Comment: What Are We To Make of the GBC Executive ‘Reshuffle’?

Published on: 22 Jun, 2025
Updated on: 27 Jun, 2025

Cllr George Potter

By Martin Giles

What is the real reason for the sudden dismissal of leading Lib Dem councillor George Potter at GBC?

See: ‘Politics Is Not Always a Kind Place’ Says Dismissed Lead Councillor

A reshuffle, as it has been called, normally involves more than the removal of a single member. Given that Cllr Potter says he did not resign, it is hard to think of this as anything other than a dismissal.

And this is a matter of legitimate and proper public interest, despite much centralisation of power by the Government, what goes on at our local council still affects our day-to-day lives. Why such decisions are made should interest us. It might affect our judgement of the individuals involved and the way the council is being run.

In her statement, Council Leader Julia McShane said: “Looking to the future as we embark on local government reorganisation and with elections expected in May 2026, I have decided to create a new eight-member executive and to realign the portfolio responsibilities.”

The ‘reshuffled ‘ GBC Executive

But just how does reducing the Executive from nine members to eight and realigning the portfolios help? Surely this will only increase the workload of the remaining members.

Nobody can doubt Cllr Potter’s motivation on Climate Change but it now appears to have been given less importance, sharing a portfolio with Leisure.

As for helping to prepare for the local government reorganisation, that is left unexplained.

Isn’t it more likely that the council leader had simply got tired of having to handle a maverick like Potter. One GBC source described him as “high maintenance” and a former councillor who worked alongside him in coalition said he was not a “team player”.

This seems the far more likely reason. Potter himself admitted in his statement: “I always knew that it carried the risk of paying the price for sticking your neck out”. He does not explain what the “it” is but presumably he is referring to his outspokenness.

It is a leader’s prerogative to choose her team and those who don’t toe the line might need to be removed. It is also understandable that she does not wish to make any criticisms of George Potter public, even though it might leave us guessing and for commentators to try and explain.

But what is sad in this case is that Potter, for all his annoying faults, is one of the most dedicated, motivated and hard-working councillors at GBC. He truly cares.

Let us hope he can learn lessons from what has happened. We need politicians with his energy but he must understand to tolerate and respect those who do not share his views and that there are times when one needs to bite one’s tongue.

Responses to Comment: What Are We To Make of the GBC Executive ‘Reshuffle’?

Angela Richardson Reply

June 23, 2025 at 7:42 am

It is interesting that George is at this very moment biting his tongue by not issuing any further comment to his statement. Very unlike George.

I do agree with the editor though, George is dedicated. Sadly, politics is about the least meritocratic vocation there is.

The best description of the new Liberal Democrat executive in Guildford by a Dragon reader was “the bland leading the bland”. Very apt for all levels of representation. Paint drying comes to mind. Where are they?

Angela Richardson is the former Conservative MP for Guildford
Mark Stamp Reply

June 25, 2025 at 2:32 pm

Given becoming a more sustainable borough is one of the council’s six strategic priorities, I would expect that climate change and environment is worthy of a full cabinet position.

Additionally, I am surprised that a cabinet member for local government reorganisation hasn’t been appointed. This endeavour is going to take up a significant amount of officer time over the next two years and require cross department and inter-council working to be successful and I’d like to see a councillor responsible.

It may be that this should be the leader but in that case she should pass on the housing portfolio which requires significant attention also.
Paula Smith Reply

June 27, 2025 at 2:21 pm

Cllr Potter held a portfolio called Climate Change and Environmental Services. That appears to have been split into two with the Environmental Services part renamed Environment and Recreation and now held by Cllr Angela Goodwin and the Climate Change part has gone to Cllr Catherine Houston.

Cllr Houston’s original portfolio included Leisure Services. It appears to me she’s lost some big chunks of responsibility so that she can take on the important Climate Change brief.

Why should giving half of George Potter’s portfolio to Cllr Houston so it is now half of her new portfolio somehow prove that Climate Change is seen as less important, as Martin Giles claims? I hope it is not because Mr Giles only believes importance can only be demonstrated by putting a man in charge.
- George Potter Reply
  
  June 30, 2025 at 11:52 am
  
  I would concur with this very astute comment and what I would say is a very accurate assessment of how responsibilities have been divided up, as Environmental Services is a weighty portfolio alone in its own right.
  
  It’s also worth noting that Leisure, while it may not immediately appear to be anything to do with climate change, is in fact the council’s single largest source of emissions, so there is quite a strong synergy there.
  
  (I’m not commenting on the rest of the piece as I don’t think that pure speculation and supposition would be improved by anything I might feel able to add.)
  
  George Potter is the Lib Dem borough councillor for Burpham.