CALLS have been made for Victor Scrivens to stand down voluntarily from his post on the executive of Waverley Borough Council, after an attempt to force his removal failed. The leader of the borough council's Conservatives, David Harmer, put forward a motion to the council on Monday, calling for Mr Scrivens to be removed from the executive. The motion followed the suspension of the Liberal Democrat town and borough councillor from Farnham Town Council last month for a period of four months. This was after Mr Scrivens was found to have failed to disclose a personal interest and failed to withdraw from a council meeting when a matter in which he had a prejudicial interest was discussed. He was also judged to have improperly sought to influence a decision on the matter. Although the suspension does not affect his role as a borough councillor, the Tories put forward the motion for him to be removed from the executive, where he holds the housing portfolio. Mr Harmer told The Herald that he in fact wished only for Mr Scrivens to step down from his portfolio post and not from the executive altogether. However, the council's constitution did not allow him to ask for this, so he was forced to put forward the motion to remove him from the executive altogether. Mr Harmer told the meeting that he had written to the council's Lib Dem leader, Chris Slyfield, to ask for Mr Scrivens to be moved to a different portfolio. He pointed out that the council was moving forward with a hugely important housing issue - the transfer of its housing stock to a new housing association. During the transitional time it was important that tenants have "absolute confidence" in the portfolio holder in charge of housing. He said he received no reply from Mr Slyfield and therefore put forward the motion. Mr Harmer was backed by other Conservative councillors, who said that while they had no personal issues with Mr Scrivens, who represents Farnham Moor Park, it was vital that during this crunch time for housing that the public have confidence in the portfolio holder and the council. Sue Campany said that councillors were aware that they have to be "very careful" in the way they act and behave and that the council had to be seen to be acting correctly at all times. Richard Gates added that Mr Scrivens had done a fantastic job with the housing portfolio and suggested that during the "sensitive" time, Mr Scrivens utilises his expertise in a different field. However, the Liberal Democrats leapt to their colleague's defence. "I have the utmost confidence in Victor Scrivens," said Mr Slyfield, declaring that the councillor was the best man to hold the housing portfolio at this crucial time and that he saw no reason to change this. John Robini emphasised that the matter had been dealt with by the Standards Board for England and did not in any way relate to the borough. "It is all about Farnham and not Waverley," he said. The council rejected the motion by 26 votes to 19. However, Mr Harmer has called for Mr Scrivens to look at his position voluntarily.
