Why Not a Town Centre Councillor for the Town Centre Portfolio?

Published on: 31 May, 2012
Updated on: 31 May, 2012

From Bernard Parke

Hon Alderman

It should be welcomed that now at last we are to have a Councillor with a specific portfolio for Guildford Town Centre & Traffic.

This indeed a step in the right direction despite the fact that the councillor represents one on the villages when there are many able town centre councillors who have been democratically elected for that very purpose by the people of Guildford.

Why was not one of those Councillors selected?

Despite the coalition in the central government and the number of town centre voters represented by LibDem councillors, non Tories cannot join the GBC executive which the leadership has decided should be exclusively Tory. Even so, there are several Tory councillors who do represent town wards who could have been appointed.

Perhaps a better solution would have been to group town centre councillors into a sub committee to give input into the future proposal. After all, the decisions will affect those of us who actually live in the town much more than those in the villages.

Responses to Why Not a Town Centre Councillor for the Town Centre Portfolio?

Gerald Bland

June 3, 2012 at 12:51 pm

I think James Palmer is the perfect choice as the portfolio holder for the town centre and transport-a former RGS boy who lives in the town and a solicitor to boot!

If there is an issue about representation of those living in the town centre electoral wards then to my mind it’s the number of councillors relative to the size of their electorate as compared with the outlying villages.
Bernard Parke

June 4, 2012 at 12:55 pm

Mr Bland has a very good point when he refers to the number of councillors in relation to the size of their electorate. My mind goes immediately to the situation in Onslow Ward.

The Councillors there do not only represent Onslow and the Royal Surrey County Hospital but also the University of Surrey.

The university alone has a considerable electorate and is is perhaps the largest land owner and employer within the borough.

These days it looks very much like a town within a town yet it does not have designated councillors.

Perhaps the time has now come to have a new university ward?