Guildford Dragon NEWS

Published on: 23 May, 2023
Updated on: 23 May, 2023

By Martin Giles

The leader of the Guildford Borough Council, Julia McShane, has announced her new Executive team. This follows her own election as leader at the Selection Council last week.

See: New Borough Council Administration Kicks-off by Re-electing Lib Dem Leader

The Executive members and their portfolio responsibilities will be:

• Cllr Julia McShane: Leader, Housing
• Cllr Angela Goodwin: Engagement and Customer Services
• Cllr Catherine Houston: Commercial Development
• Cllr Tom Hunt: Deputy Leader, Regeneration
• Cllr Richard Lucas: Finance and Property
• Cllr Carla Morson: Community & Organisational Development
• Cllr George Potter: Planning, Environment and Climate Change
• Cllr Merel Rehorst-Smith: Regulatory and Democratic Services

The Executive consists of eight councillors all from the Liberal Democrat group. Up to ten councillors are allowed if a council leader wishes.

The leader in the “strong leader” model of local government that is in place at GBC can select any of the 48 elected councillors from whichever party but, in line with usual practice for a party that has an overall majority, McShane has selected only members from her own party which gained an overall majority, 25 of the 48 seats, at the local elections on May 4.

Cllr McShane said: “I am delighted to be working with the new Liberal Democrat Executive. We will be working to deliver on our pledge to ensure a greener, fairer, thriving future for all communities. We want Guildford and our villages to become even better places to live and work.”

A council spokesperson added: “All the lead councillors will take up their portfolio responsibilities straight away.”

Leaders of other parties have been invited to comment. Please check back.