Dragon Interview: Three New, Young Borough Councillors Give Their Points of View

Published on: 14 May, 2019
Updated on: 15 May, 2019

Cllrs Maddy Redpath, James Steel and George Potter

Local councils are often made up of older people who have more time to dedicate to political affairs but who can represent the younger views of our communities?

Among the 26 newly elected councillors at Guildford Borough Council, that’s more than half the councillors, are three 20-somethings who were motivated to get involved: Maddy Redpath (R4GV, Holy Trinity), James Steel (Lib Dem, Westborough) and George Potter (Lib Dem, Burpham).

Martin Giles caught up with them after the Civic Service for the new borough council, held at Holy Trinity on Sunday (May 12).

The Guildford Dragon is very grateful to Mark Insoll who recorded and edited the video.

Responses to Dragon Interview: Three New, Young Borough Councillors Give Their Points of View

B Jones Reply

May 14, 2019 at 3:35 pm

Delighted to see these three impressive new councillors speaking on critical issues such as climate change, air pollution and affordable accommodation for students and young people.
A Atkinson Reply

May 14, 2019 at 3:44 pm

Interesting Cllr Potter talks about scrutiny needs improving when his leader was the chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and it failed to scrutinise two massive areas; the housing number (too complicated to get her head round) and the Wisley Garden Village bid (felt it didn’t need to be called in).

Had scrutiny been more effective perhaps the scandal of the letter of support from SCC may have come to light within the council.
- George Potter Reply
  
  May 15, 2019 at 10:21 am
  
  I suggest to A Atkinson that perhaps the reason why the Overview and Scrutiny Committee didn’t scrutinise to his satisfaction might have been because it was a 14-member committee consisting of nine Tory and five opposition councillors.
  
  I imagine it’s quite hard to scrutinise a ruling party effectively when the ruling party has an overwhelming majority on the committee meant to scrutinise it!
  
  This, unfortunately, is what happens when you have a first past the post voting system which gives huge majorities on a minority share of the vote, combined with the “proportionality” rules of the council’s constitution.
  
  George Potter is a Lib Dem borough councillor for Burpham.
Colin Cross Reply

May 14, 2019 at 5:07 pm

Thanks to all three of these councillors for a refreshingly open discussion.

It was something of a leap of faith for voters to give them their support in such numbers but I can see why now.

Hopefully, their obvious rapport and willingness to come together in making this video is a good sign of a growing trust and cooperation between the parties and groups overall.

Colin Cross is the R4GV borough councillor for Lovelace (Ripley, Wisley and Ockham).
Ben Darnton Reply

May 14, 2019 at 9:33 pm

Congratulations to all three new young councillors for getting elected last week, it’s the breath of fresh air and energy that has been lacking for a long time locally.

Also refreshing to see them all getting on together rather than the constant, endless bickering of their predecessors.

I am genuinely looking forward to seeing what they can achieve especially with recycling and green issues such as recycling points and introducing charging points.

All the best luck to them in the next four years.