The Executive

The Council has a Leader and Cabinet model of governance. This means the Council elects a leader every four years. He or she then appoints up to nine other Councillors to form the Cabinet (known as the Executive), one of whom will be the Deputy Leader.

Leader of the Council

Cllr Joss Bigmore

Councillor Joss Bigmore
Leader of the Council

The role of the leader

The leader provides overall political leadership for the Council by:

co-ordinating and delivering Council policies, strategies and services
leading the Executive in its work to develop the policy framework and budget and to deliver services to the local community
leading the development of partnerships both inside and outside of Guildford with stakeholders, residents and other interested organisations
contributing to the preparation, monitoring and review of the Council's policies, budget, strategy and service delivery

Main responsibilities of the leader

providing leadership to the Council and its political administration
acting as the principal spokesman for the Council and the administration
assuming prime responsibility to the local community for the decisions and work of the Executive
liaising with officers, in particular the Managing Director and the Council's corporate management team
leading the development of the Council's strategic and corporate planning process (Corporate Plan)
having a primary role in presenting the Executive's proposals to the Council and to the local community
managing and chairing Executive meetings and providing the political lead in proposing the policy framework, budget and direction of the council
ensuring that the work of the Executive and portfolio holders is co-ordinated and is in line with the Council's policy framework and the needs and aspirations of the local community
ensuring that working relationships between the Executive , other Councillors, officers and the local community are effective and professional

Portfolio Responsibilities of the Leader

Governance including corporate Health and Safety, Corporate Strategy, Guildford and Waverley Partnership, Partnerships, Corporate Strategy and Strategic Planning.

Deputy Leader of the Council

Julia McShane

Cllr Julia McShane
Deputy Leader of the Council
Communities and Housing

Portfolio Responsibilities: Health, Wellbeing, Access and Disability, Safety, grants and voluntary services, Careline, Handyperson, Care and Repair, Housing, Homelessness, housing standards (HMOs, private rented sector) and Human Resources.

The Executive

The Executive has a Forward Plan of decisions to be taken.

Cllr Tim Anderson
Resources
Portfolio Responsibilities: Finance, Commercial Asset Management, Procurement and Communications.

Cllr John Redpath
Economy
Portfolio Responsibilities: Economic Development, Social Enterprise, Rural Economy,
Heritage, Community Assets, Customers Services including Web Services.

Cllr John Rigg
Regeneration
Portfolio Responsibilities: Town Centre Master Plan, Infrastructure,
Major Projects, Strategic Asset Management

Cllr James Steel
Environment
Portfolio Responsibilities: Waste, Licensing (including Health and Safety regulation),
Parking, Parks and Leisure, Arts and Tourism, Bereavement, Environmental Health and Protection

Cllr Tom Hunt
Development Management
Portfolio Responsibilities: Development Control and Enforcement

Cllr Cait Taylor
Climate Change
Portfolio Responsibilities: Climate Change, Air Quality, Innovation, Sustainable Transport