I have lived in the Braintree District all my life and was delighted to be elected District Councillor to represent the Bumpstead Ward in October 2016 and again in May 2019. This ward comprises the rural villages Steeple Bumpstead, Helions Bumpstead, Sturmer, Birdbrook and Baythorne End. My role is to represent the Ward and the interests of individual constituents, to contribute to the good governance of the area and actively encourage community participation and citizen involvement in decision making. Also to represent Braintree District Council and contribute to the achievement of the priorities of the Council and the District as a whole. This requires personal judgement to balance the needs of local communities against the broader strategic needs of the District.
Between 2016 and 2019, I served on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, incorporating the Task and Finish Group Scrutiny Review into ‘Social Isolation and Loneliness’, a topic I suggested in recognition of this being prevalent in rural communities. Also the Task and Finish Group Scrutiny Review into the Role of the Highway Authority. In 2018 I served on the Community Governance Review Committee.
I was appointed the Council’s Representative of the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Stour Valley Joint Advisory Committee in December 2016; an outside body committed to conserving and enhancing the special qualities of the Stour Valley and a post I find extremely rewarding.
In May 2019 I was appointed to the Appeals Committee and Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny ‘Community Development Group’.
I am Chairman of Sturmer Parish Council and have been a member for over fifteen years. I consider it a great privilege to serve the community in which I reside and since Sturmer borders Suffolk, I also regularly attend the Haverhill Forum meetings to maintain cross-border communication between local authorities.
I have been an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development since 2013. I am a member of a local Action Medical Research (for children) Fundraising Committee; a charity which provides funding for medical research to beat the diseases that devastate the lives of so many of our children. I am also a Director of a private health company where I operate a Bone Density Scanner which tests for Osteoporosis, hence, I have a particular interest in health and wellbeing and have a good understanding of the challenges that businesses face.
Electoral Ward - Bumpstead Ward
Updated: 24th July 2019
Councillors’ Community Grant
This grant scheme operates from 1st September 2016 and provides all 49 Ward Councillors with funds to support organisations and groups to develop and deliver community projects and initiatives that benefit local residents.
The Councillor Community Grants Scheme is monitored by the Grants Panel and Councillors are obliged to consider the Member Code of Conduct when making grant decisions. To aid transparency the details of each grant are published below.
Grants made by Councillor Mrs Diana Garrod:
Organisation: Helions Bumpstead Parish Council Project: Covered bike shelter Overall cost of project: £2175.00 Grant awarded: £750.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 22nd February 2017
Organisation: Birdbrook Parish Council Project: Care for the Community (to install two defibrillators into the newly refurbished BT Telephone Boxes in Birdbrook Village and Baythorne End) Overall cost of project: £995 to £3495.00 Grant awarded: £750.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 2nd March 2017
Organisation:Sturmer and District Women's Institute Project: Chicken Foot Nights Overall cost of project: £150.00 Grant awarded: £150.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 12th June 2017
Organisation: Steeple Bumpstead Parish Council Project: Replacement Swing Bars within Children's playground Overall cost of project: £1930.00 Grant awarded: £1200.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 29th June 2017
Organisation: Sturmer Parish Council Project: Clear Community Area of Debris/Growth Overall cost of project: £189.00 Grant awarded: £150.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 7th November 2017
Organisation: Steeple Bumpstead Congregational Church Project: New Boiler Overall cost of project: £2180 Grant awarded: £375 Joint Grant: No Date: 21st May 2018
Organisation: Helions Bumpstead Parish Council Project: Common Ground GTR Project Overall cost of project: £300 Grant awarded: £300 Joint Grant: No Date: 28th September 2018
Organisation: Steeple Bumpstead Bowls Club Project: Indoors Bowls Storage Overall cost of project: £325 (requesting £288.) Grant awarded: £288 Joint Grant: No Date: 9th November 2018
Organisation: Birdbrook Parish Council Project: Plinth Construction Overall cost of project: £4000 (requesting £300.) Grant awarded: £300 Joint Grant: No Date: 9th November 2018
Organisation: The Sew Crafty Group, Steeple Bumpstead Project: Group Sewing Machine Overall cost of project: £220.00 Grant awarded: £220.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 12th December 2019 Financial Year: 2019/20
Organisation: 1st Steeple Bumptead Scout Group Project: Lightweight Tents Overall cost of project: Approx. £1,200 Grant awarded: £320.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 12th December 2019 Financial Year: 2019/20
Organisation: Birdbrook Parish Council Project: Refurbishment of play area - provide safe secure seating Overall cost of project: £792.50 plus VAT Grant awarded: £500.00 Joint Grant: No Date: 4th March 2021 Financial Year: 2020/21
Organisation: Helions Bumpstead Sports Pavilion Club Project: Replacement of a specialised pavilion clock Overall cost of project: £1,176.00 Grant awarded: £500 Joint Grant: No Date: 9th August 2021 Financial Year: 2021/22
Organisation: Birdbrook Ladies Group Project: Microwave and kettle for the kitchen Overall cost of project: £100 Grant awarded: £100 Joint Grant: No Date: 27th August 2021 Financial Year: 2021/22
Organisation: Helions Bumpstead Community Benefit Society Ltd Project: Encouragement of exercise and wellbeing - installation of bike racks Overall cost of project: £383 Grant awarded: £383 Joint Grant: No Date: 20th September 2021 Financial Year: 2021/22
Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
Councillor: Company Director and Parish Councillor (Sturmer Parish Council).
Spouse: Company Director.
Councillor: Election expenses were paid for by the Braintree Constituency Conservative Association.
Spouse: None.
Councillor/Spouse: None.
Councillor/Spouse: Pope Mill Farm, Coupals Road, Sturmer, Nr. Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 7UW including land/paddocks approx. 9.5 acres.
CHC LTD, 2 Rose Cottages, Withersfield Road, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 9LB.
None.
Member of Sturmer Parish Council, Member of the Conservative Party, Member of Action Medical Research (for Children) Fund Raising Committee, Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Member of the AA.
As Braintree District Council's representative to Dedham Vale & Stour Valley Advisory Committee received from Debham Vale AONB, attendance at the Landscape For Life Conference and Dinner on 10th July 2019 with a total value of £200.
Updated: 13th December 2020.