Waverley Borough Council

Waverley Borough Council is a local government district with borough status in Surrey, England. The council's headquarters are in the town of Godalming; other notable towns include Farnham and Haslemere and the large village of Cranleigh.

Waverley Borough Council
Type
Type
Leadership
Leader of the Council
Cllr John Ward, Farnham Residents
since May 2019
Deputy Leader of the Council
Cllr Paul Follows, Liberal Democrats
since May 2019
Structure
Seats57 councillors
Political groups
Administration (29)
     Farnham Residents (15)
     Liberal Democrats (14)
Opposition (28)
     Conservative (22)
     Green (2)
     Labour (2)
     Independent (2)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
2 May 2019
Next election
May 2023
Website
www.waverley.gov.uk

The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the municipal borough of Godalming, with Farnham and Haslemere urban districts and Hambledon Rural District.

Political control

Since 2001 the council has had a Leader and cabinet on the strong leader model, while continuing with a ceremonial Mayor who chairs meetings of the council. Mayors are elected for a one-year term, but the Leader is now elected for the full four-year term of the council, or until standing down, if sooner. The council has had twelve Leaders in its 42-year history, the longest serving being Robert Knowles (Conservative), who served for six years.

The May 2015 borough elections produced 53 Conservative seats, 3 Farnham Residents and one Independent. Conservatives have run the Council since 2007, winning three consecutive elections, becoming the first party in the Borough to retain control, as before 2007 the control changed at each election.

The 2019 local elections reduced the Conservatives to just 23 seats with the Farnham Residents taking 15, Liberal Democrats 14, Green 2, Labour 2 and 1 Independent. A Farnham Residents-Liberal Democrat partnership took control with support from Labour and the Greens. John Ward (Farnham Residents) took over as Leader of the council with Paul Follows (Liberal Democrat) as Deputy Leader.

In November 2019, Cllr Townsend resigned her membership of the Conservatives to sit as an independent.[1]

Date Conservative Farnham Residents Lib Dems Greens Labour Independent Control
May 2015 53 3 0 0 0 1 Conservative
May 2019 23 15 14 2 2 1 Farnham-Lib Dem
November 2019 22 15 14 2 2 2 Farnham-Lib Dem

References
  1. "Prominent local Tory Liz Townsend resigns from the Conservative Party". Waverley Web. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
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