The Board
The Government guidance requires a local authority to set up a Town Deal Board
The Runcorn Town Deal Board comprises a range of key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors. The Board is independently chaired by a local businessperson, Adrian Fillingham. Halton Borough Council is represented on the Board, with the Council also providing administrative support. Some local ward councilors are on the Board, as well as Derek Twigg MP. The elected members are aware of local issues and the improvements requested by their residents.
The Board members are:
Chair
Rachel Owen
Having worked as a business adviser across a breadth of sectors, public and private, throughout the North West and Liverpool City Region, Rachael now focuses on the specific needs of Halton based organisations and champions a business centric approach as the Chief Executive of Halton Chamber of Commerce. Halton Chamber is a business led, not for profit, membership organisation, representing Runcorn and Widnes based enterprises. The Chamber supports local inter-trading and provides practical help and advice at all stages of business development including start up, consolidation and growth, as well as international expansion. Rachael is a qualified, post 16 lecturer with a PGCE, CIM Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing and MBA.
Board Member
Stephen Young
Stephen became the Chief Executive of Halton Borough Council in April 2022 having recently held the position of Executive Director at Lancashire County Council and various senior roles across Greater Manchester before that. Stephen’s background is in regeneration and environmental services having led a regeneration pipeline in Lancashire worth in excess of £11 billion pounds. Stephen holds an MBA as well as an undergraduate degree in Politics and Economics. Outside of work Stephen is married with two small children
Board Member
Wesley Rourke
Wesley is an Operational Director for Economy, Enterprise and Property at Halton Borough Council.
At Halton, he is responsible for:
- Bringing forward and implementing the borough’s major physical development sites; managing the Council’s property and strategic assets;
- Coordinating and acting upon the borough’s inward investment and business enquiries;
- Encouraging and supporting businesses to expand;
- Developing and delivering initiatives, which create, secure and safeguard jobs in the Borough and the provision of a wide range of adult and family learning courses across the borough.
Board Member
Derek Twigg MP
Derek has lived all of his life in Halton. Derek has served as the Member of Parliament for Halton since 1997 and his priority is the people of Halton
Board Member
Laura Bailey
Laura is an Investment Associate within the Investment Team at the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA). The LCRCA works to improve the lives of people living and working within the City Region by investing in a range of projects including transport, housing, economic development and employment and skills. Laura has 18 years’ experience of working within a regeneration and development field and as a Halton resident is passionate about improving the borough.
Board Member
Cllr Dave Thompson
Dave is Deputy Leader of Halton Council and has represented the Halton Lea ward for 20 years. He has almost 35 years in the public sector, working for Councils in the Liverpool City Region. His professional expertise is in managing public spaces and has experience of judging / assessing quality and performance in local government. In 2005 he was asked by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to join its Green Flag Advisory Board as the sole representative of local authorities.
Board Member
Hayley Dooley
Hayley is the DWP Partnership Manager working on behalf of the local Jobcentres in Runcorn and Widnes, supporting partners to deliver a wide range of services, training and support to unemployed people and their families across Halton.
Board Member
Mary Murphy
Mary is the Principal of Riverside College and Cronton Sixth Form College, having worked previously in two highly successful colleges in the North West. Mary has a wealth of industrial and educational experience and alongside her team of teaching, support and training staff she invests in young people and adults to ensure that they all have opportunities to fulfil their potential.
Board Member
Lucy Gardner
Lucy is the Director of Strategy at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (WHH). Lucy started her career 17 years ago as an NHS General Management Trainee, gaining a Master’s degree in health and social care leadership and management. In the 17 years she has held a number of operational management roles within the NHS and subsequently, in her role at EY and most recently as Director of Strategy at WHH, led large scale change programmes to deliver significant financial, quality and performance benefits predominantly within healthcare. Highlights include; leading the introduction of the support time recovery worker role into mental health services; leading a £3.6m project to install the first intra-operative scanner in a pediatric setting in the UK and Europe; leading the transfer of pediatric services from an acute to a community setting; directing a project for disadvantaged pregnant teenagers in Peru; and leading the support to the merger of two large acute Trusts. Lucy is passionate about improving the lives of the populations she serves from a health and wider regeneration perspective.
Board Member
Paul Mullane
Paul is Director of Development and Growth for Halton Housing and currently is looking after the development of new homes, delivering their ambitious plan to build and acquire 1,000 new homes covering a whole market housing offer.
Board Member
Claire Bradbury
Claire is Chief Executive of Power in Partnership, a community education provider. Claire is passionate about communities and young people and has been involved in the third sector In Halton for over 25 years.
Board Member
Graham Wallace
Graham is a retired Royal Navy veteran and local business man. Graham is the Chairman of Runcorn Locks Restoration Society. Graham sits on the Runcorn Town Team panel
Board Member
Alex Haycraft
Alex is the managing director of Blueball Brewery Ltd and Society Tap Room based in Runcorn. Alex is also a member of the Runcorn Town Team.
Board Member
Tony Collacott
Tony is a retired Engineering Project Manager, and one of the founding Trustees of Wat Phra Singh UK, the Buddhist Temple and Meditation Centre located in Runcorn Old Town. Tony is also a member of the Runcorn Town Team.
Board Member
Josh Downes
Josh is a Chartered Surveyor and is a Senior Development Manager at commercial property developer Langtree, and has worked in both the private sector and within public/private sector entities. He has gained considerable experience in urban regeneration, public/private partnerships and managing complex multi-disciplinary developments.
Josh is dedicated to enhancing the safety and quality of life in Runcorn, aiming to create a more secure environment for its residents, employees, and visitors. With a strong connection to Halton and considerable experience working within Halton across a number of projects, Josh’s profound enthusiasm drives his commitment to elevating the entire borough’s well-being and prosperity.
Board Member
Richard Millington
Richard is Managing Director of Sandon Global based in Manor Park, Runcorn. The business manufacture printing rollers for the Flexographic print market. As a business leader Richard focuses on product quality, service and innovation with a strong record of developing partnerships with academic institutions such as University of Manchester and Liverpool John Moore’s University.
The business focuses on the well-being of its staff and works closely with Riverside College recruiting and training 16 engineering apprentices over the last 5 years. In 2022 the company moved into a custom-built new facility that focuses on the welfare of staff and renewable energy.