“My name’s Dale Layman and I’ve called Guildford home for over 30 years. In that time, I’ve seen our community grow and thrive — but I’ve also seen how years of poor decisions and mismanagement have let residents down. Now retired after a long and successful career in pharmaceutical sales, I have the time, energy and determination to give something back to the town I love. My promise is simple: I will always put residents first. That means a common-sense approach to policy-making, cutting out waste and making sure every pound of your council tax goes where it should — into the frontline services that protect, support and strengthen our community. Guildford deserves better. With Reform, we can bring honesty, accountability and value for money back into local government. It’s not complicated. It’s just common sense.”

 

MY COMMITMENT TO YOU

 

 

My Vision for Surrey County Council (Guildford South East Division)

1. Housing & Local Services

“Putting residents first, not developer profits or Westminster targets.”

• Housing pressure isn’t just about building — it’s about schools, roads, and social care. Surrey County Council must plan for new homes responsibly, ensuring local services meet residents’ needs.
• Reform will focus on brownfield regeneration and sustainable communities: fewer greenfield sprawl developments, smarter use of derelict sites.
• We also need sensible demand management: by reducing excessive immigration, we ensure housing demand aligns with what local services can realistically support.

2. Fiscal Responsibility & Cutting Waste

“Every pound of council tax counts — we will spend it wisely.”

• Surrey County Council’s debt has risen 48% in a single year, from £726.9m to £1.07bn. This is unsustainable.
• Reform will fight wasteful projects and mismanagement, ensuring taxpayers’ money goes to essential services — schools, roads, libraries, social care, not failed schemes or ideological experiments.
• We will increase transparency in budgeting and hold officers and councillors accountable for spending.

3. Council Tax & Governance

“No hidden taxes, full accountability.”

• Surrey residents already pay high council tax rates. Reform will ensure SCC is transparent about how money is spent.
• We oppose unnecessary bureaucracy and schemes that hide costs or create extra layers of administration.
• Accountability must remain direct to residents, with SCC making decisions for the benefit of the county, not passing costs onto parish councils or other structures.

4. Net Zero & Transport Policies

“Practical solutions, not ideological punishments.”

• Surrey County Council’s commitments to UK100 Net Zero targets have led to costly, anti-car policies that restrict freedom without delivering real benefits.
• Reform opposes: ULEZ-style charges, blanket 20mph zones, unaffordable energy schemes, and over-policed Vision Zero measures.
• Policies must be practical, cost-effective, and focused on services residents actually need, not chasing UN targets or scare stories.

5. Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

“Don’t let Westminster shuffle our county at residents’ expense.”

• LGR was promised to save billions and improve services — but the government never did a proper cost analysis. Outdated reports suggested savings, but new warnings show reorganisation could cost up to £850m over five years and deliver nothing.
• The result: disruption, extra work, and cost dumped on councils and residents already under strain.
• Reform will focus on fixing services, not chasing structural experiments imposed from Whitehall.

6. Real Change for Guildford & Surrey Residents

“Putting people ahead of politics.”

• Reform is the only party challenging waste, ideological experiments, and mismanagement while putting residents first.
• We will ensure SCC delivers value for money, practical policies, and local services that genuinely improve lives.
• If you want responsible, accountable, common-sense government for Guildford and Surrey, you need to vote Reform.

 

 

 

 

Only a Reform Councillor will fight for your interests and put the people who matter – residents – first. Lend me your vote on October 16th and I commit to fighting for you, for Guildford South East. 

 

VOTE REFORM. VOTE DALE LAYMAN ON OCTOBER 16TH.

 

 

Want to help my campaign? Please donate to support my fight for a better future.

 

DONATE HERE