MEMBERS RE-APPOINTED TO WATERVOICE SOUTH WEST

2 May 2002 04:11 PM

Philip Fletcher, the Director General of Water Services, has appointed six new members to WaterVoice South West. They are: - Mr George Buckland
- Mr Peter Flatters
- Mr Michael Jensen
- Ms Francesca Peroni
- Mr Bruce Reveley
- Mr Peter Wood

In addition two members have been re-appointed. They are: - Mrs Ros Cox
- Mrs Margaret Roberts

Commenting on the appointments the Chairman, Dr Noel Olsen, said:

"I am delighted to announce the appointment of six new members to the Committee. They will bring a range of experience and perspective to its work.

I am also very pleased to announce the reappointment of Ros Cox and Margaret Roberts to the Committee. They have made influential contributions to the interests of South West Water's customers over the years."

Notes to Editors

1. WaterVoice South West represents the interests of customers of South West Water Services.

2. WaterVoice South West is one of ten WaterVoice Committees (the Ofwat Customer Service Committees set up under the Water Industry Act 1991 by the Director General of Ofwat). There are nine Committees in England and a Committee for Wales.

3. WaterVoice:
- Investigates and resolves complaints;
- Makes sure that the companies are aware of, and responsive to, concerns about the range and quality of services available; and - Represent customers' interests to the Director so that he can take customer concerns into account in making his decisions.

4. Biographical details on all members of the Committee are attached.

5. Appointments made by the Director fall outside the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. However Ofwat is committed to principles of fairness and openness in the making of public appointments with selection based on merit.

6. Members are part-time and unpaid, but expenses may be claimed. Members come from a broad range of backgrounds and are appointed in a personal capacity based on their skills and experience to represent all water customers in each region and not as the representative of a particular interest group.

7. In reviewing WaterVoice membership, the Director aims to give new people with fresh ideas the opportunity to represent customers' interests, while still maintaining continuity and experience. The Director reviews and appoints members in consultation with the Committee Chair. Members are appointed for a term of up to three years, and are eligible for re-appointment.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES TO THE WATERVOICE REGIONAL MANAGER, GILLIAN JOHNSTON ON: 01392 428 028

Ofwat and WaterVoice press notices are available on the Internet and can be found on Ofwat's home page at www.ofwat.gov.uk

WaterVoice South West
Membership as of 1 May 2002

Chairman

Dr Noel Olsen
Consultant in public health service medicine with 17 years NHS Chief Officer experience; Honorary Secretary for the International Agency on Tobacco and Health; member of the Public Health Medicine Consultative Committee of the UK; member of the DETR's Air Quality Forum; member of the BMA's Board of Science and Education; member of the Royal Medical Colleges Working Party on Poverty; (first appointed 1/4/01; time commitment eight days per month; remuneration £20,079 p.a.).

Members

Mr Norman Bancroft
Retired Management Consultant, Chief Executive and Company Director. Former member of Electricity, Gas and Transport committees and of various bodies concerned with law & order; former writer and broadcaster on consumer affairs; (Devon) (first appointed 30/4/94).

Mr George Buckland
Civil Engineer, semi-retired after 35 years working on a range of projects in the UK and overseas; specialist in public health engineering now working part-time as a self- employed consultant. Former Regional Manager for Mouchel Consulting Ltd and managed their multi-discipline Plymouth office for some 14 years; (Plymouth) (first appointed 1/5/02).

Mrs Rosamund Cox
Retired teacher. Executive member of Carrick District Council, and Parish Councillor; former Chairman of Carrick District Council; former Mayor of Truro City Council; member of Truro and St Austell Liberal Democrats; former Chairman of Cornwall Liberal Democrats; West Cornwall regional committee member of Devon and Cornwall Housing Association; (Cornwall) (first appointed 1/5/00).

Peter Flatters
Postmaster. Former Assistant Director, Long Ashton Research Station; Research Planner, ICI Agrochemicals; Experimental Officer, ICI Plant Protection; Nailsea Parish Councillor, 1995-99; former member of South West Electricity Consumers' Committee 1997-2000; (Devon) (first appointed 1/5/02).

Mr Michael Hendy
Director of family firm for over 30 years; writer and broadcaster on surfing and beach safety; (Cornwall) (first appointed 1/5/97).

Michael Jensen
Retired international banking senior manager; Risk Manager; former Executive Director, UBS London; Director, Merrill Lynch
International; Assistant Director, SG Warburgs; formerly worked at Morgan Stanley; (Cornwall) (first appointed 1/5/02).

Mr Barry Ley
Retired from Devonport Dockyard; former member Meat and Livestock Commission - SW Regional Liaison Committee; former member Plymouth and District Advisory Committee for Post Office and
Telecommunications; founder member in 1963, and current treasurer of the Plymouth and District Consumer Group; (Devon) (first appointed 1/5/00).

Mrs Emma Newton-Bates
Safety Management worker with Serco Assurance; trainee teacher, teaching basic computer skills in voluntary sector; (Devon) (first appointed 24/1/01).

Francesca Peroni
Lecturer in Social Policy, University of Exeter (Retired). Former Teaching Quality Assessor (Higher Education); conducted a variety of research projects on health and housing related topics; (Devon) (first appointed 1/5/02).

Bruce Reveley
Retired Civil Servant, Department of Social Security. Former Section Head, Income Support; Policy - wider benefit issues including poverty and social exclusion; (Devon) (first appointed 1/5/02).

Mrs Margaret Roberts
Regional organiser of UNIFI (finance union). Former special needs advisor for SWEB; former chair of National Electricity Equal Opportunities Committee; (Cornwall) (first appointed 1/5/99).

Mrs Sylvia Russell
Self-employed hotelier and restaurateur. South and West region Local Councillor since 1979; former Chair of Exeter and District Community NHS Trust; (Devon) (first appointed 1/5/98).

Peter Wood
Hotelier. Former solicitor; (Cornwall) (first appointed 1/5/02).

Mr Brian Smeeton
Director of own company, supplying chemicals and service to industrial water treatment sector; M.W.M.Soc., M.Inst.S.M.M., A.Inst.Mgt; member of the Water Management Society; (Devon) (first appointed: 24/1/01).

Mrs Caroline White
Project Development Co-ordinator, Breadline Centre, Penzance. Former Town Mayor of Penzance 1997- 99; Town and District Councillor; (Cornwall) (first appointed 1/5/01).

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