Mayor Richard Billington chaired an extraordinary full council meeting on the 4th of March which addressed the intervention required following the collapse of Normandy Parish council. The meeting confirmed that following the recent resignation of 7 parish councillors, Normandy Parish Council could no longer meet lawfully and fulfil the function as they were not quorate. An Election will be held in 6 May 2021 to select new councillors, however until then Guildford Borough Council (GBC) has agreed to an Order under Section 91 of The Location Government Act 1972, to make temporary appointments to Normandy parish council to enable it to conduct its business.
The leader of the Council, Joss Bigmore, reported that the appointments had been made from within each political party to avoid any political bias, although each Councillor would act in a personal capacity, each from nearby wards and/or divisions. Members whom have had previous Parish Council experience were welcomed. Councillors David Bilbe, Bob McShee, Ramsey Nagaty, Paul Spooner and Fiona White had all agreed to the temporary appointment, and joined two existing Parish Councillors to form a Parish Council of 7 until May.
Cllr Paul Spooner has advised us that he was very happy to offer help and assistance to Normandy residents, “our focus was to ensure that when newly elected Councillors joined the Parish Council in May that the administrative processes and policies were in a fit and proper state for the new Council”. He said that the interim Parish Councillors would also ensure that finances and audit processes were sound and that all were ready to work with the Parish Clerk with help from Surrey Associations of Local Councils (SALC).
The meeting also featured an address from Normandy Resident Roisin Bailey on behalf of the Parishioners of Normandy.
“We welcome the proposal for our Borough Council to appoint some temporary councillors to enable Normandy Parish Council to start functioning again”.
She went on to highlight Cllr David Bilbé (ward member of Normandy) “familiar as he is with our village and its affairs will of course make a very valuable contribution”. She was assured that GBC “will be able to select an independent and skilful chairperson” in order to steer the interim council sensitively and effectively through to the next election. She ended her address by highlighting “the Borough Councillors who are offering to work with Normandy to get us back onto an even keel, I and my fellow Normandy people say thank you and welcome.”
Image Credits:
- Normandy Parish Council: Hillbers
