Tandridge Buzz

Surrey County Council is investing £10 million over five years to help vulnerable people stay longer in their own homes and communities.

The money will be used to work with Surrey’s district and borough councils on projects to give the elderly, disabled and those with mental health problems more choice and independence.

Initiatives the money could be used for include:

• Providing telecare round the clock to keep people safe at home
• Facilities at leisure centres for disabled people.
• Establishing eight more advice centres run for and by disabled people, taking the total to 11
• Combining day care services to help people continue living in their communities
• Developing more support for people with mental health problems.

“This substantial investment will provide real benefits to our most vulnerable residents, and will enable many more people to live with greater independence and with dignity,” said Surrey County Council leader David Hodge.

“By working as one team and by setting aside boundaries that cross the public sector we will achieve the best outcomes for the residents of Surrey.”

The investment was warmly welcomed by Patrick Roberts, leader of Runnymede Borough Council. “These initiatives are all designed to help the most needy in our community and we appreciate the support,” he said.

Joan Spiers, leader of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, added: “I am really pleased that the county council is providing this funding to ensure better support for our residents.”

Surrey’s leaders have vowed to do all they can to help people throw street parties to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Diamond Jubilee marks 60 years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign and celebrations will centre around an extra bank holiday weekend from 2-5 June.

“The Diamond Jubilee is a cause of great celebration in 2012,” said leader of Tandridge District Council, Councillor Gordon Keymer.

“A street party is an ideal way to bring together friends and neighbours of all ages to celebrate. We work closely with Surrey County Council and Surrey Police to make sure we have a quick and easy road closure process, but residents should still apply as soon as possible.”

Anyone thinking of organising a street party to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, needs to apply to Tandridge District Council for a Road Closure Order. The Council liaises with the Police and Surrey Highways Authority. There is no charge, but at least 21 days notice of the event is needed.

Surrey County Council Leader, Councillor David Hodge, said: “There were more than 200 street parties in Surrey for last year’s Royal wedding and we want people to come together again and show the sense of community spirit that makes the county such a wonderful place to live.”

But the Council has warned that organisers should also have considered the risks posed by staging an event and have taken out any necessary Public Liability Insurance.

A Temporary Event Notice may be needed if the party involves the sale of alcohol or regulated entertainment

Surrey residents will face a 3% rise in Council Tax from April after Surrey County Council voted against the Coalition’s Government’s freeze to avoid a “financial blackhole”.

The move is likely to prove highly unpopular amongst residents at a time of record levels of unemployment and financial hardship but Surrey County Council believes it has no option.

The Government has offered all councils a one-off grant of 2.5% for 2012/13 if they freeze council tax for another year. But the Council claims Surrey would be £14m down in every subsequent year when the one-year grant ends.

At a meeting of the Full Council on 7 February, it was agreed to increase the council tax by 2.99% in April.

“For many other councils in the country, the Government offer is a good one,” said Surrey County Council leader David Hodge.

“But after exhaustive analysis, my Cabinet and I believe that this one-off council tax grant is not in the medium to long-term interest of Surrey residents.

“We must do what is right for the residents of Surrey over the long-term and not accept short-term assistance that will imperil our financial stability in years to come.”

Surrey County Council has asked the High Court to lift an injunction against its community run libraries – but it has been accused of wasting tax payers money by an opposition campaign group.

The Surrey Library Action Movement (SLAM) group  secured an injunction at the end of January, while it seeks permission for a full Judicial Review of the controversial policy.

Surrey County Council had planned to run 10 libraries, including Lingfield and Warlingham, under volunteer schemes as part of an overall bid to save £200m over four years.

“Our aim is to keep all of Surrey’s 52 libraries open and help them to thrive, while elsewhere in the country libraries are closing,” said David Hodge, Leader of Surrey County Council.

“The first community library is due to open in Byfleet in just over a week. Not only have volunteers put a lot of hard work into getting to this stage, but we believe these plans offer a good future for these libraries.

“We understand some people don’t agree with our efforts to help communities run their libraries, but we have received a lot of support from people that understand we are doing what is best for Surrey’s libraries and the people who use them.”

The council is also concerned that the temporary court order, which says the authority cannot take “any irrevocable action” towards implementing its libraries plans, is ambiguous and therefore should be reversed.

The county council does not believe it prevents the authority from continuing to work with the many volunteers who have come forward.

SLAM said the Council had turned an offer of a settlement.

“There is a sensible and cost-effective way out of this for Surrey County Council, but in not agreeing to put an end to the legal case, and bringing up technicality after technicality, the Conservatives at County Hall seem insistent on spending as much taxpayers’ money as possible on defending their ill-thought out plans,” said SLAM spokesman Lee Godfrey.

Surrey residents are set for a 3% rise in Council Tax in April – despite the Government’s freeze on rises.

The move is likely to prove highly unpopular amongst residents at a time of record levels of unemployment and financial hardship but Surrey County Council believes it has no option.

The Council’s Cabinet is set to discuss a proposal to reject the Government’s freeze because it claims it would lead to a £70m  financial blackhole over the next five years .

The Government has offered all councils a one-off grant of 2.5% for 2012/13 if they freeze council tax for another year. But the Council claims Surrey would be £14m down in every subsequent year when the one-year grant ends.

“For some councils, it is a good offer but it’s not right for Surrey,” said Council leader David Hodge. “The freeze would be a short-term gain for long-term pain.

“It would create a financial black hole of £70m in just five years, equivalent to wiping out Surrey’s road maintenance budget for more than two years.

“This isn’t about us wanting to spend more money, we’ve already made huge savings from our budget. Our plans mean that even in 2017 we won’t be spending any more than we did in 2010. The truth is that we have to increase council tax every year just to stand still, because our Whitehall grant is reducing every year.

“If these proposals are agreed it will mean that amongst other things we’ll be able to increase spending on local road maintenance schemes by more than 100%, despite some incredibly difficult financial challenges.”

He added: “With the number of people aged over 85 doubling in the next 20 years, some of the most heavily used roads in the UK and almost a 20% increase in the county’s birth rate over the past decade, Surrey faces enormous pressure on its budgets for elderly care, roads maintenance and school places.

“With these kinds of challenges it’s vital we make decisions in the long term interest of Surrey and we therefore have no choice but to recommend the council decline the Government’s offer.”

The Cabinet will discuss a 2.99% hike at a meeting on 31 January with a final decision taken on 7 February at the Full Council meeting.

What’s your view on the planned rise? Let us know by posting a comment below.

Surrey residents will be able to bid for a share of £750,000 to help fund projects that improve local areas.

Surrey County Council leader David Hodge announced the establishment of the Community Improvement Fund at a meeting of the full council.

“The fund will provide £750,000 to projects that promise to improve local areas, make a real difference to people’s lives and strengthen the ability of residents to independently enhance where they live,” said Hodge.

“It may be a local community group wanting to a build a community centre or a parish council wanting to create an allotment site. Whatever the idea, they will now have the opportunity to realise their aspirations.

“My vision for Surrey is one where we all work together – whether we are a council, a voluntary group or a business. We should see ourselves as One Team working to make a real difference to the lives of people in Surrey.”

People can bid for between £10,000 and £50,000.

• For more information visit www.surreycc.gov.uk

New Surrey County Council leader David Hodge has pledged that 60% of its spending on goods and services will go to local businesses.

Hodge recently held a meeting with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) national chairman John Walker and vowed to make it easier for Surrey firms to win contracts.

Surrey’s procurement team will help small businesses by making sure the process of winning contracts is easier to understand.

In addition, Hodge and deputy leader Peter Martin have joined an FSB scheme to champion entrepreneurs across Surrey.

“Local businesses are the lifeblood of every community,” said Hodge. “If they thrive, we all thrive and that is why we have set a goal of making sure 60% of our spending is with Surrey businesses.

“With the majority of people employed in Surrey working for small businesses, I believe a close working relationship with local firms is essential to helping Surrey flourish economically.”

Walker added: “I am pleased that we continue to have a good working relationship with Surrey County Council and that their door is open to the FSB on local business matters.”

Warlingham Conservative councillor David Hodge has been elected the new Leader of Surrey County Council and immediately scrapped the controversial pay for parking policy.

Speaking to a meeting of the Full Council following his election, Hodge said the council’s county-wide policy for on-street parking would “end today”. Instead, local committees* will now be given freedom to decide on the policy.

Tandridge had already managed to secure an exemption through sustained lobbying by residents.

“The county council’s on-street parking policy has proved enormously unpopular,” he said. “I believe we should be strong enough to recognise when we have got something wrong.

“That is why I can announce that the single countywide policy for on-street parking ends today. Local committees, working with boroughs and districts, are far better placed to make these decisions.

