the countywide Covenant Working Group and support the needs of service veterans and families in the district.

The aim of this role will be to raise and maintain the profile of the built historic and natural environment and provide a focus for heritage issues across the Council.

The Member Champions provided an annual update on their work in May 2021, which you can view by reading the pdf Member Champion Report. (234 KB)