Woking Borough Council Leader John Kingsbury has delivered his speech to the Annual Meeting of Council in which he reflected on how Woking is being transformed under the Conservatives.
Following the installation of the new Mayor of Woking, Cllr Kingsbury addressed members and reflected on the success the council was experiencing in providing new homes - many of the in Woking Town Centre - in order to grow the town, support its businesses and access the maximum help from Central Government.
He reflected too on the improved Jubilee Square and on the new development planned for the bandstand area of the town, which will include a flagship Marks and Spencer store open before Christmas in four years' time.
He also announced that Cllr Ashley Bowes - formerly Chairman of the Planning Committee - would be joining the Executive Committee with the planning and licensing portfolio and thanked Cllr Carl Thomson, who steps down from the Executive Committee this year.
Cllr Kingsbury added: "I hope the Council accepts that what we have pursued together over the last few years has helped to enable our community to withstand these difficult economic times.
"However it is important for us all to remember that we did not get to this position by accident - we got here because of our shared commitment to invest in the future; let us continue to do so."
For the full text of Cllr Kingsbury's speech, please click below.