Always nice to have the Deputy Leader in the centre! Can you spot who is really in charge?
The new Rainbow Coalition Executive of Farnham residents, Liberal Democrats, a Green and amazingly a Labour Councillor. In Waverley! Here’s the momentouspress release. We say momentous, as for the first time it includes quotes from all Group Leaders! Apparently, the Leader and Deputy Leader roles will ROTATE every year. Now that’s got our heads spinning!
Farnham Residents – John Ward – Leader (Farnham) Liberal Democrats – Paul Follows – Deputy Leader (Godalming) Farnham Residents – Andy Macleod – Planning & Policy Services (Farnham) Farnham Residents – David Beaman – Health Wellbeing & Culture (Farnham) Farnham Residents – John Neale – Place Shaping, IT & Customer Services (Farnham) Liberal Democrats –Anne-Marie Rosoman – Housing and Community Safety (Godalming) Liberal Democrats –Mark Merryweather – Economic & Community Development (Farnham) Green Party –Steve Williams – Environment & Sustainability (Godalming) Labour Party– Nick Palmer – Operational and Enforcement Services (Godalming)
Liberal Democrats – Chair of Joint Planning – A Cranleigh Lib Dem to be nominated.
We understand the Rainbow Alliance offered an Exec seat to the Tories, but they declined. They liked the idea of 4 more years playing childish opposition politics rather than grown up co-operation.
Here at the Waverley Web, we are seriously impressed with some of the new intake, Labour’sNick Palmerwas MP for Broxtowe in Nottinghamshire (1997 – 2010) before losing to Anna Soubry, with plenty PPS experience in the Dept for Environment, Dept of Trade and Industry and Business. We believe he currently works for Compassion for World Farming in Godalming.
The Green’s Steve Williams was a former Labour activist, expelled from the party (one of the Godalming 3) for supporting Dr Louise Irvine in the General Elections. He seems to be chair ofThe South West Surrey Compass, the brains behind the cross-party campaigning which has eventually been so effective in sweeping away the Tories. Their catchphrase is: “Southwest Surrey Compass is part of a national organisation which aims to be ‘the home for everyone who wants to be part of a much more equal, democratic and sustainable future’.
Steve Williams is a co-editor of the book ‘A New Way of Doing Politics’ alongside Louise Irvine, Susan Ryland and Penny Rivers. Available in all good Waterstones here!
The cross-party Rainbow Alliance of Labour, Greens, Lib Dems and Farnham Residents’ met to raise a glass and then get down to hard work writing the new policies for running Your Waverley. And yes, anybody could be involved. You don’t need to be a paid-up party member to be involved and shape your new council.
Crazy bonkers stuff? Different – yes – crazy no! Will this herald the changes we have all been waiting for?
Just look at this fun-packed agenda from last Saturday below:
A Working Agreement for Waverley: With Waverley Borough Councillors
Andy Macleod, Farnham Residents
Paul Follows, Liberal Democrats
Steve Williams, Green Party
Nick Palmer, Labour Party
Plus contributions from other Waverley Councillors: Farnham Residents, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Labour Party, Independents on their personal election story and key priorities.
11.15am Replenish your coffee and…
Group Discussions: Key Issues
• The Way Forward for Waverley What are the key borough-wide issues that should be priorities for SWS Compass?
How do we support and inform our borough councillors?
• An Agenda for Godalming What are the key issues for Godalming?
How do we support and inform our Town Councillors?
• An Agenda for Haslemere What are the key issues for Haslemere?
How do we support and inform our Town Councillors?
• An Agenda for Farnham What are the key issues for Farnham? How should progressives work with and through the Farnham Residents?
• The Godalming Compass Looking ahead to the next edition of our magazine – said by some to have laid the groundwork for the progressive victories in Godalming.
12.00pm Feedback from Groups (5 mins each)
12.30pm Notices: Future Events – Planning
We look forward to seeing these discussions in the Council chamber next week! Indeed it must be the first time WW has had to tag The Labour Party as relevant in South West Surrey!
Just one criticism. Well, they did say everyone could help run Waverley!
We are well-aware Cranleigh – dubbed by the Tories as – “Poor Old Cranleigh,” is not considered to be a town. However, surely the wannabe new town, which is predicted to have another five thousand new homes within and nearby its conurbation should have its place on the new administration’s Agenda? The eastern villages have been the dumping ground for new homes for long enough.
