Letter: What Does Our Local Entrepreneur Expect to Achieve With An Elected Mayor?

Published on: 14 Sep, 2016
Updated on: 14 Sep, 2016

From Gordon Bridger

Hon Alderman and former Mayor of Guildford

I am very puzzled by what Mr Michel Harper, our dynamic entrepreneur, expects to achieve as a result of the very considerable expenditure he has made to collect the 5,000 signatures required to trigger off the consultation for a directly elected mayor, which, if recall correctly will cost us £250,000.

It is very public spirited of him to do this but does he appreciate that a Guildford elected mayor is likely to have very little power? Is he aware that, with almost Soviet like policies, central government restricts council tax, they collect all our rates, they limit borrowing and investment and tell us how many houses we need to build.

But it gets worse, Surrey County Council is responsible for highways, health and education, so not much left for a Guildford elected mayor is there?

Presumably he or she would not be able to change planning and licence decisions and, since finance is tightly restricted, there is not much control there either.

As a developer he may have some bright ideas about how to use our considerable property portfolio – but one assumes this will also be tightly controlled.

Surely a successful businessman must expect a return for his investment? If not it would seem pretty unusual.

The Guildford Dragon NEWS contacted Michel Harper. He said: “People are mistaken if they imagine all my motives are entrepreneurial. I was born, raised and schooled in Guildford but the town’s lack of progress has frustrated me for many years. I believe a new form of local government might help tackle the inertia from which we have been suffering.”

Mr Harper has agreed to be interviewed and we hope to bring that to you soon. Ed

Responses to Letter: What Does Our Local Entrepreneur Expect to Achieve With An Elected Mayor?

Brian Holt Reply

September 14, 2016 at 1:59 pm

Have they again gone to the University of Surrey to get 5,000 students signatures for their Elected Mayor referendum?

Why do they have to go to the students and not the true Guildford residents for their votes?.

If they say that is what Guildford want, then they should be man enough to stand up and face us the local community.

Over the years how much has Mr Harper cost our council,
Lisa Wright Reply

September 14, 2016 at 3:32 pm

What an unusual statement from Mr Bridger. Some may think that he is trying to tell us, incorrectly, that an elected mayor will have little power.

All political parties in Guildford oppose the elected mayor system of governance.
Gordon Bridger Reply

September 16, 2016 at 12:20 pm

“…town’s lack of progress”? Am I dreaming or is he?

Guildford, according to a major consulting firm (Lambert Smith and Brompton) is the the second “most economically dynamic”, town in the UK (London apart), the “most affluent”, the eighth most “entrepreneurial” and the second most “highly educated”.

While such comparisons need to be taken with a pinch of salt it is far cry from Mr Harper’s description.

It is true that town planning has been a real problem but what remedy has Mr Harper for this? A Dubai tower? A casino?
Dave Middleton Reply

September 16, 2016 at 2:39 pm

So, Mr Harper cares about Guildford.

Shame he doesn’t seem to care about the impression that his decaying nightclub complex buildings must give to people visiting the town. As I recall, aside from the rendered section over the main entrance, the buildings were quite attractive brick, with good detailing about the windows and doors before he had it all painted over; bright orange at first and latterly dull black. It’s an eyesore.

I would say to Mr Harper, please do something about it.