From the Residents’ Association & Independent Group at Surrey County Council

Contact: Tamas Csillag                                                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday 14^th December ‘15

Email: tamas.csillag@surreycc.gov.uk

Phone: 02085 417073

 About the Residents Association & Independent Group: It is the largest opposition political group within Surrey County Council. It currently has nine members, representing divisions from across Surrey. The group leader is Cllr Nick Harrison and the Group has members represented on all the committees of the council.

Surrey in a Financial Squeeze

With Surrey County Council facing additional budget cuts in the coming years, County Councillors Nick Harrison and Eber Kington expressed their group’s concerns about the sustainability of the council’s services as well as the tax burden on residents during the bimonthly council meeting.

At last week’s County Council Meeting, and following the recent Epsom West by-election, the Residents Association and Independent Group became the main opposition Group and RA County Councillor Nick Harrison became the official Leader of the Opposition.

With the Chancellor Osborne’s recent Autumn Budget Statement very much to the fore, a key focus for County Councillor Nick Harrison was on how the ruling Conservative group at Surrey County Council will react to the changes in funding and what might happen to the level of council tax for Surrey Residents in 2016.

As local authorities face prolonged cuts, the Conservative majority Surrey County Council is pondering an extra 2% increase in the council tax, in addition to the 2% which has became “normal” over the last few years. This is to fill the gap in the budget created by the reduction of central government grant and to cover the costs of the new Care Act. Cllr. Harrison warned the Conservatives that the residents of Surrey will not support this decision.

“People in Surrey will be facing a 4% increase in their council tax bills while their salaries are stagnant” – he said.

Cllr. Harrison further noted the per head spending on elderly care has already fallen by a quarter in England whereas Europe it has increased by an average 17%, according to OECD statistics.

Speaking after the Council Meeting RA County Councillor Eber Kington was particularly concerned about the County Council’s highway spending plans.

“During the Council Meeting the Conservatives admitted that their policies on footway repairs have actually led to a worsening of the condition of our pavements. I welcome their commitment to look at the funding of our footways, but it concerns me that they have already proposed a cut of 25% to the local highway budget”

He went on to say “Local highway budgets are used by County Councillors to deal with many of the concerns raised by residents. The budget was cut by 25% last year and, if that happens again next year, we will struggle to deal with the basic issues of kerb damage, pavement trip hazards and potholes”.

“A key pledge from Residents Association and Independent County Councillors is therefore to oppose this cut if it is included in the Budget Plans for 2016/2017”

NOTE TO EDITORS:

Statistics from OECD: December 2015 Report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on Health Care Resources OECD Stat, tracking trends in spending on social care from 2008 to 2014.

For further information and comment please contact: 

County Councillor Nick Harrison              –               01737 215405

County Councillor Eber Kington                –               02087 867484