Meet our team of hard-working, dedicated Councillors and the Cranbrook Town Council staff who support them.
Cllr Les Bayliss
Les spent most of his working life prior to taking early retirement in 2010 in the fire service, initially as a firefighter in the Royal Air Force followed by some 34 years as a fire officer at Exeter Airport, where he ended his career as the Fire Service and Risk Management Manager. He moved from Honiton to Cranbrook in April 2017 and feels it offers the potential to become a town of excellence, a town for the future and a town for all – young and old. He looks forward to being a part of the community and in a position to help it thrive.
Matt currently works within major national infrastructure projects specialising as an Environmental Scientist and Chartered Environmentalist. Matt and his wife moved to Cranbrook in 2021 from Southampton, seeking a slower pace of life and a scenic place to raise their little boy. Matt hopes to put his expertise to good use to support Cranbrook in its journey of sustainable development to provide a thriving town for everyone to enjoy.
Kevin is a native of Exeter and moved to Cranbrook in 2012. He works in the photoelectronics industry in Exeter. He was Chairman of the Town Council from its inception in 2015 until 2019, when he stepped down to allow more time after he was also elected as one of Cranbrook’s three district councillors. He remains an active member of the Town Council and is keen to see the commercial and social development of the town, particularly in the town centre.
Kim moved to Cranbrook in 2013 and very quickly got involved in helping members of the community with concerns regarding issues which naturally occur when moving into a new town. Kim established relationships with partners including the developers, East Devon District Council, Devon County Council, utility companies, the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner and the local Policing team. In 2015 Kim joined the Town Council when it was created and in 2019 was elected one of Cranbrook’s first District Councillors as an Independent member. Kim’s vision is for Cranbrook to be recognised by all as a successful vibrant town with an engaging, friendly community.
Ray is a former CID (Criminal Investigation Department) officer. His career spanned 30 years during which he investigated all types of crime including murder, child abuse, commercial fraud and corruption. He retired as a detective inspector in 1998, moved to East Devon soon after and has lived in Cranbrook since 2013. He has been in local government for almost 20 years, as a parish, town, district and county councillor and brings this experience to the Town Council. He wants to ensure that Cranbrook is a successful and vibrant town whilst being sensitive to and recognising the needs of the surrounding rural communities.
Colin retired after a 34-year career as a dentist. He moved to Cranbrook in August 2016 and was attracted to serving on a new Council because he was excited by the "blank canvass" with so much to do. He hopes his experience in the healthcare sector is of use to the community.
"My name is Lisa Goudie, and I have been a resident of Cranbrook since 2014. During my time here, I have taken the initiative to organise support groups for local residents who have faced discrimination due to their personal views and opinions on local and national issues. My unwavering passion for justice, people, and animal welfare motivates me to strive for a better community that aligns with the Nolan principles of public life. I am excited to collaborate with individuals who share my values and dedication to our town. I am eager to establish strong relationships with fellow councillors who are committed to working together towards a common objective. I would like to clarify that I have no conflicts of interest or affiliations with any planning associations."
Sam grew up in Exeter and moved to Cranbrook in 2016. He is currently working for a firm of chartered accountants based on the Exeter Business Park and is looking to use some of these skills to aid the community. Sam is excited about the future of the town and is keen to be a part of helping it to grow and thrive.
Barry has lived in Cranbrook since 2015, having retired from a career in the international petroleum industry. In his former work, his engagement with local communities both in Britain and abroad highlighted the importance of a sense of ownership of change. He therefore believes individual engagement in local issues is essential in the development of Cranbrook as a place where we all belong, and where we want to leave a legacy our children can be proud of.
Vince is passionate about finding ways to make things happen which help bring communities together. Vince wants to help residents understand how the Town Council fits into the future of Cranbrook. Vince has a background running businesses which serve a wide range of customer types and plenty of experience working with and between parish, town, district and county councils and is familiar with the complexities involved in making progress. With that in mind, Vince wants to help engage residents with the Town Council and help champion and promote the good in Cranbrook, using the business and technology backgrounds for the benefit of the Town Council and everyone in the community.
If you are interested in serving as a town councillor we'd love to hear from you and please do get in touch with us.
Town Council Employees
Janine Gardner
Town Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer
The Town Clerk is the Council’s Proper Officer and as such is under a statutory duty to carry out all the functions required by law of a local authority, including serving statutory notifications, advising the Council to enable evidence-based decision-making and implementing decisions. The post holder is also the Council’s Responsible Financial Officer.
Joanna is in charge of the management of the Council's properties, including bookings for the main hall and the meeting rooms in the Younghayes Centre.