Executive

The Executive consists of the Leader, who is elected by the Full Council, and up to nine councillors appointed by the Leader, one of whom is designated as the Deputy Leader.  The Executive is responsible for proposing new policy and the budget to the Full Council and for implementing and delivering the agreed policy framework and budget. Executive responsibilities are divided into portfolios allocated to each Executive member. At Annual Council on 23 May 2023, Cllr Paul Follows was elected as Leader of the Council. The Membership of the Executive from 12 January 2026 is set out below:

Executive Member

Executive Portfolio

Cllr Paul Follows Liberal Democrats  

Leader of the Council & Portfolio Holder for Policy, Governance and Communications

Cllr Liz Townsend Liberal Democrats  

Deputy Leader & Portfolio Holder for Planning & Regeneration and Economic Development

Cllr Janet Crowe Liberal Democrats  

Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Delivery)  

Cllr Adam Duce Liberal Democrats  

Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability

Cllr Tony Fairclough Liberal Democrats  

Portfolio Holder for Enforcement and Regulatory Services

Cllr Victoria Kiehl Liberal Democrats

Portfolio Holder for Organisational Development and Governance  

Cllr Gemma Long Liberal Democrats

Portfolio Holder for Customer Services and IT  

Cllr Mark Merryweather Liberal Democrats

Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Property  

Cllr Kika Mirylees Farnham Residents  

Portfolio Holder for Community Services, Leisure and EDI

Cllr Paul Rivers Liberal Democrats  

Co-Portfolio Holder for Housing (Operations and Services)

  The work of the Executive is set out in a Forward Plan which contains the key decisions the Executive expects to make over the coming months. It also gives notice of any reports which will be discussed in Exempt (Confidential) session from which the public and press are excluded.   The Executive agenda gives notice of meetings and details the items to be considered, including brief details of any items to be discussed in Exempt.   The day after the meeting, a Decision Notice is published which lists the Executive decisions taken and sets out those matters that may be called-in for scrutiny by the Overview & Scrutiny Committees.