The silly season usually occurs in August, but thanks to one wannabe MP and Tory councillor, it has arrived two months early.
Since her election to the Waverley Council, Bramley & Wonersh Cllr Jane Austin has opposed every measure or proposal by ‘Your Waverley’s Rainbow Administration’ in its bid to remain solvent and serve the public.
Conservative Association.
Ms Austin, who has gained an enviable reputation for telling a good tale, is currently busy misleading the public daily as she canvasses for her employer, former SW Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt. She’s his bag carrier and campaign manager as he strives to become MP for Godalming & Ash.
Has she told the residents of Bramley & Wonersh that she has been working towards finding a parliamentary seat for herself since the moment she arrived at the Burys?
Does she really want to represent the residents who elected her just over a year ago? Like hell she does. She is currently standing as the prospective Tory parliamentary candidate for Liverpool Riverside. Are Bramley & Wonersh residents a means to an end as she climbs the political greasy pole?
She only recognised the whiff and the leaking petrol that wafted over the village when it suited her political ambitions. A dire situation has left Bramley and the A281 gridlocked, and residents will be without water for eight weeks! And what about the sewage stink that permeates the village? Conveniently forgotten – during the election, eh Jane? How about you tell the public that the Environment Agencies budget has been halved since the Tories took power? It doesn’t have the workforce to do a proper job.
Her boss obviously has persuaded her to stand as a Tory’ PAPER CANDIDATE’. Would you believe in Liverpool? Why have Jane’s supposed good sense and sensibilities persuaded her to become embroiled in the unholy mess that is the current Tory party? And of all places, Liverpool? And why is she using up valuable time telling a pack of untruths on our doorsteps and not doing it in Liverpool? Presumably, she genuinely wants to represent them at Westminster.
CLLR AUSTIN CLAIMS –
Waverley has merged with Guildford Borough Council. UNTRUE. It is also a Political Merger – UNTRUE.
This ongoing merger is costing us millions – with no demonstrable benefit to residents who are paying for it. UNTRUE
Any Conservative who says it’s A MERGER and not a COLLABORATION and isn’t saving money and is costing millions is simplTellinging GREAT BIG porkies.
Where will THE TORIES find the money if they are against basic staff sharing?
As proposed by central Government – councils, the length and breadth of the country were/are advised to COLLABORATE TO make savings and share resources. Perhaps nobody has communicated that little snippet to Cllr Austin. Or does it spoil her story?
Here’s Cllr Follows UPDATE ON WBC/GBC COLLABORATION SAVINGS
At present, the collaboration is saving Waverley approximately £250,000 per annum.
Cost of 2 separate management structures (GBC AND WBC): £2.915m Cost of the single management team: £2.130m Annual saving = £785k
Net cumulative saving as of 31.3.24 = £280k. WBC split of this is £250k as most of the pension strain was borne by Guildford.
Such a shame that Bramley residents have been misled by Jeremy Hunt and his tame paid employee, Waverley deserves better than this, but then again he must be desperate to keep his seat as he apparently invested a £100,000 donation to the Local Conservative Association, I do so hope residents show him jobs can’t be bought.
Meanwhile, back to Honesty in Elections (not bile), such a shame that nobody spotted that Waverley BC Website currently states joint savings are £900,000 per year yet Paul Follows is now accepting that cumulative net savings are just £250,000 ie AFTER 3 years – ie it is impossible for it to be the same as (the new) annual savings of £250,000.
Many consequent costs (increase in temps bills) & increase in governance/compliance costs (£1m over budget) from GBC have not yet been re-allocated if specifically due to the collaboration or Housing Fraud.
Very little is reported on operational savings -which were predicted at the 3 year mark on the desktop “vision document” with which Waverley Councillors were firmly led into bat In June 2021. Councillors were keen to explore possibilities but their concerns over lack of data /or key staff guarantees prior to voting were dismissed .
So, hardly surprising that more detailed reporting by the opposition (Cllr Jane Austin) is being pushed for. Meanwhile, the Joint Committee for the collaboration is focussing on alignments of constitutions & inter authority agreements at the top, one assumes due to the increased risks of failure (see risk reports) to identify both better services & savings (back office software incompatibilities etc)
Waverley is now liable for 50% of any loss if the collaboration fails, whereas previously either Council indemnified the other if it caused them loss.
Finally, Paul Follows might have forgotten to ensure the correct Imprint (PPERA rules) on the Compass posters which members have distributed, promoting him as their candidate (he is co chair)
*All this is merely a factual scrutiny of publicly available information. Replying only because this is election period.
