RMB - Who's who

I am the Service Manger covering Development Management, Strategic Sites and Enforcement at Somerset Council. I started active involvement in the region in 2016 by approaching Charlotte Daborn at a CPD event and asking ‘so what is it that the committee do?’ and have been part of the group since. I was RTPI SW Chair in 2020 which included a full year of CPD planning, two events, COVID and the evolution of virtual! This year I hope for a more active year championing wellbeing, working collaboration and growth as if you are standing still in planning you are already behind!   I look forward to meeting members throughout the year and understanding how these themes guide our practice.

I started my career as a Modern Apprentice for the Isle of Wight Council which reinforces my underlining support for the range of apprenticeships available, including in Town and County Planning. Gaining my Masters in Spatial Planning via day release at Oxford Brookes, and becoming RTPI accredited, my family and I moved to the 'mainland', to Somerset in 2015, progressing from a Senior to Principal role at Sedgemoor District Council (SDC). I gained a CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership in 2018 and was promoted to Service Manager at the SDC prior to its merger with the adjoining Districts and County to become the new ‘Somerset Council’ in April 2023. Despite promising never to study again I completed my Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership qualification in 2023 and became a Chartered Manager.

Through my involvement with the RTPI SW Regional Activities I have promoted Planning Aid; organised and delivered CPD events for volunteers and members; worked with Plymouth University determining awareness and outreach opportunities and have been part of the judging panel for the Planning Awards. This year I am really looking forward to judging the Chairs ‘Unsung Hero’ award! 2025 will see collaboration through the events (with one co-joined with the South east), more involvement in the RTPI SW Planning Awards and the Presidents visit. In my spare time I also manage to enjoy exploring with family, my dog Topper and being put in my place by my cats Twinkle and Carbonel.

Harry is LandTech's Chartered Town Planner and Head of Research. Harry works with LandTech's product and data teams to ensure that LandTech's platform, LandInsight, continues to offer our customers unparalleled site finding, site appraisal, and site funding tools. Prior to joining LandTech, Harry was a planner in the private sector; working across development planning, policy, and EIA in Bristol, London, and Sydney, Australia.

Rachel is an experienced Chartered Town Planner having spent over 20 years at Bath & North East Somerset Council before leaving in 2018 to join Mendip District Council where she secured the role of Head of Planning managing a large multi-disciplinary team and oversaw a major review of the development management service.  Rachel now runs her own Planning Consultancy with extensive experience in development management providing services to both private clients and local authorities.  Rachel is also member of the RTPI South West Awards for Planning Excellence Judging Panel. Apart from planning, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as competing in Agility with her 3 dogs.

Since graduating from UWE with an MA in Town and Country Planning Alexis started out in development management. After being made an offer he couldn’t refuse, Alexis transferred into transport planning where he now has over 10 years’ experience as a chartered Town Planner. Alexis has a wide range of experience from leading on the Western Gateway Sub-National Transport Body’s Rail Strategy, preparing major transport bids, writing supplementary planning documents, to delivering small scale projects on the ground. Not content with just the two degrees Alexis completed an MSc in Transport Planning and Engineering at the University of Southampton to broaden his knowledge and expertise in transport planning. Looking for new challenges Alexis moved back into development management and is BCP’s Transport Development Manager.

Alexis was Chair for RTPI South West in 2024 and was elected as the regions representative on the General Assembly for 2025

John Marshall is a Chartered Town Planner with over 40 years of experience working in both public and private sectors .Public sector mostly with the then District Councils ,both policy/economic and development management ,up to chief officer level. Currently self-employed and mostly engaged by the Kingsley Group of companies in Cornwall on a range of projects.

John has a significant and wide range of experience including major urban expansion, commercial and retail development, holiday parks, mixed use schemes but also single bespoke residential.

Many years ago I was more active in the SW Institute affairs but after a dormant period I attended RTPI event on Falmouth Port and re enthused. Hope to bring a can do approach to planning and through the SW RMB may be able to influence Council and Government Agendas on getting things done ,promoting positive planning.

Outside of work an active member of the Better fitness group and living in Truro City in walking distance of good range of cultural ( Award winning Hall for Cornwall) and social venues and never too far away from fantastic coastline.

Simon started his planning career in the southwest at South Somerset District Council in 1992. However, between 1994 and 2021 he worked in the East Midlands, the Republic of Ireland and Cumbria in both the private and public sector, most recently as Planning and Building Control Manager at Allerdale Borough Council.

Family reasons prompted a move back to the southwest in July 2021, Simon taking up a role as Senior Planning Officer within a Development Management team at Dorset Council. The move also enabled a return to day to day planning work rather than managing budgets, procurement, recruitment, complaints and FOI requests.

Simon is passionate about mentoring younger and/or less experienced planners who have an enthusiasm for the profession. He realises there are many pressures facing planners these days but hopes that these do not diminish the excitement and rewards that can be gained from being a part of team that proactively negotiates and adds value to new developments.

Simon lives in Shepton Mallet and spends time outside of work with his family, volunteering at a local animal rescue centre and going to the cinema. He suffers being a supporter of Bristol City.”

Tim has spent the majority of his career working as a Planner for various local authorities in Somerset and was Head of Service covering the area of both Taunton Deane and West Somerset, where he oversaw the delivery of major housing growth leading to Taunton's designation as a Garden Town. In April 2019 Tim left the Councils to set up his own Planning Consultancy. He now works regularly alongside the Planning Advisory Service providing service reviews and training for local planning authorities across the country, with a particular emphasis on improving development management performance and Planning Committee decision-making. Tim Burton Planning  also undertakes private sector work advising architects and SME developers on how best to navigate the complexities of local authority planning processes. Tim is a regular volunteer member of the Design Review Panel and has recently chaired a number of their on-line review sessions. Tim has been a member of the RAC for just over three years and appreciates this opportunity to engage with other planners from across the region promoting the positive role of planning.