Now a major developer is unloading further phases of its development sites to housing associations because they cannot sell homes already built. Why? Because the eastern villagers are being swamped with new homes. Homes built on flood plains.
As if we haven’t had enough fighting nationally – now we’re about to get it locally!
So Potty – put the kettle on?
The countdown to the May elections has begun.
For the first time for four years, voters have an opportunity to make a dent in one of the most arrogant and dominant Tory administrations this borough has ever had the misfortune to witness, (if the webcast is working.)
It has seen off two plumply salaried and well- compensated failing Chief Executives – numerous heads of services – including two chief planning officers – and more planning, senior officers and staff, than you could shake a stick at!
One of whom is standing for election as a Farnham Residents’ candidate. We wonder how many secrets she will be revealing to the electorate of the inner-workings of Waverley Towers? Maybe, she believes she can achieve more from the outside than within?
Suffice to say – morale among staff, some senior officers and councillors, has never been worse. Outside consultants, Cratus Communications, was brought in to delve into the Waverley swamp to investigate relationships between councillors and officers. It found ‘YW’ to be seriously wanting.
In its strategic review, Cratus found there needed to be a – ‘change of culture at YW.’ The WW is well-known for its cynicism, but change a culture endemic and buried deeper than the Great Train robbers’ stolen dosh? Difficult!
In an ideal world, the ballot paper should not include any party affiliations. Every elected councillor is there to work on behalf of, and do their best for, everyone in the borough of Waverley. This applies to the Farnham and Hindhead councillors who have treated the more rural areas in the east of the borough with contempt. Those who they denigrate not only deserve but are entitled to respect!
Politics and control, should not be the prime influence at parish or borough level. The council has been in the grip of the Tory party for far too long, 49 Tories, one Lib Dem, six Farnham Residents’, one vacancy. No checks or balance is no basis for good government. Neither is the level of contempt to which this small group of ‘opposition’ members is held by their Tory masters.
The Conservatives have, with rat-like cunning and determination, held on with a vice-like grip, to power. Almost every chairmanship and role within the Cabinet is jealously guarded by the Tories. Ever reluctant to allow the minority groups even a minimum of influence. Often side-lining their own backbenchers and keeping them in the dark. Power corrupts – absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The Mayor must be a Conservative, regardless of whether a more suitable or longer serving candidate exists outside the confines of THE ruling party. Why? Harold and Elsie Denningberg Labour Councillors representing Godalming for many years were loved and admired by everyone in Waverley. As were Doreen & Bill Bellerby in Guildford. In days long gone when politics was not polarised and when the health and welfare of the boroughs were all the better for it.
The May local elections could herald a sea change in how business is carried out in future in Waverley.
Of the 57 seats available a total of 53 will be contested. Areas, where seats are uncontested, are unhealthy in a democracy. Candidates should be shlepping through the April showers to determine and learn about, and act on public concerns.
As for carpetbagging around the borough for a seat when you have made yourself so unpopular on home-ground that you are de-selected by your local party faithful is reprehensible. We hope Bramley residents will recognise this, and ask their Cranleigh neighbours – WHY?
So too is parachuting from an unsafe Farnham seat into a safe Tory seat elsewhere to keep a stranglehold on leadership?
In Hindhead, Haslemere and Godalming, there needs to be a fundamental change in the expectation of the service voters are entitled to expect from their elected representatives. Cllrs Turning up for 20% of meetings, not turning up at all, or not having the good manners to resign, or explain long absences whilst collecting allowances, should be given the yellow card, put in the SIN BIN, be given the red card – and kicked off the pitch. Not hoicked around the borough in the hope that it will go unnoticed!
Things are getting a bit too hot to handle in Farnham’s Hale ward for ‘Your Waverley’s’ Leader.’ So she’s off to find a softer landing elsewhere in the borough.
And if you think she is alone – think again. Others are carpetbagging around the borough looking for greener grass too!
Here at the Waverley Web, we liked how dainty she looks, landing on tippy toes into the green green grass of her new ward of Tilford. Her newly adopted home where she can be guaranteed a safe seat so she can slip seamlessly back into her leader’s role at ‘Your Waverley’ in the May polls for four more years?
Has the Farnham Residents’ Group’s rising popularity put her in panic mode?
“Southwest Surrey Compass is part of a national organisation which aims to be ‘the home for everyone who wants to be part of a much more equal, democratic and sustainable future’.
