Public Meeting on Epsom General Hospital
The borough council is to host a public meeting on Epsom General Hospital on Wednesday 4th March at 7.30 pm in the council chamber.
The borough council is to host a public meeting on Epsom General Hospital on Wednesday 4th March at 7.30 pm in the council chamber.
Despite constructive proposals from the Lib Dem opposition for a smaller rise, the RA-led borough council have set an above-inflation increase in Council Tax of 3.9%. Taken with the 2.9% increase for Surrey County Council and 4.9% for the Surrey police, this will lead to an overall increase of 3.3% in Council Tax bills in the borough.
It seems that borough and county councillor Nigel Petrie recently failed to be re-selected as an RA candidate for next June's county council elections. At least this is being stated by Stoneleigh RA chairman Bill Slaughter as the reason behind Cllr Petrie's sudden surprise announcement that he has joined the Conservative party.
Two controversial planning applications affecting the former stables of "The Durdans" in Chalk Lane have been resoundingly rejected at a special meeting of the Planning Committee.
When the latest FOCUS newsletter predicted a personal attack on the Lib Dem candidate from the Labour party, they were absolutely right!
Liberal Democrats are pleased to publicise that the council's recycling vehicles also now collect household batteries and claim most residents have no idea that their doorstep collection will deal with these items.
Surrey Liberal Democrats at County Hall have been denied the opportunity to debate the failures of the Tory administration and the millions of Council Taxpayers' money wasted. The ruling Conservative group refused to allow the debate saying that they did not have enough information to debate the subject adequately.
The European Parliament has come to an agreement with the European Council on a deal that will significantly cut the cost of mobile roaming SMS (texting) and data charges from the 1st July 2009.
Surrey Police have cut costs and red tape, to put more PCs back on the streets. However their government grant is less than half the national average, so despite cutting 144 administrative jobs, they needed to raise their share of council tax by 4.9%. The Labour government has threatened to "cap" them, which would entail the loss of another 80 staff, including front line PCs.
MEPs have approved an updated EU law which aims to streamline existing regulations on cosmetics and increase their safety. The proposals increase manufacturers' responsibility for safety whilst cutting red tape.
South East MEP, Sharon Bowles, has launched a campaign to improve rail services within the South East of England. The campaign was launched following growing dissatisfaction among constituents using rail services.
South East Lib Dem European Candidate Catherine Bearder has produced a video looking at the issue of climate change, and new coal power stations like that proposed at Kingsnorth in Kent.