CCD News

• 22 October 2009CCD elects a new Chairman as part of its annual Rural Communities Conference at Christow
  

  After 8 years as CCD Chairman, Peter Dunning has stood down.  His replacement is former Vice Chairman, David Baker.

  CCD Vice President, Councillor Margaret Garton, praised Peter Dunning for providing a period of stability and weathering a few storms.  “Peter is very well respected and has always been prepared to take both himself and CCD out of their respective comfort zones when needed.” she said.

  David Baker comes with a lifetime of professional involvement in Youth Work.  He was the County Organiser for Devon Federation of Young Farmers and also for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.  He has an extensive involvement in local affairs, Parish Halls, Playing Fields and Community Magazines.  He is currently a Parish Councillor in both Newton St Cyres and Upton Pyne.

  "It is a privilege and honour to be elected as Chairman of the Community Council of Devon.  I will endeavour to maintain the high standard set by my predecessor Peter Dunning.  The next few years will be challenging times for the organisation." said David.

  Heather Stallard MBE becomes Vice Chairman, and retains her role chairing the CCD Members Forum.  This is Heather’s second stint on the Board of Trustees, having served initially in the 1990s.

  These elections took place at CCD’s Annual General Meeting at the Teign Valley Community Hall at Christow, prior to the annual CCD Rural Communities Conference.  The ‘Minding our Business’ conference focused on a changing rural economy and was well supported by both rural communities and also Councils and agencies who seek to serve them.

  Key note speakers included some very well known to the general public, and others very well known in their communities for ground-breaking local work.  The event was chaired by Professor Michael Winter OBE who gave the first key note presentation, with Tim Jones, the Chairman of Devon and Cornwall Business Council providing the other.

  The conference also provided the launchpad for Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion (OCSI) report on rural deprivation.  This work fully exposes how rural communities are short-changed by indices used by central and local government to measure poverty and disadvantage.

  The conference was described by one delegate as “a great day”.  The speakers were thought provoking and the presentations an opportunity to share the successes of social enterprises across the County.  These “made for an excellent celebration of CCD’s involvement in the community”.

  A full report of the conference and all presentations will be made available to attendees and posted on the CCD website early in November.

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