Guildford News
By Jane Austin and Philip Brooker, leaders of the Conservative Group and chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees at Waverley and Guildford Borough Councils.
The decision to merge and reduce Guildford’s and Waverley’s scrutiny committees undermines accountability, sidelines independent voices, and weakens residents’ ability to hold local leadership to account.
The Lib Dem-led Executive can find staff for a new joint committee – but not to maintain proper scrutiny of its own decisions.
This week, Waverley and Guildford Borough Councils voted to weaken its scrutiny structure despite clear opposition and against the recommendations of three scrutiny committees on both Councils, plus Waverley’s Standards Committee.
Scrutiny exists to act as a critical friend to those in power, holding the Executive to account on behalf of residents. Yet this vital function has just been diminished.
Author's summary: Councils vote to weaken scrutiny structure.
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