In February I called an additional meeting of the Woking Borough Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 21^st March, to look at the work of Woking Borough Council’s arms length companies.  This was following concern from a number of members of the council as well as members of the public that Woking Borough councillors do not have enough information about what is happening within Woking Borough Council’s arms length companies to be able to comment on and scrutinise this work adequately.

The aim of the meeting was to gain a better understanding of how Woking Borough Council and Woking Borough Council’s arms length companies communicate and to identify possible improvements in how they communicate.

It was my intention that by examining and possibly improving the communication methods, this should lead to improved communication between the council and the council’s arms length companies such as the Thameswey group of companies. In the hope that this will in turn reduce the potential for Woking Borough Council’s arms length companies to act contrary to the wishes of councillors and the residents they represent.

The meeting involved presentations from council officers and representatives of the Thameswey group of companies as well as a lengthy opportunity for councillors to put questions.

A report coming to the full council meeting on Thursday 14th April seeks to address the issues raised by councillors during this meeting.  For me the test I will judge any such proposals against will be whether it will be possible for me as a councillor to know what is happening within the Thamesway group and be able to comment on it, prior to decisions being taken, as at present I do not feel this is the case.