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About Us - Councillors Matt Furniss and Andrew Hodges

Christchurch Conservatives are represented on Guildford Borough Council by Matt Furniss – the youngest councillor in Guildford and second youngest in the country, and Andrew Hodges the longest serving member of the Council and the Council leader. We represent all the electors to the best of our ability and will fight to protect the character of the ward and the borough.

Matt Furniss

I have lived in Guildford for 10 years. I was educated locally at Boxgrove Primary School and George Abbot School and at the University of Surrey studying politics.

I was elected as one of two local Conservative Councillors for the Christchurch Ward in May 2007.

I am a keen environmentalist pursuing greater efforts towards recycling and renewable energy in Guildford. I am one of the original team set up to fight to save the Royal Surrey County Hospital and I'm currently working hard on the 'Fight for it' team, regularly visiting the hospital and giving what assistance I can.

I currently serve on the Council's Environment & Housing Scrutiny Committee, Planning Committee and Standards & Audit Committee.

Andrew Hodges

Since 1976, I have been a Conservative councillor for the Christchurch ward. I am currently the leader of the majority Conservative Group and Leader of the Council.

My areas of responsibility are the council's strategic vision, overseeing council performance and achievement of political priorities, budget strategy, local strategic partnership and community plan, modernisation of local government, new political structures and constitution and liaison with business.

I live in the Christchurch ward, and have lived in or close to it since 1969. I currently live in London Road.

When first a member of the council, I was most involved with housing, becoming the Chairman of the Housing and Health Committee, once under Conservative control and once under no overall control. It was during the first chairmanship that the "Help on Hand " emergency communication system was developed for council tenants and private customers.

I was Vice-Chairman of the Arts and Recreation Committee at the time the decision was taken to build Spectrum. At the time, it was not a universally popular decision in the Christchurch ward. However, in the more than ten years it has been open, the objections have disappeared, and it is now a popular facility of a very high standard.

I am currently a member of the Board of the Surrey Probation Service

Promoted by Frank Young on behalf of Christchurch Conservatives both at 126 London Road Guildford GU1 1TT