Opinion: A Parish Council for Guildford – Not Needed and Not Wanted

Published on: 19 Mar, 2026
Updated on: 20 Mar, 2026

Bob Hughes

By Bob Hughes

Conservative county and borough councillor

This week, Guildford Borough Council voted to push forward their ambition to establish a parish council for the town itself. Unlike the rest of the borough, the town wards do not have a parish council.

See: GBC Recommends Town Council for Guildford to West Surrey Shadow Authority

I opposed this, not because I am against parish councils, quite the reverse. The six parish councils covering the area I represent on Surrey County Council, do a fantastic job with dedicated local people giving of their time to help make their village or area a better place.

Crucially, they are entirely non-political. I am a member of Shalford Community Council and we have councillors who are supporters of differing political parties, but our discussions and our work is entirely focused on what we can do for the area not on our political views. It is unlikely that a parish or town council as proposed would be able to make the same claim.

Having listened to the arguments put forward in what was a well-informed, focused and interesting debate, I concluded that such a huge parish council would not represent any advantage to the large and the disparate area it would cover.

Also, it would to be expensive for residents. I was encouraged and impressed that the Lib Dem leader of the council, Julia McShane and the mayor, Howard Smith (Lab), also opposed the proposal. Representing, as they do, the communities of Westborough, including Park Barn, they reflected local feeling.

There was a consultation which, at some expense, was carried out by GBC. The result with a response of just six per cent of Guildford people taking part, was pretty evenly split but the proposal was narrowly rejected, interestingly by a larger margin in Park Barn and in Bellfields.

Those who took part in the survey may wonder why their views don’t apparently count, and to add insult to injury, £300,000 of their money is being set aside to fund a project they wanted to reject.

Recently, the Government stopped councils rushing into forming new Parish Councils, so Guildford Council will have to ask the new West Surrey Council, once elected in May, to give priority to forming the new Parish Council for Guildford.

Given that this has very little public support, they would, presumably, have to carry out another consultation. This would smack of those in power asking the same question over and over until the people give them the answer they want.

If Guildford is saddled with this huge parish council it will be expensive. It will need staff and offices, and they will want to fund themselves generously so as to be seen to benefit local people.

The estimates we have seen indicate an appetite for very significant expenditure and, as was pointed out in the debate, parish councils, through additional uncapped “precepts” to council tax, can charge residents whatever they want.

It could become very expensive, adding considerably to people’s council tax burden.

Responses to Opinion: A Parish Council for Guildford – Not Needed and Not Wanted

John Ferns Reply

March 19, 2026 at 8:10 pm

As someone in a parish area, I can see both sides. Parish councils do deliver tangible local benefits, but they come at a real and ongoing cost. In Ash, for 2026/27, that’s around £80+ at Band D.

The important thing for Guildford residents is whether a new town council would deliver clear, additional value beyond what the unitary authority will provide.
Adrian Chandler Reply

March 19, 2026 at 10:06 pm

I completely agree with Bob Hughes and pleased that councillors across the political spectrum came to the same conclusion. It is utterly scandalous that a motion should be pushed through on only six per cent response and three per cent approval.

We don’t yet know the full impact of all the global troubles on our costs and to add another charge, which has no ceiling, on top is unacceptable.

All this for something which duplicates what other bodies will be doing, as far as I can see.

Adrian Chandler is a former Conservative borough councillor.
H Trevor Jones Reply

March 20, 2026 at 10:04 am

According to Google, “Political refers to matters relating to government, public policy, or the exercise of power and influence within a society or organization”, so a new parish council for Guildford is obviously “political”, as is Shalford community council.

But neither has to be “party political”.

Elect people who will get on with doing a good job rather than people who are just filling a party slot.
Dave Middleton Reply

March 20, 2026 at 12:57 pm

Well said Mr Hughes.

The fact that barely six per cent of the population responded to the consultation indicates that, like so many “consultations” it was inadequately promoted and publicised.

I suspect that, even for those who were aware of it, there was also the fact that, very early on, it was revealed that the result of the consultation would not be binding upon the council, so people thought, “Why bother? They’ll do what they want anyway.”

As for “local accountability” there are apparently going to be two councillors for the new West Surrey Council divisions covering the “un-parished” areas of the town. Surely they will be accountable and responsible to the local electorate.
Jim Allen Reply

March 20, 2026 at 1:44 pm

It is an interesting situation that has not been previously addressed. Given that Burpham possesses a statutory Neighborhood Plan, it retains the right to establish an independent parish council.

However, Guildford Borough, without prior consultation, opted to include Burpham within their proposed town council framework.

I am curious about the legal standing of their plans, especially considering that the Burpham community determined in 2016 that a parish council would not serve a valid purpose beyond basic services, such as litter collection and grass maintenance, as other community responsibilities were already allocated to Surrey and Guildford Borough.

Does anyone have insights into the legal implications of this complex political scenario?
- George Potter Reply
  
  March 22, 2026 at 3:03 pm
  
  This was covered by the first consultation, which asked about whether people wanted a single town council or multiple parish councils within the town. The majority view was in favour of a single town council, so the second consultation focused on a specific proposal for creating one.
  
  George Potter is a Lib Dem borough and county councillor
Cathrin Drake Reply

March 20, 2026 at 3:49 pm

I quite agree. I did fill in the questionnaire and am disappointed so few did.

I did not want the unitary authority either but we have been given no choice.

Democracy, along with family and two sexes, seems to have vanished in this country.
Peter Hyde Reply

March 20, 2026 at 5:59 pm

Cller Hughes says: “…six parish councils covering the area I represent on Surrey County Council, do a fantastic job with dedicated local people giving of their time to help make their village or area a better place”.

So why would a Guildford local council not do fantastic job of making its area a better place?
Liz Critchfield Reply

March 21, 2026 at 3:12 pm

The word omnishambles comes to mind.
Mary Logan Reply

March 21, 2026 at 7:33 pm

I completed a survey indicating that I am strongly against this: have I somehow missed seeing the results of the survey?

Editor’s response: The results were included in our report: GBC Recommends Town Council for Guildford to West Surrey Shadow Authority
Nick Strugnell Reply

March 24, 2026 at 8:34 am

I don’t understand why Brits are so anti-local democracy.

In any other Western country, the idea of a town the size of Guildford not having its own elected representational government would be considered ludicrous.

Even the smallest village in France has its mayor and council who are personally known to the electorate and held to account on a wide range of issues.