Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats

Epsom and Ewell Liberal Democrats are sad to announced that former Borough and County Councillor has passed away. Colin also did his turn as Mayor of Epsom & Ewell, supported by his wife Jose. Colin was active until recent weeks, having prepared much of the literature used in the December general election. Our thoughts are with his family at this time. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

Surrey Lib Dems voted against the county council's proposed budget for 2020/21 as it would put services to vulnerable residents at further risk.

'Every day I hear from families struggling with SEND needs, trying to get care packages for adults and those with Learning Disabilities. The County Council rations the services for vulnerable people and this budget makes that worse'.

Today councillors at Surrey County Council agreed to the purchase of Midas House in Woking.

The County Council has been looking to move out of its current home in Kingston for some time and has chosen the office building as the location for its new Civic Heart.

The current headquarters, County Hall, is expensive to run, not fit for purpose and not in Surrey. Midas House is a much smaller building and only councillors, the senior leadership team and some support staff will be based there; others will be relocated to offices in Leatherhead, Guildford and Reigate.

The 2.7% rise in rail fares from January 1^st 2020 is a "kick in the teeth" for rail passengers, who are already paying over the odds for a shoddy service with overcrowded, delayed or cancelled trains.

This increase will leave commuters from all 8 local stations paying much more for their season tickets. Only the Conservatives think it is the right policy to put rail fares up now. Under Lib Dem plans, the 2020 increase would be cancelled and commuter rail fares would be frozen for the next five years, while we sort out the mess in rail franchises.

The Lib Dems have announced they would more than double spending on youth services in Surrey to £33,998,703,to help tackle rising levels of crime. This would form part of a total ring-fenced fund of £500 million for Local Authorities across England to spend on youth services, providing young people with positive, safe and healthy alternatives to gangs.

From local resident Sarah Clayton, via Nextdoor.com

"We have now formed a small Epsom XR group, to keep building the movement. Extinction Rebellion is calling for change, radical change - in the way our politics, economics and society works - in order to cut carbon emissions and attempt to keep the planetary climate stable enough for life as we know it.

Following a request by the Lib Dems, Surrey County Council has agreed to exempt young care leavers from paying its share of Council Tax.

Earlier today, Surrey's Full Council approved a report from the Cabinet to give young people who have been in the care system a discount of 75% on their Council Tax, which is the Surrey Council portion of Council Tax bills. About 600 young people under 25 who have left the care of the Council will no longer have to pay full Council Tax from next April.