Key People
The individuals responsible for the decisions that led to Woking's financial collapse
The Woking scandal was not the result of abstract institutional failure. Specific individuals made specific decisions over many years that drove the council to the brink of financial ruin. From the chief executive who exercised “excessive influence” over decision-making, to the finance officer who failed to raise the alarm, to the political leaders who approved the strategy without challenge — the people below each played a role in what the Grant Thornton Public Interest Report found were “potentially unlawful” practices.
Ray Morgan
Under FRC investigation (opene...Chief Executive Officer
1989-2021 (32 years)
Architect of the borrowing strategy who led the council for 32 years and oversaw the accumulation of nearly £2 billion in debt. The Grant Thornton Public Interest Report found that Morgan exercised 'excessive influence' over the council and its commercial activities.
Douglas Spinks
Retired, no known ongoing proc...Deputy Chief Executive
1984-2021 (37 years)
Long-serving Deputy CEO who worked alongside Ray Morgan for decades and supported the council's commercial borrowing strategy. Left the council in 2021 after 37 years of service.
Peter Bryant
Retired, no known ongoing proc...Monitoring Officer / Director of Legal Services
1988-2021 (33 years)
Served as the council's Monitoring Officer for over three decades. As the officer responsible for ensuring the legality of council decisions, he should have flagged legal concerns about the borrowing strategy but failed to do so.
Leigh Clarke
Under FRC investigation (opene...Section 151 Officer / Director of Finance
2014-2023
Served as the council's Section 151 Officer, the statutory role responsible for financial oversight and ensuring the lawfulness of expenditure. Failed to issue timely warnings about the unsustainability of the council's debt. Under FRC investigation since February 2025.
John Kingsbury
No longer council leader follo...Conservative Council Leader
Council Leader during investment period
Political leader of the Conservative administration that approved and supported the borrowing strategy. Provided political backing for the commercial ventures championed by council officers.
Ann-Marie Barker
Current Council Leader, managi...Liberal Democrat Council Leader
2022-present
Became Council Leader after the Liberal Democrats won the May 2022 local elections. Inherited the financial crisis and has led the council through the Section 114 process, working transparently with government commissioners.
Wayne Gold
No known proceedings. GolDev W...Managing Director, GolDev Ltd / Property Developer
Involvement with Woking: 2016-2021
Property developer whose company GolDev Woking Ltd received a £250 million revolving loan facility from Woking Borough Council — without a guarantor, without credit checks, and following what an independent review described as 'wholly inadequate' due diligence. The stadium and housing scheme the loan was intended to fund was refused planning permission and lost on appeal.
Government Commissioners
Actively overseeing council re...Appointed by Secretary of State
May 2023-present (led by Jim Taylor)
Team of commissioners appointed by the Secretary of State in May 2023 to oversee Woking Borough Council's financial recovery. Led by Jim Taylor, the team has broad powers over the council's financial decisions and has published four reports documenting the scale of the problems and progress of recovery.