Letter: Public Participation Is Meaningless at Guildford Borough Council

Published on: 14 Apr, 2026
Updated on: 14 Apr, 2026

Simon Higgins addressing Guildford Borough Council in November 2025.

From Simon Higgins

member of the West Surrey Palestine Solidarity Campaign

In response to: Councillor’s Apology for Bringing GBC into Disrepute Rejected by Complainants

The truth about how GBC handles public participation at council meetings is simple: it’s stage-managed from start to finish.

I can say this from direct experience.

Here’s how the process actually works:

First, a member of the public is required to submit their speech in advance — not to inform discussion, but for council approval.

Second, that speech is circulated to councillors and published in the agenda before the meeting even begins.

Third, and most tellingly, the council prepares its response in advance. The person speaking has no sight of it, no chance to challenge it, and no opportunity to engage with it.

So, by the time anyone steps up to speak, the outcome is already decided.

This isn’t democratic engagement — it’s theatre.

I know, because I’ve been through it. I delivered a speech last year grounded in independent research and evidence. The council’s response? It relied on incorrect information lifted from a company website.

When I challenged those inaccuracies, I wasn’t answered — I was shut down.

There was no discussion. No debate. No accountability.

At GBC, public participation is tightly controlled, carefully managed, and ultimately meaningless. The appearance of openness is maintained, but the reality is that everything is predetermined long before the meeting begins.

See also: Resident, Prevented from Addressing GBC Meeting, Takes to the Internet To Make Accusations

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