Council Silences Resident

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Tuesday 7 April 2026 saw a local resident and a witness to that which she and her husband had endured at the hands of Guildford Borough Council, attend the full Council meeting held at Council Chambers, Guildford Borough Council, Millmead, Guildford, Surrey. 

Cllr McShane recognised the resident with whom she and CEO Pedro Wrobel had met in person in June 2025 following numerous FOI and direct email requests. Following this the Chair of the meeting, The Mayor, Cllr Howard Smith chose to dis-allow the representation from the resident under Item 6 Public Participation as stated in the agenda.

The resident stated that due to family issues, she had been unable to comply with Council Procedure Rule 11 but that she appreciated the opportunity to speak. This was DENIED.

The resident received an email from John Armstrong the following day. Who at GBC chose to share the residents email address without her consent? As the resident had not given permission for her email address to be shared, this is a blatant breach of GDPR. What next?

These are the residents questions she wished to air.

1. Why was there no contract in place between GBC and Sovereign Group Limited relating to the replacement window and door programme in Rapleys Field and Fir Tree Road, March/April 2023? As of 19 December 2024 said contract was still unsigned, undated and did not contain the GBC seal. This information was gained via a Freedom of Information Act request, yet Labour Only Window Fitters as hired by Sovereign Group Limited were again replacing doors and windows in Rapleys Field during December 2024 and January 2025. Why, how and on whose authority was this continuation of work granted?

2. The Schedule of Works as issued to Leaseholders in August 2022, in relation to the replacement window and door programme states:

a. Item 6.1 under the heading General:

All windows are to achieve an Energy Rating of Class A. 

Why was it then that the replacement windows in ground floor properties were Energy Rating C and first floor properties Energy Rating B and why was this change never communicated to Leaseholders?

b. Item 23.1 under the heading Scaffolding, Fans, Tarpaulin:

The Window Contractor is to supply all necessary scaffolding, fans, tarpaulins to comply with all safety regulations. NB. The buildings will be in occupation during the work and the Window Contractor is to allow for all necessary temporary protection to tenants fixtures and fittings.

Why then was the work conducted without any scaffolding, fans, tarpaulins? Is it because no contract existed between GBC and Sovereign Group Limited?

3. Why were no asbestos tests completed prior to work commencing?

4. Why and on whose authority did GBC ignore HSE protocols in relation to RIDDOR and overrule the Technical Lead and his teams wishes to report when on 27 April 2023 following a piece being broken from the soffit above the bay window in our home by the Labour Only Window Fitters from Sovereign Group Limited. The soffits were confirmed as being asbestos containing materials by the Particle Analyst from e-Brite.

5. In December 2024 and January 2025 GBC replaced the soffits around their properties in Rapleys Field except those around our home. Why was this when GBC knew back in April 2023 that the soffits contained asbestos? Why did we have to complain yet again in order to get them replaced?

6. Why does GBC continually seek to mislead tenants and leaseholders? For example, 

a.  30 January 2024, Annie Righton in an email stated “The Officer was in regular communication with Sovereign Group Ltd and agreed to a variation to the specification for the energy rating of the windows on 23 March 2023 for technical reasons.” These have never been explained nor was this change conveyed to Leaseholders. This decision was purely financial and did not provide GBC or its leaseholders with VFM.

b. 28 November 2024, Siobhan Rumble in an email stated “There is no WER rating for the windows, however I have attached a report and the FENSA Certificate, we do not have any further information to give you.” June 2022 regulation changed to ensure that all new and replacement windows carried a WER rating. It should be noted that in this instance I am referring to the second set of windows as installed by Seville Developments.

c. March 17 2025, Keith Erridge, Special Projects Officer Housing Repairs stated the following in an email to us: However, a dispute arose between the officer and Sovereign before any work commenced, preventing the physical contract from being completed. This is a blatant mis-representation of the facts as the Labour Only Window Fitters carried out work at our home.

7. How many leaseholders have been invoiced? 

8. What is fraud? One meaning of fraud is taking payment for services or products which don’t match that as stated. When will GBC come clean and advise leaseholders that the windows they had installed were not those as stated in the Schedule of Works and will GBC be prepared to refund those leaseholders?

9. Why did GBC choose to lie about the amount the Housing Ombudsman can award to successful claimants?

10. My husband has recently been diagnosed with cancer, I too am currently undergoing tests but as yet have no diagnosis. Asbestos in any form is a carcinogen. There is every possibility that both he and I were exposed to asbestos during the period April 2023 to February 2025. Your offer of compensation is derogatory to say the least. If as you, GBC have constantly stated that there was a contract in place with Sovereign Group Limited, why then do you refuse to increase your offer to us and claim it back under the following:

Section 5: Injury, Damage and insurance

5.1 Contractors Liability -  personal injury or death

The contractor shall be liable for, and shall indemnify the Employer against, any expense, liability, loss, claim or proceedings whatsoever, in respect of personal injury to or death of any person arising out of or in the course of or caused of by the carrying out of the Works, except to the extent that  the same is due to any act or neglect of the Employer, any Employer's Person or any Statutory Undertaker.

In this instance GBC is the Employer, Sovereign Group Limited are the 'Contractor', the Lead Specialist -Legal becomes any Employer's Person or any Statutory Undertaker.

It is the Lead Specialist - Legal who is at fault here having given Sovereign Group Limited the go ahead to continue work. They, along with the Leader of the Council and CEO are accountable for the actions of GBC.