Mole Valley Liberal Democrats

The latest proposals from the consultants employed by Mole Valley to prepare a Masterplan for the East Dorking Pippbrook Site were revealed at a meeting of 'stakeholders' last night. Liberal Democrat Councillors in Dorking and the surrounding area have labelled the proposals massively disappointing and totally unacceptable.

Liberal Democrat county councillors in Surrey have expressed concerns for the future of the County's Children's Centre provision in the light of the sudden departure of one of their leading champions and advocates from the senior team at County Hall. The departure comes after plans to reduce provision were announced by the Conservative-administration earlier this year but with no detail as to which of the County's 58 Children's Centres would close.

Liberal Democrat county councillors in Surrey have criticised the ruling Conservative administration for recruiting a new "Business Manager" post, on a salary of more than £43,000, when at the same time planning hundreds of staff redundancies and millions of pounds of cuts to front line services.

The advert, which has appeared on the Guardian website, seeks to recruit a "skilled networker" to County Hall whose work "will often be politically sensitive". The salary offered is £43,638 for a working week of 36 hours, with the promise of a "generous local government salary related pension".

You may be eligible for reduced water bills from your water company. Lower water tariffs are available for people who are on low incomes and who have a special need for water for their family or a health condition.

Bookham South Councillor Elizabeth Daly and Parliamentary Spokesperson Paul Kennedy are working with a number of Mole Valley residents who have now managed to halve their water bill, but who believe they may have been paying too much in the past. This is because until earlier this year their water charges were paid for out of the overall service charge levied by Clarion (formerly Circle) Housing Association.

Our popular Annual Quiz takes place on Friday 19th October at the Old Barn Hall in Bookham. If you have been before you'll know it's great fun. It's a non-political event and we have regular attendees of various political persuasions; however funds raised will support the local Liberal Democrats. Please arrive at 7pm for a 7:30 start.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for appropriate enforcement action against Network Rail over its failure to authorise Mole Valley District Council to take effective action over pigeon fouling under the railway bridge between Fetcham and Leatherhead.

This problem has been dragging on for years with no resolution and Mole Valley District Council is having to divert council taxpayers' funds to what is now weekly cleaning of the pavements under the bridge. Network Rail has accepted the need for the work to be undertaken by the Council but the parties have failed to conclude a legal agreement authorising the work - see public questions posed by Liberal Democrat representatives below.

Liberal Democrat county councillors are calling for Surrey County Council to make urgent financial preparations following a recent judgement in Bristol in which a group of parents successfully challenged Bristol City Council's decision to make deep cuts in special educational needs (SEND) provision. Parents in Surrey have launched a similar judicial review challenging the County Council on cuts to its SEND budget of £21m, which will be heard in October this year.

The Conservatives are making a mess of Brexit, and the Labour Leadership continues to support them. The Liberal Democrats want to give you the final say on the Brexit deal.

Whether people voted Leave or Remain in the 2016 Referendum, latest opinion polls show that most are dissatisfied with the Government's proposals and concerned at the prospect of No Deal. Most support a People's Vote on the final deal, including the option to Remain members of the EU - it's just our MPs who need to respect public opinion on this.

In view of

a) the continuing health hazard and public nuisance from pigeons under the railway bridge over Guildford Road between Fetcham and Leatherhead,

b) the continuing failure of Mole Valley District Council to conclude a satisfactory agreement with Network Rail for effective pigeon proofing, and

Surrey County Council has commissioned a second report from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) to review its financial resilience. This follows a report commissioned in December 2016, costing nearly £25,000, which warned that the financial position of the County Council was "extremely worrying" and that "it is risk of becoming financially unsustainable".