The Federation of Small Businesses is taking action to save small shops, after a House of Commons All-Party Committee estimated there would be no independent retailers left by 2015. It is running a nationwide petition in support of the appointment of an independent "regulator", so that local planning decisions do not have a negative effect on the local community.
The gloves are off in a Lib Dem councillor's fight to save facilities planned for teenagers in Court Recreation Ground. A full debate on the issue will take place at a meeting of the whole council in December.
Shoppers in Wales could face paying up to 20p if they use plastic bags at the checkout after the Climate Change Law comes into force.
When Liberal Democrat councillors in Epsom and Ewell asked the borough council to separate out the views of young people aged 18 to 34 in their Residents' Survey, they were surprised to be told at the Leisure Committee on 27th October that "young people are generally considered as 11-19 year olds".
There's good news for the 160 people on waiting lists for allotments in that the Council can go ahead and create new plots for use next year.
Lib Dem councillors sent out a strong message to the council's Environment Committee meeting on Wednesday 22nd October that local residents need clear and detailed information on the new recycling regime.
When the use of Wells House, Epsom for children's respite care ended in December 2006, parents were told that a replacement facility would be provided in Banstead by September 2007. This has not yet happened, and when Cllr Colin Taylor (Lib Dem) asked the Executive Member for an update it was revealed that the new unit is now expected to open two years late in September 2009.
Closely behind the disastrous inspection of its Children's Services, the County Council has now received criticism of its adult social services from CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspection). As a result, the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council are demanding improvements.
Following the damning Ofsted inspection of Surrey County Council's Children & Families' service in July, the government stepped in to safeguard vulnerable children who have been put at risk.
Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg has issued the following message.
The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have called for the Conservative administration to get a grip on its finances, after revealing it has £58 million of unspent capital in its coffers from the 2007/08 financial year.
South East MEP Sharon Bowles (Lib Dem) was disappointed by the news that after holding its previous two plenary sessions in Brussels, due to the collapse of the ceiling of the chamber in Strasbourg, the European Parliament would be returning to its regular seat for its October session.
