Recently Dumb (Leader of Surrey County Council) said there was always a possibility that when the council invests something that it will go wrong. But when you are investing other people’s money, you are more than just careful, you are scrupulously careful. In fact, you have a legal duty to do so. And, when you get it wrong, you don’t keep on making the same mistakes over and over again – DO YOU?
Of the retail units around the country owned by SCC and its partner Halsey Garton Property Group (HGP) currently valued at £346million – they boast such tenants as Poundland; Matalan; and Next which make up 47% – the remainder are discount shops, department stores, fashion, pets etc.
It has also signed up to take a £56million share of the Blightwells, East St development in Farnham because other investors wouldn’t touch it with a bargepole. It could be ready for occupation sometime over the next five years, weather and bats permitting!
But don’t worry chaps and chapesses, because Hodge the Bodge is supremely confident he has the right expertise on the investment board with a number of members holding years of experience in the commercial sector.
So we can all sleep soundly in our beds in the full knowledge that now SCC, in addition to Dumb and Dumber, has appointed Councillor Nick Darby, (Dittons and West Green Residents) who has 38 years business experience and together with his colleagues is constantly assessing the risk of how to invest OUR money and is “challenging the decisions made.”
Well, perhaps he should begin by challenging the decision promoted by Denise Le Gal and Waverley Borough Councillor for Farnham and the present Mayor, and the former SCC councillor for Cranleigh/Ewhurst Alan Young who together promoted tens of millions of pounds of OUR money being dispensed into yet another Big Black Hole, and we are not talking about potholes.
Here are just some of the empty retail premises in Farnham!
Someone has just written this:
