-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Highlights from David Hodge’s speech at today’s Full Council meeting: Ministers have listened to the case made by Surrey for local government as a whole about pressures faced Surrey secured more than £24 million of the extra £300m funding announced by the government for councils nationally over the next two years Grant of £11.9m this year … Continue reading
Surrey County Council has launched a last minute bid to secure extra government funding after Whitehall slashed its grant for 2016 by nearly £50m. With growing demand for services, the county’s Cabinet is proposing councillors increase council tax by 3.9%. However, the council is concerned that without a rethink by ministers residents will only see … Continue reading
Leaders behind the devolution bid for three of England’s strongest performing counties have outlined to Government how their plan would boost growth for the region’s residents. Communities Minister Baroness Williams heard the proposals for how East Sussex, Surrey and West Sussex would work together to help tackle the congested road and rail network, pioneer new … Continue reading
Crossrail 2 could go to Dorking and should extend to Woking. Those are two key findings of a study for the county council examining ways to get the maximum benefit for Surrey’s businesses and commuters from the proposed railway. Plans for the cross-London line currently take in Shepperton, Epsom, Hampton Court, Chessington South and Surbiton … Continue reading
A serial rogue trader serving a three-year jail sentence for fleecing elderly customers has been ordered to repay his victims in full. James Saunders, 51, charged extortionate sums for shoddy repairs to roofs and drains and used the proceeds to fund a lavish lifestyle which included luxury cars, holidays and designer clothes. Victims included an … Continue reading
Plans to create 450 extra places at two Surrey secondary schools have moved a step closer. The proposals are the latest in a series of school expansions designed to meet demand from Surrey’s rising population. They include plans to create extra places at St Peter’s Catholic School in Guildford and The Priory Church of England … Continue reading
With the county council’s budgets under growing pressure from rising demand for services like adult social care, Surrey leader David Hodge used a meeting of today’s Cabinet to underline the need for the government to listen to funding worries and to stress the importance of partnerships.
Five out of six pupils at Surrey primary schools met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths this year, according to an official breakdown of results in national tests for 11-year-olds. Figures released by the Department for Education show that 83 per cent of pupils reached ‘level four’ – the required standard for their … Continue reading
Surrey employee wins mental health award A Surrey County Council employee has won a national award for a project that uses comedy as a way of getting soldiers to talk about mental health issues like stress, depression and anxiety. Maya Twardzicki, from the council’s public health team, won the award from the Royal Society for … Continue reading
A Surrey County Council highways worker who fosters child asylum-seekers has welcomed the authority becoming a fostering friendly employer. Mark Davies will get more help to balance his work and caring responsibilities now the county council has begun formally recognising the needs of staff who give a loving home to vulnerable children. Mr Davies, of … Continue reading
Heavy rush hour traffic is forcing Surrey drivers to set the alarm up to eight minutes earlier than five years ago just to get to work on time. A 46-mile morning commute along A roads from Farnham to Redhill took an hour and 55 minutes on average in September 2010. But by this September, motorists … Continue reading
Plans to achieve greater value for money for taxpayers from Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) without compromising the service they get have been signed off by Surrey County Council. Proposals include retaining all CRCs and only closing centres at their quietest times to fit in with demand. Planned new charges would only apply to residents dropping … Continue reading
A garden play area, a minibus and a community cafe are among the latest projects to win cash from a fund to help people improve their local area. They were among 23 projects to be awarded money from Surrey County Council’s Community Improvements Fund. Leader David Hodge launched the initiative three years ago to give … Continue reading
As speculation grows that Chancellor George Osborne is poised to announce a school funding shake-up, Surrey County Council is pressing for a fairer deal for schools within 10 miles of London borough boundaries. Surrey schools close to London are being penalised to the tune of millions of pounds in funding compared to schools in the … Continue reading
Gritting lorries took to Surrey’s roads over the weekend for the first time since last winter. As temperatures plunged, the county council’s winter operation swung into action with the fleet of hi-tech gritters treating roads county-wide after filling up from the council’s 16,000-tonne stockpile of salt. It came after it was revealed that the council’s … Continue reading
Surrey News 