Teenage recreation facilities in Alexandra Park are to get a boost because of the Borough Council's successful bid for Big Lottery money. A consultation event will be held in the main Pavilion on Tuesday 4th September (5pm - 7pm) at which your ward councillors and council officers will be present to listen to views of teenage users of the park.
Following the public meeting held at the Phoenix Club on 2nd August, Tim Murphy who chaired the meeting, wrote to the Borough Planning Officer summarising the views expressed by residents. See the "Related Link" for a copy of his letter.
A public meeting on 2nd August was attended by upwards of 50 residents from the Lintons Lane area, concerned at development proposals for the Lintons Centre nearby.
Ward councillors have arranged a public meeting for Thursday 2nd August at 7.30 pm at the Phoenix Club: there was every indication that a planning officer and the planning applicants would attend.
A meeting of the Borough Council on Tuesday 24th July resulted in the first truly cross-party decision on the future of Epsom Hospital.
Residents' Party councillors voted themselves a huge increase in their allowances from August this year despite a move from the Lib Dem Opposition to limit the rise to inflation.
Liberal Democrat County Councillors tried at today's council meeting to ensure that priorities important to Surrey residents are included in the Council's formal list of priorities for the next four years. Hazel Watson, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the County Council, said: "The Conservative administration's plans need to be clearer and more specific. Important priorities are missing from the Conservatives' plans."
Surrey County Council's poor performance in the delivery of some of its key services, compared to other councils, was highlighted today by the Liberal Democrats. Of particular concern is its poor performance in improving the condition of the roads. According to recent Government figures nearly 40% of Surrey's main roads were in need of repair last year.
The new Lib Dem team at County Hall dived straight in today, putting forward proposals to give Surrey residents the right to present petitions to the Full Council. For the first time this would allow residents direct access to its most important decision-making body. The intention was to make the County Council more democratic by bringing it into line with the many other councils across the country that already give their residents this right. The motion was proposed by Eddie Owen (Guildford East) and seconded by John Doran (Horsell). However the proposals were voted down by an alliance of Conservative and Labour councillors, so Surrey residents will continue to be denied the rights available to residents in many other parts of the country.
Following the County Council elections on 5th May, the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council re-elected Hazel Watson as Group Leader, with Ian Beardsmore as her deputy. Colin Taylor chairs the group and John Doran is treasurer.
Sharon Bowles officially became a Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament on 25th May 2005, taking over from Chris Huhne who has been elected to the Westminster Parliament. As the Liberal Democrats latest addition to the European Parliament, Sharon now represents South East England alongside Emma Nicholson MEP.
The new enlarged Surrey County Council (now with 80 members) met formally for the first time on 24th May. A new chair (David Davis) and vice-chair (Angela Fraser) were elected. The previous leader Nick Skellett was re-elected and announced his new cabinet, including three new faces.
