Council Leader Says Dragon Story Was “Wildly Inaccurate”

Published on: 21 Jan, 2018
Updated on: 23 Jan, 2018

Cllr Paul Spooner

Council Leader Paul Spooner (Con, Ash South and Tongham) has reacted The Guildford Dragon NEWS story: Council Leader’s Facilities Denial Decree U-turned Within 36 Hours, claiming it was “wildly inaccurate”.

In the comment, received this morning (January 21, 2018), Cllr Spooner wrote: “Unfortunately, this article is wildly inaccurate. I reacted toward councillors expressing concern about the HTAG Annual Planning Report unfairly criticising ward members given the time they commit to assisting Mr Bromham and HTAG and representing HTAG Planning position within the council.”

Cllr Spooner has been asked by The Dragon to substantiate his claim.

The article was based on email communication between involved parties, seen by The Dragon, and included comments from two of the ward councillors, the chairman of HTAG and Holy Trinity resident Hon Alderman Gordon Bridger. The email trail made it clear that the third ward councillor, Geoff Davis, was away. An invitation to comment was also sent to the Communications Team at GBC through whom communication with the council Executive has to pass.

Spooner had written: “I hereby give 3 months notice for HT to find another venue. Partnership goes two ways.”

Subsequent to the story, further emails have emerged. Vicky Rimmer wrote the following to Cllr Spooner on January 18 saying she had found the council leader’s email to be, “aggressive, threatening and intimidating”.

Cllr Spooner responded with an apology but also said that the position would be confirmed after a further meeting with his ward councillors. The email seemed to contradict their statements that the matter had been the result of a misunderstanding which had been cleared up.

It is understood that a significant number of Tory councillors at Millmead are unhappy with their leader’s reaction to HTAG which comes in the wake of other controversial decisions and discontent in his own patch of Ash where local residents, at a public meeting, displayed increasing concern about the amount of development planned for their area.

Spooner also said in his reader’s comment: “I am grateful to the HTAG chairman countering that report and confirming that ward members are recognised for their efforts to work with HTAG.

“For the record, I previously intervened at GBC during the DM [developments management] officer review to support HTAG in keeping their unique planning review position at Millmead at the request of ward councillors and my reaction was based on the above.”

Responses to Council Leader Says Dragon Story Was “Wildly Inaccurate”

Jim Allen Reply

January 22, 2018 at 12:21 pm

I fear that the current presidential style of response is becoming the norm with a leader of our council.

The style, which can be unacceptable and abrasive, is more akin to the world of construction than that of discussion of ‘village’ politics.
Jules Cranwell Reply

January 22, 2018 at 4:13 pm

“Aggressive, threatening and intimidating” is precisely what we have come to expect from this council leader. He has also been rude and patronizing to those who dare to question executive direction.

This has been his modus operandi since taking the leadership as evidenced in his treatment of the public and fellow councillors at council meetings, most especially those representing GGG.

Then there was the Stalinist show trial of Cllr Reeve for having the temerity to question the secret, undisclosed, model for calculating the housing need number.

So, not surprised at this episode at all.

I agree with Gordon Bridger, a new code of conduct is needed, and urgently.
Alan Robertson Reply

January 23, 2018 at 12:37 pm

A new code of conduct is needed, but so is a wholesale clean out of the present borough council.

Independent local councillors with total commitment to the best interests of those whom they represent are the only solution to the awful situation we have now with the present leadership and those who support the leader’s “presidential” style.
Jeff Hills Reply

January 26, 2018 at 10:36 am

I wonder if we could legally have a show of no confidence in our present council Executive. At the moment they seem very quick at spending money they do not have which we all will have to underwrite.

Thousands on looking into a Boris bike scheme and millions building housing for the university.

All these grandiose schemes, when shops in the town are closing, the streets are a disgrace the bus station is a disgrace and the centre of the town is demolition site.

I say they are a waste of time and not at all democratic, why bother in having an elected body of councillors if they are walked all over by the Executive Committee.

Do we have to sit back and take it, or can we do something about it?
Valerie Thompson Reply

January 26, 2018 at 5:19 pm

Only the Guildford Greenbelt Group (GGG) have the right attitude to development, honesty, democracy and careful accounting.

They are not against house building, as long as it is in the right place and provides sufficient low-cost housing for local workers. They wish to protect the best of what is in the borough, good buildings and the green belt.

They are not Independent but have formed a conscientious political party.

There are constant problems in the council with the Tories, who may not personally agree with the Executive decisions, but who seem to be swept along by unnecessary and damaging loyalty to their party, or their leader.

Turning down the Solum plans did them no good. It’s time to move them on. A new broom?