Concerns have been raised about a significant overrun in a council housing maintenance contract initially valued at £3 million, which reportedly spiralled to an excess of £19 million. The issue was first highlighted by a whistleblower in September 2022, but no immediate action was taken by the ruling Liberal Democrats until after the local elections in June 2023.
Councillor Bob Hughes, a Conservative member of both Guildford Borough and Surrey County Councils, voiced his concerns over what he describes as “financial mismanagement” and “potential cover-up” by the current Liberal Democrat administration. "Did the ruling administration do anything? No, at least not until June 2023 when the local elections were out of the way. Was that deliberate? Was it a cover-up, or was it their proven inability to control their own finances?" Cllr Hughes questioned, indicating that the Conservative Group at Guildford Borough Council intends to delve deeper into the matter.
Further compounding the issue, the same suppliers were awarded another contract despite the significant cost overrun. "Where was the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Housing – by then Leader of the Council? What did she know and when?" Hughes added, highlighting a possible lack of oversight.
The matter has since been escalated to the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit following the removal of contractors and senior staff involved in the council operations.
A review conducted by the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) painted a grim picture of the council’s operational strategies. The report criticised the lack of strategy, oversight, and coordination within the council's financial systems. "Their report reads like a horror story on how not to run a council," Cllr Hughes remarked.
As the Liberal Democrats and their allies have been at the helm of the Guildford Council for the past five years, Cllr Hughes points to a series of emerging issues that reveal "serious weaknesses in the governance and management of the council."
Responding to the criticisms, the leader of the Lib Dems issued an apology, acknowledging that the people of Guildford deserved better governance. However, Hughes feels that an apology is insufficient given the scale of the problems. "For five years, the Liberal Democrats have caused chaos. They have wasted the significant and prudent reserves they inherited from the Conservatives, damaged our town as a destination shopping centre, and presided over financial mismanagement," he stated, suggesting that those responsible should have considered resigning.
