Dragon Interview: Directors Named in HRA Report Were “Phenomenal” Says R4GV Leader

Published on: 25 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 25 Jan, 2025

By Martin Giles

In a revealing interview, the leader of the Residents for Guildford & Villages (R4GV) at Guildford Borough Council gives his recollections of the period when the problems associated with the spending of millions of pounds from the Housing Revenue Account were first revealed and his opinion of the Heminsley investigation report published on Wednesday (January 22).

He talks of the pressure that senior council officers, whom he describes as “first-rate” and “phenomenal”, were under when warnings were missed about the overspending and possible fraud and the desire in some quarters to see “heads roll”.

He also reflects on his own performance at the time and admits he “should have done better” but says it is difficult for councillors if they are not given the right information adding that, in his experience, it was unusual for the leader and deputy leader not to be told of instances of whistleblowing.

Perhaps most worryingly, he is not confident that those suspended and sacked at various levels were treated fairly by GBC and that its claims that senior directors agreed to “step back” were disingenuous. He understands that they, Annie Righton and Ian Doyle were abruptly given the choice: agree to voluntary suspension or face a full disciplinary process. And he talks about the impact this has had on them.

“Really upsetting” for Cllr Bigmore was the 48-hour period councillors were given to read a lengthy, incredibly consequential and complicated report “120 sides of quite dense legalese” before Wednesday’s debate. It was disrespectful to councillors, he says.

He also gives his view on whether the council leader should now consider her position.