At December's meeting of the Borough Council, Cllr Jonathan Lees was heavily criticised by the leaders of the RA Party for "daring" to suggest that the public should be allowed to ask questions at the start of meetings. Cllr Lees said later, "We obviously touched a raw nerve tonight!"
In answer to yet another question from Cllr Colin Taylor about enforcement of on-street parking, it has finally been confirmed that a Warden employed by Epsom & Ewell BC has at last started work booking anti-social parkers who abuse yellow lines.
Cabinet Minister Peter Hain has predicted that disillusioned Labour voters will defect to the Liberal Democrats at the General Election. Speaking to The Birmingham Post, Peter Hain, Leader of the House of Commons, revealed his fears that former Labour supporters who opposed the war in Iraq could back the Lib Dems at the next General Election.
The Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has topped a poll of party leaders and their 'likeability'. The Populus poll carried out by The Times on the likeability of the party leaders, has shown that Charles Kennedy is liked by 50% of voters, and has a net approval of +16%.
Top ten reasons to vote Liberal Democrat:
Hartlepool barrister Jody Dunn came just over 2,000 votes behind Labour in the Hartlepool by-election, with a 19% swing from Labour to the Lib Dems, pushing the Tories into 4th place behind UKIP.
In December 2001, Surrey County Council's Planning and Regulatory Committee met to decide on three of the most controversial Planning Applications for many years - the 3 so-called "Energy from Waste" Incinerators in Redhill, Guildford and Capel, south of Dorking. The large attendance by the public was catered for by a video link to the sports hall.
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".
