Letter: Everyone Should Watch This Example of Guildford’s Councillors At Work

Published on: 2 Aug, 2018
Updated on: 2 Aug, 2018

From Fiona Curtis

Like many of the council webcasts [click here] I have seen, the one of the full council meeting held on 24 July [2018] makes uncomfortable viewing. But between now and voting next year I would recommend everyone watches it.

It shows Guildford’s councillors in action, which ones will stand by their values, which ones daren’t raise their heads above the parapet and which ones put themselves and their party political careers above all.

The result of the meeting was that a highly experienced, hardworking councillor, Tony Rooth, with a working understanding of the law, who has offered valued contributions as a committee member, has effectively been disenfranchised by a tiny minority.

Why? Because he spoke the truth and had the temerity to hold his own council to account over recent poorly judged vanity projects. It appears that facts have no place on this council and reference to such facts in local media is now called “sensationalising”.

Both Cllrs Manning and Ellwood struggled to find any plausible justification for giving the thumbs down other than that they had the power to do so and it seemed that they could barely hide their enjoyment at wielding it.

This sort of point scoring and bullying has, of course, taken place before. Recently we have seen it with Cllr McShee. But others, in particular in opposition parties, have suffered dreadfully, almost always at the hands of the same people, who sadly make up a significant proportion of the Executive.

As the situation developed into farce, all stood up whilst the legalities were quickly reviewed and Guildford’s motto, above the councillors heads, became prominent on the webcam “FORTITER ET FIDELITER” or Brave and Strong, a motto that was, quite frankly, lost on the minority whose petty point scoring and egos got the better of them.

A sorry day indeed.

Responses to Letter: Everyone Should Watch This Example of Guildford’s Councillors At Work

Jules Cranwell Reply

August 2, 2018 at 4:31 pm

I watched this webcast with increasing disgust. Even by this leadership’s usual standards, this reached a new low.

Despite the compelling and well-argued support for Cllr Rooth, he was rejected for purely political reasons. “Pilgrims is a Tory seat, and should stay a Tory seat.”

Cllrs Elwood, Manning and Furniss could not seem to hide their glee at being able to slip the knife between the ribs.

So our council loses one of our most experienced, intelligent, and committed councillors from its most important committee, and increases the dearth of talent even further.

And why? Just because he had the bravery to quit from a party, whose tarnished and vindictive leadership he could no longer support.
John Perkins Reply

August 7, 2018 at 1:08 pm

During the meeting, Cllr Manning stated that he would not support Cllr Rooth’s re-appointment to the Planning Committee on account of him having spoken to the press, potentially causing problems for businesses. That is his personal view and he is entitled to express it but it bears no relevance whatsoever to a debate about the right of members who are not part of any political group to be allocated seats on committees.

Cllr Ellwood seems even more confused. Having first declared his unswerving loyalty to his leader, he says, “This is a Tory seat and in my view, it should remain a Tory seat!”

It’s unclear if he means the Pilgrims ward seat or the Planning Committee seat. If the former then it’s properly a matter for the constituents there and his partisan view is irrelevant, both to that issue and to the debate. If the latter then he should be aware that in strictly legal terms the Conservative Group is not the same thing as the Conservative (or Tory) Party.