Thank you to all our sponsors who might like to look at the videos and photos of our participation in Sport Relief 2012. Nonsuch Park was oversubscribed (a limit of 1500 taking part in the Sport Relief Mile was set, but capacity probably needs to increase to 2000 next time). A sunny day and excellent stewarding by volunteers from Epsom & Ewell Borough Council created a splendid event once again.
Following discussions yesterday with local councillors and head teachers about a number of matters that have come to his attention subsequent to the Cabinet meeting on 28 February, particularly concerning the effect on Ewell Grove Infants School, Cllr Tim Hall the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning tabled an amendment at this morning's Council meeting.
The days when recycling in Epsom & Ewell were at worst nil, at best chaotic, are long gone (see photo) but we still only recycle half of our household waste.
Surrey County Council's annual Consultation on School Admissions was unusually controversial this year for parents wanting their children to attend Wallace Fields Junior School. Views were sought on the possible introduction of the Tiered Sibling criteria in 2013.
The borough council has a parking consultation under way about proposals to change the use of 12 Blue Badge parking bays in the Town Hall car park. The proposal is to make them "dual use" between 4pm and 7am.
Volunteers from the Lower Mole Countryside team held a session at the end of February to clear scrub from the disused allotments site at the end of Stones Road, Epsom. Vegetation was cleared from one side of the fence around the pond, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because it is home to great crested newts which are a protected species.
New rules that prevent councillors from funding street lighting, grit bins and highway schemes from their own local allocation budgets have been heavily criticised by Liberal Democrat County Councillors in Surrey. The rules, which were introduced by the Conservative-administration at the Annual General Meeting of the County Council held on 23rd May, prompted one Tory county councillor to speak out against their own Leader and several more abstained on a Liberal Democrat motion to drop the proposed change.
Liberal Democrat county councillors in Surrey have welcomed the news that the Conservative-administration at County Hall has finally agreed to scrap the 4 Cabinet Associate posts which have so far cost the tax payer nearly two hundred thousand pounds since they were introduced. Liberal Democrats have consistently called for these posts to be scrapped and for the money saved to be used on front line services, rather than on excessive allowances for Conservative county councillors. The roles that will end are:
Conservative councillor for Walton South, Christine Elmer leaves the Conservative Party and switches her allegiance to the Liberal Democrats Having spent 11 years working for the Conservatives, Walton South councillor Christine Elmer, has joined the Liberal Democrats party today. She announced her departure on Twitter saying:
Liberal Democrat county councillors have expressed their dismay at the news that Sajid Javid MP, the Conservative Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, has delayed the pilot scheme that would have allowed Surrey County Council to retain 100% of its business rates next year. The Government had previously agreed to allow Surrey County Council to apply to become a pilot for the scheme in 2018/19 but the sudden announcement of a general election has meant that the parliamentary process to confirm this has been interrupted and the pilot scheme delayed.
Liberal Democrat councillors have welcomed the decision by Conservative-run Surrey County Council to cease the publication of its unpopular "Surrey Matters" magazine. The magazine, which has cost council tax payers over £1.2m since 2011, was axed following a meeting of the County Council's Cabinet at the end of March. The last edition was published in January 2017 and the cancellation will save the County Council approximately £250K a year.
Liberal Democrat county councillors in Surrey have written to the Conservative Cabinet Member for the Environment asking him to name the date that the controversial "Tip Tax" will be scrapped. Following guidance issued by the Government earlier this week, Cllr Stephen Cooksey, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the Environment on Surrey County Council, has written to Cllr Mike Goodman, Cabinet Member for the Environment, asking him for further assurances that the charges will be dropped.
