THE Lib Dem leader of Waverley Borough Council has denied that a reshuffle of its decision-making executive was a result of the suspension of a key portfolio holder, Victor Scrivens, from Farnham Town Council. Mr Scrivens, Waverley portfolio holder for housing until this week, was found guilty of breaching the town council's code of conduct by the Standards Panel or England and suspended from Farnham Town Council for four months last December. Local Tories, including David Harmer, the leader of the Waverley Borough Council Conservative group, called for him to be sacked from the cabinet. Some believed he should consider his future as a Waverley and Farnham councillor. But this week it was announced that Mr Scrivens will move from his high profile post to take on the portfolio for environment, with Ken Reed taking over the portfolio for housing and procurement. The changes, said the leader of Waverley, Chris Slyfield, "had nothing whatsoever to do with Mr Scriven's suspension from Farnham Town Council". "Vic Scrivens has worked very hard and diligently on housing, with boundless energy, and at the end of the day he just wanted to do something else," stressed Mr Slyfield. "He wanted to put his energies into the environment, having brought housing to a democratic conclusion," said Mr Slyfield, referring to the recent decision to transfer Waverley's housing stock to a new Waverley- created housing association. And he hit back at what he branded "cheap political pot shots" by Mr Harmer over comments made by him following Mr Scrivens suspension. "I find the way the Conservatives and their leadership approached that distasteful and I stood up and said so. "Under no circumstances will I be told what to do. Although there is now no overall control, we are still the largest party by one," declared Mr Slyfield. Mr Harmer told The Herald he was "quite surprised" by the changes. "I had regarded the matter as closed" he said. But he said that "putting Ken Reed in charge of housing is good news for tenants". "He made his position clear and voted for stock transfer," said Mr Harmer, pointing the finger at several members of the executive who spoke out instead for an alternative management scheme. The reshuffle was brought about after a decision by the Mayor of Waverley, Victor Duckett, to ditch the Lib Dem group and become an independent, leaving the party in turmoil with the balance of power in the hands of just two independents. In the meantime, Farnham Town Council was this week forced to elect a replacement vice-chairman for its environmental services committee for the period of Mr Scriven's suspension. Mr Scriven's post as chairman of Surrey County Association of Parish and Town Councils has been handed over to Mark Norris during his time out of office. Mr Scrivens told The Herald that he was delighted with his new executive role as portfolio holder for the environment. "It is exciting to be given that post and it gives the potential to do things for the environment for the people of Waverley. "There are major conferences going on about the whole of the environment and it will make a difference if we look at those issues." He said the reshuffle "would bring a new face" to the housing option appraisal following a time of dramatic change. He said he was "quite proud" of what he had achieved but "it was time to move on". The portfolio responsibilities for the executive are: Chris Slyfield (leader) - corporate strategy; Gillian Ferguson (deputy leader) - parishes, partnerships and local economy; Michael Allan - implementing e-government; Stewart Edge - finance, human resources and best value; Byron Grainger-Jones - leisure, culture and tourism; Chris Mansell - East Street and property management; Ken Reed- housing and procurement; John Robini - community, youth and car parks; Celia Savage - planning and major projects; Victor Scrivens - environment.
