PROMISING a different style of leadership to what went before, Councillor Hodge, together with new deputy leader Peter Martin, said theirs would be a "listening leadership" when they took office on October 11. After just eight weeks in charge, two of the major decisions made by Cllr Hodge's predecessor Andrew Povey had been reversed.

But while many predicted the decision to scrap county-wide proposals for on-street town centre parking charges, few foresaw the decision to reinstate professional part-time workers at libraries threatened with closure.

While the new leadership stopped short of agreeing it had performed two significant U-turns in policy, and refused to admit the council got it wrong, both men were keen to stress they were listening and accepted there might be better ways to do things than they first thought.

Cllr Hodge, who also represents Warlingham on the council, said: "It's an insult to the public of Surrey to call the library and the parking decisions U-turns. The people of Surrey expect us to do what is best for them and recognise the huge financial pressures. We've got to be brave enough and honest enough to do that.

"Sometimes you have to look back and say – there is another way to do it. Did we get it wrong? We always had an option to do things differently."

The parking charges plan would have meant pay-and-display machines introduced in Banstead, Horley and Reigate town centres.

But in his inaugural speech, Councillor Hodge got rid of the enormously unpopular scheme, which had provoked 26,000 people into signing a petition calling for it to be shelved.

Speaking at County Hall in Kingston, he said: "I believe we should be strong enough to recognise when we have got something wrong."

And on Tuesday last week, Surrey County Council changed its policy on "under-performing" libraries.

Previously, the council had insisted ten under-threat libraries on the council's hit list, including Warlingham and Tattenham, faced closure unless volunteers stepped in to run them.

Widespread protests about the loss of professional staff, including a large presence at council meetings whenever the issue was discussed, attempted to change the council's mind.

The plan would have taken effect in April 2013. Instead, libraries will have a paid member of staff on site for up to 20 per cent of their opening hours.

Cllr Hodge added he was aware of what he saw as a vocal minority in the public gallery when "unpopular" decisions were made, but he did not set too much store by them.

He added: "You've got to accept there are times when people are not happy with a decision you've made.

"When there was a reaction from the public gallery about libraries, my reaction was those people had a passion and a right to their point of view.

"But it doesn't mean that just because a number of people suddenly turn up and start screaming and shouting that they are right for the whole of Surrey. I prefer a rational debate. I'm the leader of the county council for 1.1 million people. I have to listen sometimes to the silent majority."