Shipley Town Council has eleven seats, with six councillors elected in May 2023, one councillor co-opted to a seat left vacant at the 2023 local elections, and three councillors co-opted to seats following casual vacancies since the 2023 local elections. One further vacancy is pending.
The town councillors each represent a ward:
Nab Wood & Moorhead (1 councillor elected, 1 co-opted and 1 vacancy)
Northcliffe & Norwoods (2 councillors elected and 1 co-opted)
Saltaire & Hirst Wood (1 councillor elected and 2 councillors co-opted)
Shipley Centre & Dockfield (2 councillors elected)
Town councillors are elected once every four years by the electorate in each of the four town wards. The current term of office for all councillors runs from May 2023 to May 2027. The local elections in May 2023 were contested in Northcliffe & Norwoods Ward and Shipley Centre & Dockfield Ward. The number of candidates for Saltaire & Hirst Wood Ward was equal to the number of seats, meaning the candidates were elected unopposed. There were two candidates for three seats in Nab Wood & Moorhead Ward, meaning the candidates were elected unopposed and a remaining vacancy was filled by co-option process when the elected councillors choose an individual to fill the vacancy. Three councillors have resigned since the last ordinary elections and sadly, a councillor passed away whilst in office. Three of these vacancies were filled by co-option. The fourth vacancy is pending.
The Town Council is required to elect a chairman (known in Shipley as “the Chair”) at its Annual Meeting each year and otherwise if a vacancy in that office arises. The Chair of the Town Council has specific responsibilities set out in law, supplemented by local custom. The Chair’s main responsibility is to manage the meetings of the “Full Council”, when all eleven councillors meet together on a minimum of four occasions in each year.
The Council can choose to elect a vice chairman (known in Shipley as the “Vice Chair”).
Town councillors are elected to serve on one or more of the Council’s committees and subcommittees. Each committee and subcommittee has a chair and a vice chair. Councillors are also appointed as representatives to outside bodies and as members of working groups about a variety of matters.
Councillor Rhona North
Chair of the Council
Independent
Shipley Centre & Dockfield Ward
Co-opted July 2021; Elected May 2023
- Chair of the Council
- Chair of the Management Committee
- Member of the Allotments & Green Spaces Committee
- Member of the Community Engagement Committee
- Member of the Planning, Regeneration & Local Economy Committee
- Member of the Staffing Subcommittee
“I am relatively new to Shipley. A retired teacher, I worship at Saltaire Methodist, volunteer for Bradford North Methodist Circuit, Shipley Christians Together and the Christians Against Poverty Debt Centre in Shipley. I have a passion for: a lively vibe of cafes, shops, music and an amazing memorial garden in the town centre as well as giving a voice to the vulnerable and those that struggle”.
Councillor Mike Farren
Vice Chair of the Council
Independent
Nab Wood & Moorhead Ward
Co-opted July 2021; Elected May 2023
- Vice Chair of the Council
- Chair of the Community Engagement Committee
- Vice Chair of the Management Committee
- Member of the Climate Emergency & Environment Committee
- Member of the Planning, Regeneration & Local Economy Committee
- Chair of the Staffing Subcommittee
“I was born in Bradford and have lived in Shipley for nearly twenty years. After a career in IT consultancy, I now work as a freelance editor and writer. I have an interest in all the arts, especially literature and drama, and a long-term love of cricket and rugby league”.
Councillor Vera Martin
Independent
Northcliffe & Norwoods Ward
Elected May 2023
- Member of the Community Engagement Committee
- Member of the Allotments & Green Spaces Committee
Councillor Amanda Garcia Patchett
Independent
Northcliffe & Norwoods Ward
Co-opted July 2024
- Chair of the Allotments & Green Spaces Committee
- Member of the Community Engagement Committee
- Member of the Planning, Regeneration & Local Economy Committee
“I have lived in Shipley for fourteen years and have worked at Shipley College, teaching Spanish and more recently I have been involved in running Social Supermarkets in the Bradford area. I am passionate about food and feeding people, be it growing food, cooking or making food available to everyone at affordable prices! I am married to Hilario, who is Spanish and lives in Shipley, along with my grown up son, who is neurodiverse and I have a daughter, who is at university. I look forward to serving the Shipley community, especially the Northcliffe and Norwoods area!”
