Dragon Interview: Cllr Jan Harwood, Lead Councillor for Planning

Published on: 17 Jul, 2019
Updated on: 18 Jul, 2019

Cllr Jan Harwood

Newly elected Jan Harwood, a ward councillor for Merrow, has been given the major responsibility of Planning and housing delivery in the new Liberal Democrat administration at Guildford Borough Council and is clearly one of the new council leader’s Caroline Reeves’ inner team.

One could say that as a novice he has been thrown in the deep end but he seems to have been willing to have jumped in and take on the undoubtedly tough challenges his portfolio represents.

In the interview, conducted by Martin Giles and filmed by Mark Insoll, he is asked about his views on Guildford’s Local Plan and national planning policy. He is also challenged on his party’s election manifesto on planning, including his party’s promise to deliver 3,000 new council houses.

Responses to Dragon Interview: Cllr Jan Harwood, Lead Councillor for Planning

David Roberts Reply

July 18, 2019 at 12:57 pm

A very good interview by Martin Giles. Cllr Harwood is clearly much brighter than his predecessors and appears sincere in his replies, though very much feeling his way.

Some of his answers will be a little slippery for most residents’ taste – measured, but much too lawyerly. He appears unenthusiastic about seriously revising the Tory Local Plan, and bizarrely unsure about the manifest defects of the public consultations on it.

A pity he was not challenged on his views about the judicial reviews and working with coalition partners (GGG and R4GV).
Paul Bishop Reply

July 23, 2019 at 8:27 am

Good interview. I like that Cllr Harwood is not letting himself get dragged into the historically debates/criticism around the Local Plan and seems to be more focused on making what we have work in the best way for the borough. Very refreshing to see and I hope he can continue this focus.