For some, the idea of getting involved in local government is something that seems tedious at best. For others, it is the best way of having a direct impact on the lives of those that live in the area, given the manner in which the councillors have a huge degree of control over how things work.
Which of the two categories you fall into will no doubt influence whether or not you’ve heard about Fiona Davidson’s decision to step down from her Surrey County Council role, citing personal reasons, which will result in Guildford residents having to head back to the polls next month.
Fiona Davidson Resigns
More info on Fiona Davidson (candidate for Guildford South East)! Remember to vote tomorrow & let’s #TurnGuildfordMagenta! #Guildford #Surrey pic.twitter.com/THz2xINgrz
— Residents for Guildford & Villages (@VoteR4GV) May 5, 2021
In 2021, Guildford residents stepped into the polling booths in order to cast their votes for the local elections. The winners were elected on a four-year term, which had been due to end in the May of this year. Instead, councillors were asked to extend their stay during the process of local government reorganisation that the Labour government has begun the process of. As a result, Fiona Davidson had been expected to remain in her role as a representative for Residents for Guildford and Villages (R4GV) until the summer of 2027, but that will no longer be the case.
Instead, Ms Davidson has confirmed that she doesn’t feel as though she can continue to represent the best interests of her constituents, believing that the right decision is for her to step down from her role. She has cited ‘personal reasons’ for her decision, declaring that it was a ‘very difficult’ one to make. The decision to stand down means that someone else now needs to fill in her space on the Council, so those living in Guildford will be expected to go along to the polling booths during the October by-election in order to be able to cast their vote for a suitable replacement.
Why Did Davidson Say?
For her part, Ms Davidson hasn’t been backwards in coming forward in order to discuss what has happened during her time in her role. As part of her position, Davidson was the Chair of the Children and Families Select Committee, which she described as a ‘privilege’ to be able to represent both children and their families. She said, “I wish I could have done more. In particular, children with SEND and their families deserve so much better from Surrey County Council.” The idea that the Council could do better feels like the former Councillor delivering something of a parting shot.
She went on, “I’ve seen the negative side of party politics at the local level. I firmly believe that party politics should have no role in local politics and that residents are best served by councillors whose only agenda is residents’ concerns and interests.” This appears to be a criticism of Labour’s decision to reorganise local County Councils, given the fact that, in theory at least, she should be in favour of it when you consider the fact that it has resulted in her being given an extra couple of years in her position. The choice to step down, therefore, can’t have been an easy one to make.
By-Election Called
The decision of Davidson to step down has resulted in a by-election being called, with the initial plan being that it will take place on the 16th of October. The by-election is specifically for the Guildford South East Division, meaning that it is residents in the area who are expected to cast their vote. There is also the opportunity for anyone interested in taking over from Ms Davidson to get their name added to the ballot before the day of the by-election. The most recent local elections only took place last year, so it is a chance to join the Liberal Democrats who are currently on the Council.
It is expected that campaigning will get underway in the next week or so, with R4GV hoping to be able to defend the patch that Davidson represented. At the same time, rival parties will also be aiming to try to get their own candidates into the mix, with Reform believing that the party, led by far-right former banker Nigel Farage, has a chance, already confirming that they will be putting a candidate forward. Anyone looking to get their name onto the ballot can collect nomination papers from the Council during its office hours, with local electors in the ward having to sign it.
What the Local Government Reorganisation Might Mean for Guildford
For Guildford residents, the idea of local government being reformed might not sound ideal. The fact that it appears to have led to the resignation of a perfectly good councillor in Ms Davidson will no doubt set alarm bells ringing for some. It was on the fifth of February this year that the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon, wrote to councils based in two-tier areas as well as small neighbouring unitary authorities to ask for proposals around the idea of reorganising local government. That is a setup that Guildford fits into, therefore it will undergo changes.
Councils in Surrey, as well as others on the Devolution Priority Programme, will actually undergo the process much quicker than other areas around the country. The overall idea is that the two-tier system of district and county councils will be moved away from, resulting in areas with a population of half a million or more getting councils, so that will mean big changes for the way that Guildford’s local government will work. It won’t come in until 2028, which will see the person elected to replace Ms Davidson likely to remain in their position for nearly three years.