New Local Plan Adopted at Extraordinary Council Meeting – How They Voted

Published on: 26 Apr, 2019
Updated on: 28 Apr, 2019

Julian Lyon, one of the ten public speakers who spoke against the plan, addressing the full council meeting.

The controversial Local Plan for Guildford was adopted by the borough council last night (April 25) in the face of strong opposition from ten public speakers and a public gallery in which no supporters of the plan were identifiable.

Any concerns, rumoured to have been expressed by the council leaders that the vote was in doubt, evaporated when the vote was counted. 28 councillors, all of them Conservatives, bar the Lib Dem leader Caroline Reeves (Friary & St Nicolas) and the two Labour members, voted to adopt the Local Plan. 12 voted against, including all the Independents, Guildford Greenbelt Group members and two Conservatives, Jenny Wicks and Matt Sarti (both Clandon & Horsley). Four abstained including two Lib Dems and Conservative Christian Holliday (Burpham).

Back bench councillors and behind the full public gallery with extra security staff manning the doors.

It is estimated that more than 123 members of the public attended the meeting, according to GBC, and the council made extra space available in an overflow area where they watched on large screens.

Members of the public in the overflow area watching the meeting on a large screen.

Those who voted against the motion to adopt the plan were: Lib Dems David Goodwin (Onslow), Gillian Harwood (Stoughton), Tony Phillips (Onslow) – Independent Alliance Cllrs Colin Cross (Lovelace), Nils Christiansen (Holy Trinity), Bob McShee (Worplesdon) and Tony Rooth (Pilgrims) – Guildford Greenbelt Group Mike Hurdle (Send), Susan Parker (Send) and David Reeve (Clandon & Horsley) – Conservatives Matt Sarti and Jenny Wicks (both Clandon & Horsley).

Those who abstained: Cllr Mike Parsons as Mayor, Lib Dems Liz Hogger (Effingham) and Pauline Searle (Stoughton) and Conservative Christian Holliday (Burpham).

The agenda, report and further information about the council meeting can be viewed on the GBC website at www.guildford.gov.uk/article/16717/Councillors-and-Decision-Making

The recorded webcast can be viewed at: www.guildford.gov.uk/webcasting