Cllr Darren Cowell
Darren has been involved in community issues for many years. He served as a councillor for four years between 2011 and 2015 before being re-elected in 2019 and again in 2023.
He is served as Deputy Leader of Torbay Council and Cabinet Member for Finance between 2019 and 2023 and gained significant experience of the finances of the council and innovative ways to deliver services in different ways.
Darren says, "The four years that I was Deputy Leader were extremely challenging, not least having to respond as a local council to the Covid pandemic. I was delighted at the way communities, volunteers, local organisations and the council pulled together in the way they did - partnerships that remain strong today."
Darren has a passion to see investment in sport in Torbay and was pleased to have secured over £100,000 that was made available to support clubs and individuals in those four years.
He is Chair of the Shiphay and Higher Chelston Community Partnership and was vice-chair of Torquay Neighbourhood Plan before being appointed to Torbay Planning Committee. He also sits on Sports Torbay.
He recently stepped down as Chair of Torbay Community Partnerships Company
He is a company director for a manufacturing company in Newton Abbot.
Darren lives with his wife Jackie in Grosvenor Close along with their Chocolate Labrador, Holly, and Charlie and Smiffy, two Chihuahua Pug cross as well as Mitzi the cat!
When time allows he watches Torquay United at Plainmoor and in the Summer months likes to watch cricket at Torquay Recreation Ground.