BUSINESS Secretary Vince Cable has visited Woking to discuss with councillors a variety of issues facing residents and tour the revitalised Jubilee Square.
Mr Cable was also shown the planned Bandstand and Commercial Way developments, having had a drink and nachos at the Red Lion on Horsell High Street.
With Woking Council's borrowing costs currently more than £200 million, Mr Cable was asked if all councils should follow Woking's example of borrowing to stimulate economic development.
Mr Cable said: “Well it’s a very good model. I’ve been talking through the detail with the chief executive as well as the members and this seems to be a very intelligent use of public borrowing.
"I think people often confuse the issue of Government borrowing, which you do need to do capital investment, with dealing with the deficit, which is the gap between taxation and spending.
“What seems to have happened in Woking is exemplary.”
Mr Cable continued: “Coming into the town centre is also invigorating – there’s a highly creative local council here.
“I’m here with the local Liberal Democrat group who’ve acted as a catalyst to get the council moving in the right direction, using borrowing powers sensibly to generate an income and take some of the burden of council tax off residents, and it’s thriving – a really good example of district council management.”
Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Woking Council Cllr Denzil Coulson said: “It was a great honour to have a government minister taking time out of his busy schedule to visit Woking and see the cross-party supported economic development of Woking Town Centre.
“It is important for the Government to recognise, applaud and support Woking’s efforts to stimulate economic growth and provide new jobs, which local residents so desperately need, especially following the recent demise of Comet.”
Mr Cable also spoke to Cllr Will Forster and Cllr Liam Lyons about improvements to train services from Woking to encourage economic growth and a possible freeze in rail fares for commuters.