Letter: Look for What Politicians Don’t Say

Published on: 11 Apr, 2025
Updated on: 11 Apr, 2025

From Bernard Quoroll

former local authority CEO

In response to: Local Government Reorganisation Must Strengthen Links Between Communities

Whenever I hear from politicians, I always think it is important to look for what they don’t say, alongside what they do.

Cllr Oliver omits to remind us that he was the prime protagonist for abandoning local elections this year, thus depriving us of a democratic opportunity to express any views about who should represent us in the near-term (and who of course might also hold different opinions about what is best for local communities). That would have provided a better referendum on the future of the county than we are currently being offered.

Nor does he remind us of the competing case for smaller, more agile, more locally connected and focused councils which can better understand and respond to local needs and aspirations. He of course, favours only two county-like bodies which in his words would be “the least disruptive option and save most money”.

That sounds just as “purposefully biased” to me as the district and boroughs’ claim that big is not beautiful. (How does he even know that, based on a half-baked restructuring process, designed to deliver councils more amenable to the needs of central government than local needs?)

But wait, has he had a change of heart? Are we to believe, in his words again, that “the most important benefit of any change must be the strengthening of local community engagement”? Is it just possible that like all politicians who sense they might be losing an argument, he is reaching for the clothes of those who hold opposing views?

His solution is to form community engagement boards “all across Surrey”. Has Cllr Oliver had a Freudian moment and forgotten that the county is, on any basis, due to be abolished? Has no one told him that it is for the new unitary councils to decide how best they will engage with local communities?

Surrey has well over 300 towns, villages and hamlets spread across 640 or so square miles. Even based on two unitary councils, that seems like a lot of talking shops with few meaningful powers. If somehow, health partners, police, councillors, council staff, town and parish councils and residents’ associations are also to be involved, as claimed, it sounds eminently like a recipe for less, rather than more engagement with the decisions of two remote and distant bodies, with little feel for the pulse of local communities.

And one last thought – why has it taken so long for Cllr Oliver to see the light on his road to Damascus? Just look at the County’s previous record of local engagement and weep!