Maria was elected in 2015 to represent Ravenmeols Ward on the Parish Council. Maria is the Chairman of the Parish Council for 2023/24 and has served twice before in 2018 and 2019 and has served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Finance Group and the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group. Her working background is in Teaching and Law. She was born in Formby and moved away to Africa when she was very young but returned to Formby with her own family some 30 years ago. She has always been part of the community and for 10 years ran the Gild Hall Toddler Group on a voluntary basis. Her passion is Formby and ensuring that the community spirit lives on and is a safe and friendly environment for all who live and work here. She advocates democracy and open transparency. Her main concerns are the Neighbourhood Plan and ensuring that this represents what the community want rather than what the Local Council want. In 2014 she was elected as a Borough Councillor and served 4 years representing Ravenmeols Ward residents at Sefton Council.
Maria Bennett
Declaration of Interests
As a Member of Formby Parish Council, I hereby give notice of the following disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and gifts/hospitality.
Pecuniary Interests
Please state you and your partner’s employment, office, trade, profession or vocation
Description of employment activity:
Self: Director of Steel Fabrication Company
Partner: Director of Building Firm
Do you or your partner have land or property in Sefton?
Address / Description of Land:
Address in Formby
Do you or your partner have any corporate of business tenancies or land in Sefton where the Council is the Landlord?
Address / Description of Land:
No
Do you or your partner have any licences to occupy land in Sefton for a month or longer?
Address / Description of Land:
No
Have you or your partner received payments in respect of your Council duties or election expenses?
Name of person or body who made the payments:
No
Do you or your partner have any beneficial interests in Securities?
Name of Body:
No
Do you or your partner have any contracts with the Sefton Council?
Name of the company/description of the Contract:
No
Personal Interests
Do you hold membership of a Public Authority to which you were nominated by your Local Authority?
Name of Public Authority and Position:
No
Do you hold membership of any organisation exercising functions of a public nature? (e.g. School Governor, etc.)
Name of Organisation and Position:
No
Do you hold membership of any organisation/body influencing public opinion or policy?
Name of Organisation/Body and Position:
Formby Residents Action Group
Do you hold membership of any organisation/company directed to charitable purposes?
Name of Organisation/Body and Position:
Formby Festival CIC, Director
Do you have any easement, servitude, interest, or right in or over land, which does not carry with it a right for you (alone or jointly with another) to occupy the land or to receive income? (e.g. a right of way over land)
Address/Description of Land:
No
Gifts/Hospitality
Have you received a gift or hospitality from any person or body with an estimated value of at least £25.00?
Gift or hospitality details and amount, name of person/organisation and date received:
No