Date:
Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of Woking Borough Council, made the following statement to Council during its meeting on Monday 19 May 2025.
“I want to talk a little bit this evening about the past and then about the present and the future.
Past
“I don’t want to keep harking on about the past. I want to live in the present and look to the future. But the legacy of the past left by previous administrations hangs over us every day. It’s there when a small local charity reaches out to me and asks about funding opportunities.
“I have to say I’m sorry, there is no money.
“It’s when Citizens Advice Woking tells me about all the people they are helping, even with much reduced funding, shorter opening hours and less resource. And I know I have no grant funding to give them.
“It’s when my officers are spending hours and days on the issues of council-owned companies.
“When the press and social media is full of understandable indignation that in the past this council loaned millions to a private school.
“When people contact me about work needed on their council home. And I know that millions was taken from the Housing Revenue Account. That’s money those living in council homes pay in their rent. Money that should be used solely to fund the housing service went to pay for a fuel cell and the wider administration of the council in the past.
“The legacy of past administrations is with us every day.
Present
“In the present the shadow of Local Government Reorganisation hangs over us. Woking Borough’s days are numbered. We are likely to cease to exist from 2027.
“Earlier this month all the councils in Surrey submitted proposals for the future shape of local government in the county. We should know in the autumn whether Woking is a new authority across half or a third of Surrey.
“Whichever it is, decision making will be moved further from local people. Some areas in Surrey have parish or town councils. Woking has none. I know there is some interest in the borough in setting up this level of representation and I have asked officers to bring forward proposals for a community governance review. This is the first step to determining when and where parish council are set up.
What are we doing?
“Delivering on the Woking For All Strategy and the Improvement and Recovery Plan. Despite the legacy of the past and the challenges in the present we will continue delivering for Woking. I want our borough to be in the best possible state as it goes into a new unitary.
Thriving communities
“We are investing in council homes. A multi-million pound programme was agreed and our focus is now on getting all our council homes to a decent standard. To support this programme we’ve got £3 million back into the housing account. Money that was wrongly allocated in the past.
High performing council
“Keeping our house in order. Working with commissioners. Our approach I believe has contributed to a positive relationship with government and secured agreement that we cannot manage all our debt locally despite our best efforts.
“Our strategic asset disposal programme is progressing well and will continue over the coming years.
“We’ve improved governance, with good effective boards on council companies.
Effective partnerships
“The council is working with others to deliver something we can no longer provide. Community Asset Transfer programme with Dramatize at The Vyne in Knaphill and Regenerate Rise at St Mary’s Byfleet.
“Consultation will start soon on the latest stage of our Local Plan. This will incorporate work previously done for the Master Plan.
“We do need to be more efficient and effective. That’s not the blunt tool of doing more with fewer people but using modern systems, technology and tools so our people can be more productive and spend more time on what really matters.
“Work has begun on the council website, allowing those that wish to do so to ‘self-serve’. It’s enabled more resource to be free for those who aren’t able or comfortable to go online.
“Practicalities for the year ahead.
Executive
“Cllr Nicholson continues environment and leisure.
“Cllr Roberts on finance and economy.
“Cllr Johnson on homes and homelessness.
“Cllr Greentree on communities and health and well-being.
“Cllr Morales joins the Executive taking on the Planning portfolio as we reach a key stage in the Local Plan.
“Cllr Lyons retains his environmental health and licensing responsibilities and takes on a new area of local government reorganisation as we move ahead with a new structure of local government.
Looking ahead
“As we look to the council year ahead I so hope we can all work together, across this council chamber and across the borough. With so much going on in the world at the moment that is concerning I am really proud to be the leader of the most diverse borough in Surrey.
“What other Surrey borough has a Grade 1 listed cemetery, the first purpose built mosque in the country, a top performing motor racing team, a 1,300 seater theatre, an award winning gallery and museum, a palace visited by Henry VIII.
“And then there are the people who have come to Woking from far and wide in the UK and beyond. Northerners like myself, or Cllr Greentree or Cllr Johnson, those from the Midlands like Cllr Roberts or from the south-west like Cllr Morales.
“And beyond that from Asia, Africa, Europe – right across the world.
“Not forgetting those who come from right here in Woking, like our local MP.
“I’ve spoken before about turning around a supertanker as we work to put Woking right. There is still turning to be done but it is now starting to feel that we are in a steady state. I hope we can have Woking navigating a clear route forward when we hand over to the new unitary.”