On Saturday 12th May, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council are organising a Round The Borough Walk which will take in 20 miles of scenery. Two, possibly three of your Lib Dem councillors are going to attempt the epic journey!
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.
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.
Liberal Democrats have welcomed the decision of Surrey County Council to write to the 11 MPs that represent the county, asking them to lobby government over the funding shortfall for Surrey schools. Last month, the county council unanimously adopted a Liberal Democrat motion calling for the county council to recognise the shortfall in the government's funding offer and calling for more resources for Surrey schools.
Commenting on his recent selection as Liberal Democrat county council candidate for Walton at the elections in Surrey on May 4th 2017, former Elmbridge Conservative Councillor Chris Elmer said today: "Here in Surrey I became disillusioned with the Conservative administration while I was still a Conservative Elmbridge Borough Councillor. When as a member of the same political group my efforts on behalf of my ward residents were frustrated at every stage, something is very wrong. They have had control for too long and become both complacent and arrogant - so I am very clear that Surrey needs a fresh start with the Liberal Democrats. "With regard to national events, it was the referendum result to leave the EU and the damaging consequences for our living standards and rights that made me decide that my political allegiance now lay with the Liberal Democrats. I suppose the bottom line is that I had to grow up politically - and fast given the alarming result. It was always going to be hard to make such a decision
Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that the Conservative Secretary of State for the Environment Food & Rural Affairs, Andrea Leadsom MP, has called upon councils to scrap their charges for disposing of household waste at Community Recycling Centres (CRCs). Conservative-run Surrey County Council brought in the unpopular charges in September 2016 despite massive opposition from Liberal Democrat county councillors and residents. Cllr Stephen Cooksey, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Environment & Highways, said today: "I have written to the Secretary of State asking her when the household waste charges in Surrey will be scrapped. She has been very clear in setting out her position but when will her Tory colleagues in Surrey get the message that these charges have to go?". NOTES
Surrey Liberal Democrats have unveiled a full slate of 81 candidates across every division in Surrey to take on the Conservative-administration at County Hall in May's elections - the only opposition party to do so. Cllr Hazel Watson, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, said today: "I am delighted that we are fielding such a strong set of candidates for the County Council elections in May. We need a fresh start in Surrey and an end to the 'crisis management' at County Hall, which has resulted in the 15% council tax fiasco, £123m of cuts to services, 'gentleman's agreements', secret recordings and leaked text messages, all of which saw Surrey in the newspapers and TV bulletins for all the wrong reasons. Liberal Democrats led the successful campaign to stop the 15% council tax increase proposed by the Conservative administration at County Hall. We will continue to oppose any future attempts to impose such a large council tax increase on Surrey residents. "Liberal Democrat candidates acro
Liberal Democrat county councillors in Surrey are delighted that following a question in the House of Lords by Lib Dem Environment spokesperson Baroness Kate Parminter, it has again been confirmed that DIY waste should be disposed of for free.
