Surrey County Council's increase in Council Tax of "only" 5% may not be as high as in some recent years, but not only is it around twice the rate of inflation, it comes at a high price in terms of cuts in services, with the expectation of hundreds of staff redundancies to follow in April.
The new leader of the national Liberal Democrat party is currently being chosen by the party's thousands of ordinary members, on the basis of "one member - one vote" using the democratic Single Transferable Vote system by ranking the three candidates in order of preference. The deadline for ballot papers is 1st March and the name of the new Leader will be announced on 2nd March in time for the party's Spring Conference at Harrogate, starting on 3rd March.
There is so far no firm news about the formal inquiry to be held by a Planning Inspector into Rosebery's appeal against Epsom & Ewell Planning Committee's refusal of their application to build 72 new dwellings accessed from Rosebank on part of the school playing field, known locally as the Cabbage Patch. It is understood that current delays in holding planning inquiries are such that it might be autumn before this one is heard, but on the other hand efforts are being made to reduce delays.
Amongst the cuts in Surrey County Council front line services proposed by the Conservatives' "BDR review" is the closure of 6 local libraries, including the one in Ewell Court House. Its loss would not only be a blow to library users who find it more convenient than the alternatives at Stoneleigh, Bourne Hall or the Ebbisham Centre, it would also put at jeopardy the survival of Ewell Court House itself, recently rescued by the volunteers of ECHO from plans to turn it into flats, proposed by Epsom & Ewell's RA controlled council.
Willie Rennie's election as the new MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, home of chancellor Gordon Brown, takes the total of Lib Dems in the House of Commons to 63. His by-election victory not only saw a 16% swing from New Labour to the Liberal Democrats, it also saw David Cameron's Conservatives retain fourth place with a swing of 9% from the Conservatives to the Lib Dems.
Despite the eloquent pleas of a member of the public representing the parents of children attending the St Martin's pre-school playgroup, EEBC's Planning Committee voted to reject a proposal for refusal made by Cllr Colin Taylor and seconded by Cllr Nigel Pavey (both Lib Dem).
Despite strong opposition from the Liberal Democrat group, the Conservative majority on Surrey County Council has forced through a sell off of Surrey school support services to warship makers Vosper Thornycroft.
The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have successfully forced the Conservative administration to reconsider their decision to cut bus services from September, even though they refused to debate a Lib Dem motion before the summer holidays.
The Conservative Executive of Surrey County Council have decided to withdraw large numbers of evening and weekend bus services right across Surrey with effect from September 2003. This was agreed at their meeting on the 10th of June.
Surrey County Council has increased its share of council tax for 2003-2004 by 17.9%. Cllr. Janet Maines, Lib Dem group leader said: "This Tory-run County Council has got to move away from crisis management, with its ever spiralling costs, by investing in preventative measures that are good value for money and that better meet the needs of Surrey residents".
