
Surrey families know the real story behind Conservative claims
Surrey's Conservative leader is trying to rewrite history as his council faces dissolution - but families across our county know the real story of Tory failure
Surrey's Conservative leader is trying to rewrite history as his council faces dissolution - but families across our county know the real story of Tory failure
Runnymede Borough Council has launched an exciting new £1.3 million fund that will directly benefit local residents through improved infrastructure and enhanced public spaces across the borough.
How the Liberal Democrat leader's deeply personal approach to politics is already making a difference locally
After years of advocacy by Liberal Democrat councillors, Runnymede Borough Council has finally introduced live streaming for council meetings, making local democracy more accessible to residents across the borough.
Runnymede Borough Council's innovative financial inclusion project has delivered remarkable results since its launch in April 2024, helping vulnerable residents manage debt while recovering in excess of £1.5 million for the council.
The Government has prioritised a major shake-up of local government in Surrey that would see Runnymede Borough Council and Surrey County Council replaced by new "unitary authorities."
"The Adult and Community Care Committee kept hearing about poor service caused by staffing problems," explains County Councillor Diana Smith. "So it set up a task group to look at recruitment and retention. Proper statistics were hard to come by. We eventually got figures for the reported high vacancy rates in 'front line' teams, from 18% among the essential home based care staff to 31% of highly-skilled occupational therapists. We heard of one team of occupational therapists entirely consisting of stand-ins.
Surrey County Council is planning authority for minerals and waste, and it is disposal authority for waste too. Quite confusing! In the old days Surrey would have plans for these topics. The final stage in plan preparation was the deposit draft, which would be examined in public by an Inspector. The Inspector's recommendations would be considered by the Council, who would adopt the final plan to come into force.
The Conservative administration has recently decided that potholes with a depth of less than 4 centimetres will not be treated as a high priority to be repaired within 24 hours. This latest decision is an admission that the Conservative administration cannot cope with the necessary road repairs.
At a recent County Council meeting, the Conservative majority on the County opposed the proposal by the Liberal Democrats that Surrey County Council youth centres should be more fully used to provide safe places for young people to meet.
Bus services in Surrey are so poor under the current Tory administration at Surrey County Council, that last year 2 out of every 3 residents were unhappy with the their record, according to a recent survey.
Attempts by Surrey Tories to undermine the defence of the Green Belt have been blocked, in part by some of their own party who voted with Lib Dems and Environmentalists to strengthen opposition to Green Belt development in the South East Region.
The Liberal Democrat plan commits to making the UK a global leader in animal welfare through stronger standards, workforce investment, and ethical farming practices.
Only the Liberal Democrats will stand up to Trump, invest in the UK’s security, support Ukraine, hold back Russia, deepen our ties with European and commonwealth partners, and stand up for liberal, British values.
As liberals, we believe that true equality is achieved when individuals are not only free from prejudice and discrimination, but also free to fulfil their potential. So fighting for LGBTQ+ rights is not a choice Liberals make.