Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy today launched the Liberal Democrat Pre-manifesto - the first important stage in the manifesto process, which will take the Party into the General Election.
Under new Liberal Democrat proposals police chiefs would sign contracts with local communities setting out how many officers they would deploy. The "minimum policing guarantees" would set funding levels for local police for a rolling three-year period. The guarantees are part of the party's new plans to tackle crime. The plans include using money earmarked for the government's ID card plan to hire an extra 10,000 front line police and 20,000 community support officers.
Surrey County Council's Conservative-run administration have rejected a call by the Liberal Democrats for the County's speed limits policy to be changed to make it easier for 20mph zones to be introduced where evidence says they are required and they are supported by local residents.
Councillor Fiona White (Guildford West), the Deputy Leader of Surrey County Council Liberal Democrats has condemned the Conservative leadership at County Hall for having no ambition to improve arrangements for the protection of children in Surrey.
At tomorrow's meeting of the Full Council of Surrey County Council Liberal Democrats will be calling on the Conservative-run County Council to enable more parents of disabled children to have short breaks to support them in their caring role.
Commenting on the Chancellor's Autumn Statement announced yesterday, Cllr Hazel Watson Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition on Surrey County Council said:
Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have criticised the Conservative-run administration at County Hall for spending £4,158 of Surrey Council Taxpayers money on a two day trip to Farnham Castle in Surrey for 26 senior Conservative councillors and council officers.
An answer to a question from Surrey County Council's Liberal Democrat Communities spokesperson Councillor John Orrick to the County's Conservative Cabinet today has confirmed that the Liberal Democrats were right to raise concerns about co-operation across the County's borders over fire and rescue provision.
