Letter: A Town Council Would Have Limited Powers

Published on: 7 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 7 Jan, 2025

From Alistair Smith

chair of The Guildford Society

In his comment on the article: Local Political Reactions to County Council’s Proposal to Postpone Elections, Bill Stokoe, a former chair of the Guildford Vision Group, called for a town council for Guildford as part of the impending reorganisation of local government.

It is my understanding is that a Guildford Town Council is likely to be established as the lowest level of local councils and, at that same level, existing parish councils will remain. But any town council is likely to have very limited powers (see Godalming as an example) and cover a small area, eg the town centre.

Two issues don’t appear to be resolved with creating a unitary authority (or authorities) in Surrey.

Firstly, is whether Surrey will be one authority (with a population of 1.2 million it is probably too large), or split into two or three. Some have even argued that parts of Surrey within the M25 lie more naturally within the remit of the Greater London Authority.

Secondly, existing district councils have very different financial health. How are the large debts of Woking going to be managed without disadvantaging a wider area of residents than at present?