Great isn’t it? All you keyboard warriors criticising one individual Paul Follows for all the supposed ills of Guildford & Waverley. A borough council that was without a Local Plan for so many years. Perhaps we should blame all those previous Leaders – Shut the Gates or Potts & Co. Or perhaps we should stand for election Bilbo Baggins – oops, perhaps you did?
Oh dear you can tell that Waverley web is electioneering. Merging of senior staff has been a disaster as you well know. There may be a saving in theory but you should also for fairness sake mention the cost of senior staff leaving and having to be replaced and the concentration of Guildford staff on the frauds there and the disastrous financial position.
I bet you don’t publish this !
We bet you we will. The merging of senior staff has been difficult and recruitment has always been a problem in Waverley – is one of the highest borough’s in which to buy a property in the country. Waverley Council is a better place without some senior members of staff who have languished in their over-promoted roles for far too long. We believe the same applied to GBC. You have obviously ignored the issues regarding Cllr Jane Austin! `perhaps you prefer to skip over that one? Cannot say we blame you.
These personal attacks on Cllr Austen are distasteful. I think it is a new low for this campaign. Negative campaigning never works especially if it is cruel and personal.
Let she who cast the first stone comes to mind. Who made the personal attack on Cllr Follows? An attack that we thought was a new low for the campaign, which as you so rightly say – never works if it is cruel and personal.
BTW. Her name is Cllr Austin
Personal attacks or just holding up a mirror?
As per our post- Tell the Truth or someone will tell it for you.
Mirror Mirror on the wall, who’s the one who attacks more
Try The Haslemere Fact Check.
I do find it rather odd that Waverley Web accuses Cllr Jane Austin of climbing the greasy pole as she may have political ambitions to ultimately become a Member of Parliament. Yet somehow Cllr Paul Follows who is standing for the second time as a Candidate in the forthcoming election is not associated with said greasy pole.
I completely get the fact that Conservative and LibDem policies are mile apart (with Ed Davey as Leader they seem to have become a circus act) but what’s good for the Goose…………….
Most decent individuals would consider eight years and a full time job running two councils for much of the time has been a decent stint before climbing the political greasy pole = wouldn’t they? Perhaps the voters of Godalming & Ash want an MP with a commitment to working at the grass roots and is in touch with the real world of work and commitment on behalf of those who elected him. May we suggest that Cllr Austin has been a little hasty?
I am in awe of Cllr Follows stamina and dedication to grass roots, but that was not my point.
It’s the same greasy pole. But you are right, Cllr Austin’s haste is quite distasteful and it’s clear she’s the teacher’s pet. I’ve heard that Peter Martin, the Conservative leader at Waverley has been pushed into the long grass, to make way for her.
The demise of an experienced and dedicated councillor like Peter Martin by Jeremy Hunt’s new girl on the block, with no experience, was shameful. But then that’s how some politicians now behave.
I am a Conservative Councillor alongside Jane. I am writing here to act as a lightning rod for as many personal attacks the anonymous trolls can send my way.
My fiancée pointed out that this article would not have been written about a man, and I think she’s right. The man behind it, with its ill-informed vitriol and ignorant responses, epitomise cowardice.
Jane is one of the kindest, hardest working and talented individuals I know. Anyone, anywhere, would be so lucky to have her represent them; she fights for what is right and is an exceptional public servant.
The article (and the man who runs this website) are doing the digital equivalent of an anonymous scrawl in a toilet cubicle. Scared to show their faces, they write in secret for a readership which could fit in a taxi.
What burning hatred and painful resentments eat up the keyboard warriors, who know what little is needed to be convinced they’re right but not enough to realise they’re totally wrong? I feel only pity, genuinely.
You could act like a real man and tell us who we all know you are. I know that thought must terrify you. It would show more guts, decency and integrity in a second than in all of the hours and days wasted on this website.
It’s clear that a woman doing well is hurtful to you, but come out from hiding and those of us who care about the Borough can help show you how to make a positive contribution. You might even make a friend and move on from this sad, mouth-foaming period of hatred that you are suffering.
When your time comes, do you really want to look back on years of spewing hate whilst cowering from being identified? The prospect of that would terrify anyone of conscience.
Stop now. Life is finite and, if these topics interest you, there are healthier and more honest ways to find out actual facts and have fruitful discussions. I’m here if you need someone to talk to.
Best wishes,
Connor Relleen