“From today local committees will have the freedom to decide without interference from us.”

Mr Hodge said his style of leadership would be based on a “one team” approach, where “everyone’s views” were taken into consideration and “those best placed to decide” would be given the power to make decisions.

“Our county council needs a new approach,” he said. “One that recognises that the best decisions are made when everyone’s views are considered carefully. One that recognises that we will be more effective if we work together. And one that recognises that those best placed to decide should be given the freedom to do so.”

Hodge takes over from Dr Andrew Povey as leader after he stepped down amid rumours of a series of disagreements with Hodge.

The new cabinet is as follows:

• David Hodge – Leader
• Peter Martin – Deputy Leader
• Mary Angell – Children and Families
• Helyn Clack – Change and Efficiency
• Michael Gosling – Adult Social Care and Health
• Tim Hall – Children and Learning
• Kay Hammond – Community Safety
• Ian Lake – Transport and Environment
• Denise Saliagopoulos – Community Services and the 2012 Games
• Tony Samuels – Organisational and Regeneration Programmes

David Hodge is expected to be confirmed as the new leader of Surrey County Council today, following a full council meeting.

Warlingham Councillor Hodge is favourite to replace Dr Andrew Povey who quit last month after rumours of on-going disagreements with Hodge, who was deputy leader.

Hodge was been elected as leader of the Conservative Group two weeks ago and is now expected to take the SCC leadership as the Conservatives have a majority.

Hodge was elected to Surrey County Council in May 2005, having previously served on Tandridge District Council between May 1997 and June 2004 where he chaired the Housing Committee.

Also today, the Surrey Library Action Movement is demonstrating outside the County Hall against plans to turn 10 libraries, including Warlingham and Lingfield, to community run assets.

John Bond, of SLAM, said: “No resident in Surrey would willingly volunteer to assist Surrey County Council reduce the funding for their library — unless forced to because Surrey County Council are threatening to close the library.”

David Hodge has been elected as leader of the Conservative Group and is now expected to become leader of Surrey County Council following Dr Andrew Povey’s decision to quit.

Povey and Hodge had been at loggerheads and Hodge quit as deputy leader last week with Povey stepping down this week.

Hodge is expected to become Council leader at the next council meeting on 11 October as the Conservatives have a majority. It is rumored Hodge may now review the controversial parking charges set to hit certain areas in Surrey. Tandridge managed to avoid the charges after a sustained campaign.

“It is an honour to be elected as leader of the Conservative group and I look forward to continuing to serve the people of Surrey as county council leader subject to the decision of the Full Council,” said Hodge.

“Between now and then I will be developing my plans for the future of Surrey and I will announce my new Deputy Leader and Cabinet at the meeting should the meeting confirm me as leader.”

Despite their differences, Hodge paid tribute to the work Povey did as leader and Povey congratulated Hodge on his election.

“As Deputy Leader of the County Council he spearheaded many initiatives that have helped transform the county council,” said Povey.

“I am proud of what we have achieved and I will be working closely with David to ensure there is a smooth handover to him subject to the decision of Full Council.

“Over the past two years we have achieved so much and I am delighted that we can now say that our children’s services and adult social care department are among the most improved in the country.

“We have also been able to find annual savings of more than £4m in our highways services while still improving the speed and quality of road improvements and repairs.

“David should also be proud of the work he has done to find more than £90m of savings through our Public Value Review programme whilst maintaining the highest possible standard of service to residents.”

Hodge was elected to Surrey County Council in May 2005, having previously served on Tandridge District Council between May 1997 and June 2004 where he chaired the Housing Committee.

Surrey County Council leader Dr Andrew Povey is to step down from his position on 11 October to concentrate on his other business interests.

His resignation comes just days after his deputy David Hodge also resigned, following speculation the two had not been seeing eye-to-eye.

It is now widely expected that Hodge will stand for the leadership and is set to be the favourite to land the role.

It is rumored Hodge may now review the controversial parking charges set to hit certain areas in Surrey. Tandridge managed to avoid the charges after a sustained campaign.

Dr Povey said he had been “proud” of what the Conservative-led council had achieved in his time.

“I am proud of what the council has achieved during my leadership and firmly believe the authority is well placed to become a world class organisation,” he said.

“I believe the foundations we have set over the past two years mean the council can now go on to even greater things and whoever takes over as leader can look forward to my support as they continue this work.”