Tandridge Buzz

East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah has ducked a challenge to live on benefits of £65 for a week in Salford.

The Tory MP was taking part in a live debate on BBC Radio5 when a member of the audience challenged him.

“In the North West thousands of local authority workers will be thrown on the scrap heap because of your Government in the next six weeks,” the man said.

“And do you know that those figures would be over four million if in fact they registered the number of part-time workers.

“I would like to challenge you to live on unemployment benefits in Salford for one week.

“I’ll organise it to live in a house for one week. Yes or no, will you accept the challenge?”

Heckles

After much heckling, Gyimah responded: “If there is anyone to blame it is the previous Government that racked up so many debts that we have to pay back.”

The man responded: “You perpetuated it and made it worse, so I’ll meet you in Salford on Monday and you are living  there for a week.”

East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah is to kick-start a consultation on creating alternatives to bank lending for small businesses.

The Tory MP will host a meeting on bank lending in partnership with the Daily Telegraph and innovation Think Tank Nesta on 19 July.

“Currently, the banks claim there are not enough good businesses to lend to,” said Gyimah. “And yet scores of good businesses find the banks reluctant to lend, processes too long and fees too high.

“This is why we need real innovation to change the lending landscape to get businesses the finance they need to grow and create jobs.

“The post war era spawned 3i and the early 1990s recession spawned AIM. We need to find new solutions for a post-credit crunch environment, in which small businesses have one of only five major banks to choose from.

“And the purpose of this consultation is to develop policy proposals and contribute to that wider discussion, starting with the views of the entrepreneurs and business owners at the coalface.”

You can join the experts for an 8.30am breakfast meeting on 19 July by clicking here.

Former East Surrey MP Peter Ainsworth has been appointed UK chair of the Big Lottery Fund.

Conservative Ainsworth was the MP for East Surrey for 18 years until he stepped down in 2010 with Sam Gyimah taking over.

The Big Lottery Fund dishes out millions of pounds from the National Lottery to good causes such as community groups, education, health projects and the environment.

It has made grants of up to £2bn since June 2004 and makes over 10,000 awards each year to grasroots groups. The Government sees it as a central strand in its Big Society plans.

As UK Chair, Ainsworth will have overall responsibility for the performance of the Board to ensure delivery of the Fund’s goals.

“Peter’s extensive experience in business, public service and his range of charitable interests make him a real asset for this appointment,” said Francis Maude, minister for the Cabinet Office.

Gyimah tweeted: “Many congratulations my predecessor Peter Ainsworth who has just been appointed Chairman of the Big Lottery Fund. Wish him all the best.”

The Conservatives have retained control in Tandridge, following the District Council elections held yesterday.

There is no change  in control with the Conservatives adding one extra seat after prizing Warlingham East from the Liberal Democrats. And Tandridge also voted emphatically against a switch to the Alternative Voting system with 72% saying no to AV. In total, 28,964 votes were cast on the voting reform referendum with ‘yes’ votes totalling 8,286 and ‘no’ votes 20,572 with 106 spoilt papers.

Of the 42 Council seats, Conservatives hold 34, Liberal Democrats six and there are two Independents. The turnout of voters was high at 48.62%.

The Conservatives won the following seats:

• Bletchingley & Nutfield – Gill Black
• Burstow, Horne & Outwood – Michael Keenan
• Chaldon – Patrick Cannon
• Dormansland & Felcourt – Lesley Steeds
• Felbridge – Ken Harwood
• Godstone – Nick Childs
• Limpsfield – Lindsey Dunbar
• Oxted North & Tandridge – Martin Fisher
• Oxted South – Simon Ainsworth
• Warlingham East, Chelsham & Farleigh – Mike Wall

The Liberal Democrats held the following seats:

• Portley – Chris Botten
• Valley – Jill Caudle

Independents won the following seats:

• Lingfield & Crowhurst – Lisa Bangs
• Tatsfield & Titsey – Bob David

“Such a high turnout reflects the importance our residents put on voting at local elections and the keen interest they take in local issues and in the quality of Tandridge District Council’s services,” said leader of the Council, Councillor Gordon Keymer.

For a full list of election results click here.