Surrey News
Surrey County Council
Further improvements to delivery of Children’s Services in Surrey
This week Cabinet approved the latest enhancement to the improved delivery of Children’s Services in Surrey. Approval of a new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) within Children’s Services is part of the council’s continuing commitment to ensuring children in Surrey get the “right help, care and protection at the right time so they can thrive”. This … Continue reading
Trading standards celebrates working with 100 businesses
Surrey and Buckinghamshire’s trading standards service has celebrated forging partnerships with 100 businesses to help them thrive. The service welcomed Squire’s Garden Centres as the 100th firm to join its scheme to cut red tape for businesses, supporting them to grow and provide excellent service to customers. To mark the milestone, trading standards officers teamed … Continue reading
Surrey carers encouraged to look after themselves, too
Carers across Surrey are being encouraged to look after themselves as well as the loved ones they care for. As Carers Week draws to a close, they’re being urged to seek out the support that is available to them all year round. An estimated 115,000 people in Surrey are unpaid carers looking after family or … Continue reading
Steve Owen-Hughes appointed Surrey’s Chief Fire Officer
Steve Owen-Hughes has been appointed Chief Fire Officer for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service. Mr Owen-Hughes (pictured right) joined the service in 2010 as Assistant Chief Fire Officer and has been acting in the role of chief for the past few months. He said: “It’s a great honour to have been appointed to serve Surrey … Continue reading
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
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
Skip hire boss fined for pressuring customers into stumping up extra charges
A skip hire boss who pressured customers into paying extra charges for skips to be removed from outside their homes has been ordered to pay fines and court costs of more than £30,000. Brian Place, director of 1st Place Grab & Skip Hire Ltd, was sentenced by Guildford magistrates for using aggressive commercial practices after … Continue reading
Inspectors publish report on Surrey services for children with special educational needs
Surrey County Council, the six Surrey clinical commissioning groups and Family Voice Surrey have welcomed an inspection report on special educational needs and disability services in the county. Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission carried out a joint review of Surrey’s progress in addressing weaknesses highlighted in a previous inspection in 2016. The full joint … 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
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 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
