General

Surrey leader announces changes to Cabinet roles and scrutiny committees

Surrey leader Tim Oliver used today’s annual meeting to reveal Cabinet changes and an overhaul of the county council’s scrutiny system. Dr Zully Grant-Duff (pictured right) has taken over as Cabinet Member for Corporate Services from Charlotte Morley, who has stepped down. Mr Oliver said: “Dr Grant Duff will be particularly focusing on the rollout … Continue reading →

VIDEO: Surrey leader indicates review of rural car park charging possible

Surrey leader Tim Oliver today indicated that a review of the rural car parking charges introduced last year could be possible if the county council cannot “clearly demonstrate” they are “directly contributing towards the upkeep of the countryside”. He also stressed his hope that there will be “a workable solution” to keep the county’s community … Continue reading →

VIDEO: Round-up of work taking place on Surrey’s roads with Tina Thorburn

Tina Thorburn from the county council’s highways team rounds up the work taking place on Surrey’s roads.

More than 1,500 responses received so far as fire consultation enters final week

With a week left to run in the fire service consultation on proposals to make Surrey safer, 1,550 responses have already been received. The key proposal is for a big increase in prevention work to stop incidents happening in the first place. Firefighters would go into many more homes, schools and workplaces to help people … Continue reading →

New library opens in Horley

Horley’s new library is now open in a convenient town centre location. The library has moved from its previous outdated premises to a new site near the train station and shops. As well as a refreshed selection of books and an expanded study area, the new library boasts a flexible open-plan layout allowing it to … Continue reading →

Rogue trader jailed for conning retired Surrey teacher with excessive charges for shoddy work

A doorstep rogue trader has been jailed after conning a retired Surrey teacher with excessive charges for substandard work to her house and garden. Tom Watson was jailed for two years for running a fraudulent business following a prosecution brought by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards. He was handed a further four years’ imprisonment for … Continue reading →

VIDEO: Roadworks update with Tina Thornburn

Nikki Barton elected in Haslemere by-election

Nikki Barton has been elected as the Surrey County Councillor for Haslemere at a by-election following the earlier resignation of Richard Hampson. Election Candidate Party Votes %  Nikki Barton Independent 2665 65% Elected  Malcolm Carter Conservative 1159 28% Not elected  Adrian Paul La Porta Labour 263 6% Not elected   More details including turnout and … Continue reading →

BT handed £30,000 fine for bad road repairs that “could have had fatal consequences”

BT has been handed what is thought to be one of the highest fines for bad road repairs that a judge said “could have had fatal consequences”. The firm was fined £30,000 last month for unsafe road repairs after cables were laid. It followed a prosecution by Surrey County Council’s highways team. It is believed … Continue reading →

Round-up of work taking place on Surrey’s roads with Tina Thornburn

Tina Thorburn, from the county council’s highways team, gives her latest round-up of the work taking place on Surrey’s roads.      

First graduates from joint Surrey and Sussex firefighter training course showcase skills at passing out parade

New fire service recruits showcased their skills at a passing out parade after completing 13 weeks of training. Twenty-four recruits demonstrated what they’ve learned during the first Surrey and Sussex “tri-service” course for full-time firefighters. The fire services in Surrey, East and West Sussex joined forces to run the intensive course which began in January … Continue reading →

VIDEO: Charlotte Moreton-Dolman’s update from the social care frontline

Here’s Charlotte Moreton-Dolman from the county council’s adult social care team giving her latest update from the frontline. Here’s Charlotte from the county #council with her latest update from the adult #socialcare frontline pic.twitter.com/DsuZovk9t2 — Surrey County Council News (@SurreyNews) April 18, 2019

Two rogue traders who scammed elderly victims jailed

Two rogue traders who scammed elderly victims across London and Surrey by tricking them into paying for unnecessary repairs have been jailed. The sentences were handed down to Albert Eastwood Jnr, of Denton Close, Surrey and Peter King, of Shurlock Avenue, Swanley, Kent, following a joint investigation by the Met Police’s Organised Crime Command and … Continue reading →

Guildford and Woking frontrunners for county council move as plans unveiled to cut 200 buildings

Guildford and Woking have emerged as the frontrunners to host Surrey County Council’s new HQ as councillors unveiled plans to cut the number of buildings it uses from 300 to 100 in an efficiency drive that aims to save tens of millions of pounds. The potential locations for Surrey’s new ‘civic heart’ by the end … Continue reading →

87% of Surrey pupils offered their first choice primary school

Eighty-seven per cent of Surrey children have been offered places at their first-choice primary school – up from 86 per cent last year. And almost all who applied – 97 per cent of pupils – were given one of their top three preferred schools. Julie Iles, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member All-Age Learning, said: “We … Continue reading →