GBC Leader Accuses Tories of Spreading Misinformation Over Council Collaboration

Published on: 28 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 28 Jan, 2025

By Martin Giles

The leader of Guildford Borough Council, Julia McShane, has accused Conservatives in Guildford and Waverley of spreading misinformation about the collaboration between the two borough councils.

The claim comes in response to a joint press release issued by the Conservative groups at both councils on Sunday following council debates on the Heminsley investigation report into the HRA overspend and suspected fraud at GBC.

See also: Waverley Residents Have Been ‘Needlessly Drawn In’ to GBC’s HRA Problems

Former joint senior directors at the two councils told investigators that the collaboration had been a contributory factor.

See also: HRA Report Shows Overspend and Possible Fraud Occurred Despite Many Warnings

Cllr Julia McShane

Cllr Julia McShane, speaking on behalf of the Lib Dem group at Guildford, told The Dragon: “The Conservatives have always opposed the collaboration between Guildford and Waverley, and have consistently spread misinformation about it, including claims that it was costing taxpayers millions of pounds.

See: Reported Council Collaboration Savings Contested By Opposition Councillors

“Now that those claims have been demolished by an independent report the Conservatives are shamelessly pivoting to making different misleading claims.

“But the truth is that this collaboration has saved both councils large amounts of money, over £600,000 so far (after all costs have been accounted for), without any decline in the quality of services. This is money which has been invested into services, meaning we have not had to make some of the cuts that other councils have been forced to make.”

See also: Dragon Interview: Council Leader on the Latest HRA Report

Labour hoping for change in political direction after creation of unitary authorities

But the leader of the Labour group at GBC, James Walsh, with reservations, joined the Tories in challenging the advantages of the partnership between the two councils. He said: “The Guildford Labour Group has always questioned the value and viability of the ‘collaboration’ between the two councils, not least because many staff are stretched to breaking point by being asked to do more with fewer resources. This has become very apparent in the testimony included in the latest report.

Cllr James Walsh

“Guildford and Waverley are very different authorities, cover different populations and require different approaches to different challenges; we fully understand concerns felt by Waverley residents following the appalling failures at Guildford in recent years and the work both councils require simply cannot be done by officers splitting their time between the two.

“That said, it’s a bit rich for the Conservatives to start presenting themselves as the voice of common sense after 14 years of political and economic chaos on the national stage – chaos that has dripped through to us in Guildford.

“The current mess began under their watch with the decimation of funding to councils; half-baked measures to allow councils to raise money without having the necessary experience or skillsets; and bodged local schemes like the North Street wasteland, the millions wasted on Walnut Tree Bridge and the huge problems caused by the ill-thought-through ‘Future Guildford’ programme.

“The Conservatives have had their time – and fell far short. The Liberal Democrats are now in charge, but we have serious concerns about their ability to turn the council’s many housing problems around quickly enough.

“Something new is needed; a clean sweep and a new start for our part of Surrey. That is why we will be campaigning for more Labour councillors and the first Labour-controlled unitary authority in the county during the next few years.”

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

Residents for Guildford & Villages and the Greenbelt Group were also invited to comment.

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