Messages 14 February

Key Messages and News	Media Coverage
Surrey under severe financial pressure – Research conducted by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism highlighted that Surrey County Council’s finances were under severe financial pressure due to falling government funding and rising demand for services.	Times, BBC Online, Guardian, LGC
Taxpayers’ Alliance claim Surrey spends more on staff – Inaccurate figures from The Taxpayers’ Alliance claim that Surrey spends more on staff despite financial difficulties. The Times covered this story and then printed a correction.	Times
Bus routes saved after council steps in with funding – Bus routes that serve Epsom Hospital and Ashford Hospital will continue to run after Surrey County Council stepped in with funding for the vital services. Transport for London was preparing to launch a consultation examining the possibility of ending the route.	Epsom Guardian BBC Surrey

Tweet text	Views	Retweets, likes etc
Surrey responds to @TBIJ report about council’s finances news.surreycc.gov.uk/2018/02/08/sur… pic.twitter.com/qvZpo2MR7E	4634	78
The #Surrey #gritters will be going out later across the county as road temperatures are forecast to drop below #freezing pic.twitter.com/GDxiMoBixu	3986	37
Mike Goodman: “There’s a vital need to fund these services in Surrey to help people get to and from hospital; it’s what our communities rightly expect us to do.”	2687	25
The @ChairmanSCC with some of the 29 female members of the council marking #Suffragette100 pic.twitter.com/rGL3Nyvgjm	2527	93
Full Council has agreed a 3% council tax rise and a 3% #socialcare precept increase for next year	2324	28