GBC Set to Approve a Public Consultation on Forming a Town Council

Published on: 20 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 20 Jul, 2025

By Emily Dalton

Guildford could soon have its own town council with the aim of bringing more local decision-making to its urban centre.

The driving force behind this proposal is fears of a “democratic deficit”- with pending local government reorganisation looming, Guildford Borough Council will be dissolved leaving some nervousness on how residents will be properly represented.

The Executive of GBC is looking at options for a formal “Community Governance Review” to consider whether a parish council should be created to serve nearly half its residents in the currently unparished town centre. Members agreed to recommend the idea to the full council at an Executive meeting on July 17.

See below an interview with council Leader Julia McShane (Lib Dem, Westborough) on the possible creation of a town council for Guildford. It was conducted hours before the Executive meeting on July 17.

If approved, it would bring Guildford in line with the surrounding villages (like Normandy or Ash) which already have their own parish councils. Unlike other parished areas like Shalford and Send, Guildford town has to rely solely on borough councillors to raise local issues.

Cllr Catherine Houston

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Catherine Houston said: “Throughout this whole process of Local Government Reorganisation what has been missing has been the voice of the public, the imposition of this by the government without any consultation from people.

“We had the cancellation of the Surrey County Council election, so we have a democratic deficit currently going on within our county.

“This CGR allows people to decide whether they want to be represented at that very local level – that possibly could be lost, we don’t know – for an area of the borough which is not represented.”

Council reports state CGR aims to look at whether a town council would improve “community engagement, local democracy and service delivery”. The new body could also oversee things like town events, public toilets, benches, community grants and local planning consultations.

If agreed, the new Guildford Town Council would be funded through a local council tax precept – a small extra charge already applied in parish areas. Normandy Parish Council required an extra £113.71, on top of ordinary council tax, for a Band D property for 2025/26. But other parishes vary.

Around £300k could be spent in the first year setting up the new parish council which will be funded by Guildford council.

Boundaries, the number of councillors and a budget would likely be determined through consultation. The proposed town council would likely include the existing town wards such as Castle, St Nicolas, Onslow, and Westborough but exclude those beyond, such as Worplesdon and Clandon, which already have parish councils.

Technically, a CGR can only create parish councils and then, once established, can then agree to style itself as a town council.

The earliest a town council would be created for the centre would be May 2027, with the elections to choose local representatives and possibly a mayor.

Despite the proposed consultations, Guildford Borough Council, as it currently stands, will have the final say on whether to establish the new body.

Responses to GBC Set to Approve a Public Consultation on Forming a Town Council

Jeremy Holt Reply

July 20, 2025 at 10:51 am

What a terrible idea.

This would create another politicised yet local body with little money and no power.

This reads like a plan to keep redundant borough councillors occupied and collecting allowances all at the residents’ expense.

Add to this the waste of time and money running a public “consultation” over which the soon to be redundant councillors have the final say.
Sara Tokunaga Reply

July 20, 2025 at 11:42 am

Financially this doesn’t seem to make any sense. The outlying parish councils are not burdened with the large student population living in Guildford central, none of whom pay Council Tax and therefore presumably would not pay Parish Council Tax either.

Any public consultation should include a breakdown of expected income and the outgoings from it.

I think this is a “feel good” exercise by the councillors and a waste of time and money as, by giving themselves the final say, the outcome will have already have been decided.
Peter Hyde Reply

July 20, 2025 at 11:48 am

It is not a terrible idea. Town and parish councils may have limited powers but at the very least they can run local amenities and represent the views of residents to higher authorities.
- Jeremy Holt Reply
  
  July 22, 2025 at 7:31 pm
  
  Could Peter Hyde expand on why the views of residents need representing to higher authorities?
  
  Surely it is the duty of the councillors in the higher authority to represent the residents’ views directly.
  
  Judging by the complete disdain Surrey County Council shows for the borough and district councils why should residents expect the new unitary authority to take any notice of a town council.
  
  As I wrote earlier: no money and no power, just talk.
John Redpath Reply

July 20, 2025 at 1:07 pm

Surely a better solution would be to have a town council funded by the assets of the town? Under a unitary authority it’s quite likely that the GBC-owned car parks will be sold off to pay Woking’s debt, as will many of its other assets, including commercial property currently bringing in c £8 million per annum.

There would be sufficient income from the car parks alone to look after the town centre and non parished areas covered by a new “Town Centre Council”. Add to that income from other assets that such a council would have and it quite likely residents and commerce could benefit through reduction in parking charges for the first time. I hear a cheer from Experience Guildford.

When GBC has gone, who will our open spaces, high street, museum and other heritage buildings be looked after and by whom? Will a Unitary Authority (which might inherit around £4 billion in debt) want to trouble itself with costs of looking after our heritage assets? Or will they be sold off or slowly fall into disrepair?

Will this see the end of Shaping Guildford’s Future, otherwise known as the “Town Centre Master Plan”? What residents stand to lose under a Unitary Authority is huge and a new town centre council needs to be responsible for more than just bins and noticeboards.

To preserve and improve what we have in the immediate Guildford Area, a well-funded local administration is essential. GBC needs to work quickly to make sure its assets are not grabbed away by the pending authoritarian control being foisted on us by Westminster.

Finally, it’s my opinion, that any town council must be apolitical and work for its residents not for the political ambitions of the national parties.

John Redpath is a former R4GV borough councillor
Peter Mills Reply

July 20, 2025 at 2:13 pm

I agree 100 per cent with Jeremy Holt’s comment. At a time when the government is trying to remove layers of costly bureaucracy, councillors are trying to find a workaround to keep them, with their egos, in a role.
RWL Davies Reply

July 20, 2025 at 4:26 pm

Mr Holt is correct.

However, there is merit in a town the size and importance of Guildford, and with its heritage, having a “beefed-up” form of “parish” council.

As ever the devil will be in the detail.
Tony Harrison Reply

July 21, 2025 at 4:19 pm

Re-arranging the deckchairs on the Titanic at the taxpayer’s expense. Yet another great idea.
Peter Hyde Reply

July 22, 2025 at 6:23 am

It saddens me that there is so much cynicism about councillors. If critics think they can do better they should put themselves forward for what can be a rewarding role even if at times a thankless task.
Julie Simmons Reply

July 22, 2025 at 12:42 pm

A town council is an interesting and valid idea, but Guildford as a town centre serves all the local villages who contribute to the council tax. The majority of residents services are in Guildford and not solely for town residents benefit.

Living in a local Guildford village it often feels as if we are forgotten. Surely any decisions made should be in agreement with the borough villages.