Councillor Colin Longden
Independent
Saltaire & Hirst Wood Ward
Co-Opted June 2025
- Vice Chair of Community Engagement Committee
- Member of Climate Emergency & Environment Committee
I’ve lived in Shipley for only 2 years but I have come to love the vibe of the community.
I retired from my career as a business analyst/consultant in 2018 and studied to be a mental health counsellor starting during the lockdown and qualifying in 2024.
I run a small practice from my home in Shipley, on a ‘pay as you can afford’ basis.
As a councillor, I plan to apply my analytical skills together with my recently acquired understanding of the mental health issues many people face, to help direct the scarce resources available to those who need them most, the disadvantaged and vulnerable.
Councillor Mike Connors
Independent
Shipley Centre & Dockfield Ward
Elected May 2023
(Previously Saltaire & Hirst Wood Ward: Appointed May 2020; Elected May 2021)
- Member of Planning, Regeneration & Local Economy Committee
“I have lived in Shipley for 20 years and my two sons were born here. Shipley is a great place to live and the new Town Council is determined to make Shipley even better for all residents.
I am proud to support the Town Council team. We want to achieve results for the whole community. I would like all residents of Shipley to join with us on our journey as we start out on various projects in the coming year, working together to succeed”.
Councillor Richard Sara
Independent
Saltaire & Hirst Wood Ward
Co-opted December 2024
- Member of the Allotments & Green Spaces Committee
- Member of the Planning, Regeneration & Local Economy Committee
“I have had links with Shipley since working for Shipley Furnitureland more than four decades ago. Now retired, I worked as a Business Consultant for Bradford Chamber of Commerce and for my own company for many years. I have extensive experience in all three business sectors and am a Director of a local social enterprise specialising in biodiversity.
I was the winner of Vodafone’s Volunteer of the Year in 2013. Over the years, I have worked on many environmental projects across the district, mostly in schools. I have also been a local Scout Leader, Juniors football and rugby coach.
Councillor James Roberts
Independent
Saltaire & Hirst Wood Ward
Appointed May 2020; Elected May 2021
Re-elected May 2023
- Vice Chair of the Planning, Regeneration & Local Economy Committee
- Member of the Community Engagement Committee
- Member of the Internal Control & Audit Subcommittee
“I have lived in Saltaire since 2012 and am a member of several local groups, including the Canalside Allotments and the Saltaire History Club.
I was actively involved with the campaign to establish a Town Council, engaging locally through canvassing and social media. I look forward to working with the other councillors to help drive local priorities across Shipley”.
Councillor Pedi Obani
Independent
Nab Wood & Moorhead Ward
Co-opted June 2023
(Previously co-opted to Nab Wood & Moorhead Ward in October 2022)
- Chair of the Climate Emergency & Environment Committee
- Vice Chair of the Allotments & Green Spaces Committee
- Member of the Management Committee
- Member of the Internal Control & Audit Subcommittee
- Member of the Staffing Subcommittee
“I moved to Shipley with my young family during the pandemic and we have loved making our home here! My research interests and professional experience in sustainability and inclusive development closely align with the priorities of the Shipley Town Council. Hence, my interest in becoming a councillor. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Council and the residents of Shipley to advance wellbeing, peace, and prosperity for everyone in our town.
Councillor Anna Watson
Green Party
Northcliffe & Norwoods Ward
Appointed May 2020; Elected May 2021
Re-elected May 2023
- Chair of the Planning, Regeneration & Local Economy Committee
- Vice Chair of the Climate Emergency & Environment Committee
- Member of the Management Committee
“I have lived in Shipley with my family for over twenty years. I work for a charity campaigning to protect people’s health by getting hazardous chemicals out of everyday products such as toys, food packaging and furniture.
I have been on the town council since it started in April 2020. I am very proud that the first motion we took was to declare a Climate Emergency. This has shaped the actions we have taken as a Council to increase the well-being of people in Shipley. I am also a District Councillor for Shipley and so can ask questions and raise issues with Bradford Council to make sure there is more join up across the two councils.”
Councillor Scott Isherwood
Independent
Nab Wood & Moorhead Ward
I moved to Shipley earlier this year with my partner, and have already become an active member of the local community as the landlord of The Pride of Shipley. As a trained chef, I have spent my entire professional career in the hospitality industry. I decided to become a councillor because of my passion for community-based action and working together for the greater good. I look forward to collaborating with local businesses, colleagues, and residents to help establish Shipley as a key destination within the Bradford district and beyond.