Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Calls For a No Confidence Vote at Millmead

Published on: 23 Aug, 2014
Updated on: 24 Aug, 2014

Kelly-Marie Blundell prospective Lib Dem parliamentary candidate

The Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate Kelly-Marie Blundell has called for a vote of no confidence in the Tory borough council at Millmead unless action is taken to solve “escalating problems” in the planning process.

Referring to the recent departure of Cllr Monika Juneja, the former lead councillor for planning, Ms Blundell wrote: “I am pleased that Stephen Mansbridge has made a start in putting the future of the borough first by asking Monika Juneja to stand down during this difficult time.

“In light of issues around the Local Plan, I would like to see reassurances that the consultation process is not a sham, and indeed will be continued and adhered to in order to prevent the risk of developers being able to build wherever and whenever.

“The Conservative administration must take swift action to prevent escalating problems in the process. Failure to do so should result in a call of no confidence in the current Conservative administration.”

Any no confidence vote is unlikely to be successful. The Conservative group at Guildford Borough Council have a majority of 20 on the 48 member council (Con 34, LD 12, Lab 2), so at least 11 of the 34 Conservative councillors would have to vote against their own party.

Although the Tory group is known to have divisions over the Local Plan, even opposition councillors cannot imagine a rebellion, of the size required to win a vote of no confidence. Neither, despite the current problems faced by council leader Mansbridge (Con, South Ash & Tongham), are there any obvious signs of a leadership challenge.

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