The Parish Council has a maximum of nine members. The current parish councillors and their contact details are shown below:
Debbie Potter (Chairman)
Debbie has been with the Parish Council from its inception in 2002. As well as being Chairman, Debbie serves on the Finance and Personnel committees as Chairman. She is a founder member of Shadwell in Bloom and serves on the committee of that organisation as secretary and treasurer. Debbie also serves on the committee of Shadwell Library, Arts Centre and Café, and represents Shadwell at a numerous forums run by the City Council.
In her spare time she enjoys walking, cycling, badminton, gardening, eating and drinking and going on holiday.
Contact Debbie at debbie.potter@shadwell-parish-council.org or on 0113 2657575
Norman Taylor
Norman has been a member of the council since its inception in 2002. He is also Chairman of Shadwell in Bloom and a trustee of the Recreation Centre. Norman serves on the Finance Committee and is our lead councillor on village maintenance.
Contact Norman at norman.taylor@shadwell-parish-council.org or on 0113 2737393
David Ford
David joined the Parish Council in May 2018. He was born and brought up on a farm on the outskirts of the village and has been involved in village life ever since. He has a degree in hospitality management and has worked in the catering industry for over thirty years. He currently manages a catering contract in the city centre. David currently serves on the Personnel and Finance committees.
Contact David at david.ford@shadwell-parish-council.org or on 07760 508890
Denise Trickett
Denise is vice-chair of the Parish Council and serves on the Finance, Planning and Personnel committees. Denise is also a leading light in the Shadwell History Society and Shadwell Library, Arts Centre and Café. Denise is now retired after an extensive career in education in Leeds.
Contact Denise at denise.trickett@shadwell-parish-council.org or on 0113 2737250
Mandy Sherman
Mandy was co-opted onto the Parish Council in July 2025. Many has lived in North Leeds since she was six years old and attended Allerton Grange School and then Park Lane College. She spent a year living in New York. “I’ve worked in finance all my life and held roles such as IT Analyst and Project Manager. My job titles have been too many to list!”
“I moved to Shadwell in 2024 with my husband as we love the village environment. We enjoy walking, eating, drinking, travelling and all the usual stuff. I wanted to join the Parish Council so I could play my part in maintaining and improving the village feel.” Mandy currently serves on the Planning Committee.
Contact Mandy at mandy.sherman@shadwell-parish-council.org or on 07877 326477
Nirmal Tulwa
Nirmal serves on our Planning Committee and on our Personnel Committee. Nirmal is a trustee of the Recreation Centre and is leading efforts to redevelop the centre for the benefit of the village. Nirmal works as a consultant in trauma and orthopaedics in the NHS. He has been involved for several years in Shadwell Junior football club and is keen to support the younger age group. Nirmal currently serves on our Planning Committee
Contact Nirmal at nirmal.tulwa@shadwell-parish-council.org or by phone on 07894 908012
Daljit Sehmi
Daljit,is a teacher and has lived in Shadwell with her husband for over 20 years. They have two daughters, Nikita and Amreeta. In her spare time Daljit loves going to the gym and going for long walks around the village and she recently challenged herself to climb the Yorkshire Three Peaks! Daljit currently serves on our Finance committee.
Contact Daljit at daljit.sehmi@shadwell-parish-council.org or by phone on 07788 855168.
Peter Gruen
Peter was co-opted onto the Parish Council in August 2023 and serves as chairman of the Planning Committee.
Peter and Caroline have lived in Shadwell these past 40(!) years; first in the Ash Hills and now at the Slaid Hill end. We’ve been very happy here and so it is a great privilege to serve on the PC.
Peter has previously been a City Councillor for 35 years and has watched on how effective and responsive the Shadwell Councillors have worked for our community.
Whenever possible Peter and Caroline take their exercise walking around the perimeter of the village or in the gym. Travelling to new and different parts of the world is also a hobby.
Contact Peter at peter.gruen@shadwell-parish-council.org or by phone on 07787 525520.
John Fuszard
John was co-opted onto the Parish Council in January 2026 and has joined the Planning Committee. John has lived with his wife Lynda in Shadwell for twenty five years. He is retired and was a partner in an international firm of accountants. He is Chair of MAECare, a Moortown based charity which supports independent living in the older age group. He is also a volunteer at Shadwell Independent Library. Together with his wife, he fosters Guide Dogs for the Blind whilst they are in training
Contact John at john.fuszard@shadwell-parish-council.org or by phone on 07842 655961
Other People
Mike Woods (Clerk)
Mike took over as Clerk to the Parish Council in March 2017 and works 11 hour a week. Mike previously worked for Leeds City Council and has many years’ experience in local government. He is a qualified accountant.
Contact Mike at clerk@shadwell-parish-council.org
Matthew Robinson (Harewood Ward Member)
Matthew was elected to represent the Harewood ward in May 2012. He sits of the Outer North East Area Committee, the Leeds Schools Sports Association, Aberford Almshouse Trust and Leeds Sports Federation. In addition Matthew is also a Governor on the Shadwell and Bramham Federation of Primary Schools. In addition to his work as a Councillor, Matthew also works for an education charity which seeks to address educational inequality by developing the next generation of leaders in challenging schools in the most disadvantaged areas of the country. Matthew has an MA from Leeds University and BA for the University of York and enjoys football, golf, reading and walking his dog Max.
Contact Matthew at matthew.robinson@leeds.gov.uk
Sir Alec Shelbrooke (MP)
Elected Conservative Member of Parliament for the Elmet & Rothwell constituency in May 2010. The constituency comprises a number of villages including Shadwell. Prior to his election to Parliament, Alec represented Shadwell as a Leeds City Councillor in the Harewood ward. In Government, Alec has served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Transport and Northern Ireland ministers and as Minister of State for Defence Procurement. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 2019. Alec holds regular surgeries by appointment at various locations around the constituency. Appointments can be made by contacting his office using the details below.
Phone: 01937 838 081
Email: alec.shelbrooke.mp@parliament.uk
Website: www.alecshelbrooke.co.uk
Address: Sir Alec Shelbrooke MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA