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Article: Jul 4, 2022
By Francis Thomas
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Last Friday concluded my final week at the Green Lib Dems. This role has been a brilliant one, and I'm excited to share the opportunity with a new Intern.
Dear Francis,
I first wanted to thank you.
My time at the Green Liberal Democrats has been an great experience. In large part due to those of you that have engaged with our work.
You've taken advantage of our resources and materials, collaborated with us to develop policies and campaigns, and worked hard to get Liberal Democrats elected.
Your support - and often patience - has made this job what I consider to be amongst the most fulfilling in the party. My special thanks go to our Officers and Executive, who set a strong direction and were always on hand to offer guidance.
In order to continue this momentum, the Green Liberal Democrats are recruiting for their next Intern.
Based in the fantastic ALDC Salford HQ, the Intern will be responsible for:
- Drafting GLD's communications presence: emails, newsletters, topical briefings, blog articles.
- Producing resources for campaigners: leaflet and digital materials, press releases, council motions, policy guidance.
- Delivering research support for Liberal Democrat Parliamentarians across both houses, providing our MPs and Peers access to a wider network of environmental organisations.
If you know somebody who would be suited to this role, let them know to send their CV and cover letter to ALDC's Head of Operations, Ed Stephenson at ed.stephenson@aldc.org and to Keith Melton, chair@greenlibdems.org.uk.
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The closing date for applications is Sunday the 17th of July, whilst interviews will be conducted over Zoom on the 20th.
I cannot overstate just how engaging my time has been here. For Liberal Democrats looking for a creative, political job, you can't do much better than this.
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Article: Jul 3, 2022
A recent YouGov MRP poll suggests that Mole Valley is one of 24 battleground seats that the Conservatives are set to lose to the Liberal Democrats in a General Eelection.
Other Surrey seats are also predicted as Lib Dem gains, including Esher & Walton. Guildford, Woking and South West Surrey, as well as Wimbledon and Carshalton & Wallington in South West London.
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Article: Jun 30, 2022
Dear friends, here is our update on local and "not-so-local-but-relevant" developments during June - excluding of course the wonderful win in Tiverton & Honiton which you all know about!
Council updates:
- An update about the Chalk Pit site; at a meeting on 30 June which Julie took part in there was some progress in stopping (in the short-term) the worst part of the noise from the site while various legal routes are being followed. More details on our Facebook post here.
- On Monday 4th July there will be a meeting of the Strategy & Resources Committee immediately followed by a full Council meeting to discuss alternatives on dealing with the resignation of the Chief Executive. This is important to all residents, since it affects both how the Council is run and the ongoing costs. However, the RA are proposing the meeting is held in private, which we intend to object to on grounds of openness and transparency.
- The paying system for the Town Hall and Hope Lodge car parks has changed, requiring you to use a Pay & Display system that accepts cash, card or RingGo. The old barrier and token system kept on breaking down and the new approach should be more reliable and cheaper for the Council.
- Those of you with an allotment should have received a letter consulting on possible changes to their governance. The deadline for responses to be received is Sunday 3rd July so if you have not responded, act now!
- This month saw regular meetings of various Committees - but other than the increased costs in producing the Local Plan there was nothing of particular note to report.
- The by-election for the vacant councillor seat in West Ewell will be on Thursday 7 July, and there will be hustings on Monday 4 July organised by the Epsom & Ewell Times.
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Article: Jun 30, 2022
Lib Dem Councillors have called the Conservative-run Surrey County Council's plans to axe area committees as one that 'undermines local democracy and reduce the local people's voice in Council decisions.'
Local and Joint Committees have been the mainstay of local democracy in Surrey over the last 20 years, providing a forum for county councillors to join with their counterparts from the district/borough councils to discuss issues and make decisions on local county council spending. Members of the public participated in the meetings by bringing petitions and asking questions about council services.
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Article: Jun 15, 2022
Local Liberal Democrats have launched a campaign demanding that the Government changes the arrangements for paying the £400 energy rebate announced by the Chancellor in May
Whilst the Government announced that the rebate would be paid to "all households", the current arrangements mean that many Park Home residents will be not receive it.
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Document: Jun 10, 2022
126.99 KiB drawing or desktop publishing document
Manifesto for Marian Morrison in by-election West Ewell July 2022
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Article: Jun 9, 2022
By Keith Melton
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The world we know is in serious trouble and needs our help.
We are at A Turning Point.
Green Liberal Democrats take the view that we need to tackle all the problems we face with a sense of vigour. But also with a different, more holistic approach than politicians will usually take.
Just look at some of the most significant threats we face:
- Putin's war of aggression on Ukraine
- Crushing cost of living increases
- Deepening concerns about Climate Change
- The speed with which tipping points are likely to be breached
- Devastating biodiversity loss
- Air and water quality
- Waste management and the problems of plastics
- 'Forever chemicals' polluting our environment
There are many linkages between these, making it difficult to resolve one without another.
We seek, as environmentally concerned politicians, to find ways of allowing and encouraging people and communities to thrive.
We need to set ourselves some targets to communicate how we propose to tackle these problems.
And that is what provides the framework for our Summer School and Conference this coming weekend.
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Article: Jun 9, 2022
The Liberal Democrats have criticised Michael Gove for giving the go ahead to gas drilling in Surrey.
In a decision published yesterday, the Conservative government announced it will grant planning permission to explore for gas in Dunsfold, by the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It comes despite concerns raised by the local community and environmental campaigners about the damage the drilling could do to the countryside and the UK's climate ambitions.
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Article: Jun 6, 2022
The government has slashed funding for free school meals for 4-7-year-olds in Surrey by £940,756.00 in real terms, shocking new figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats have revealed.
The party said it is another example of the Conservatives "short-changing our children."
Universal Infant Free School Meals were introduced by the Liberal Democrats, to provide free school meals to all pupils in reception, Year 1 and Year 2. However, since the policy was introduced seven years ago, the Conservatives have increased funding per pupil by just 4 pence, from £2.30 to £2.34, or an increase of 1.7%.
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Article: Jun 2, 2022
Dear friends, we hope you are having an enjoyable long Jubilee weekend - including some of the events in the Borough and more widely. Here is our update on local and "not-so-local-but-relevant" developments during May.
Council updates:
- The main news is that the Chief Executive of the Council, Kathryn Beldon, is leaving, with her last day in the office being Monday 6 June. This was only announced on 26 May. We shall see whether the ruling RA Group are able to manage the disruption this will cause.
- That news may have been the cause for many of the planned Committee meetings during May being cancelled or having very light agendas.
- The main item of interest to residents is the approval of a timetable and process for drafting the very important Local Plan. A Local Plan gives us our own policies concerning development, heights, renewable energy requirements etc. Without this, our current status, we can have limited ability to refuse inappropriate planning applications. The periods for consultation are very short (and can go over school holidays) but despite our request for extensions these were not accepted. Details of the agreed timetable and process can be read in the papers for this meeting, but should eventually be on the Council's website in a more user-friendly format (at least, that is what we have asked to happen).
- One aspect of the papers supporting the Local Plan covers how residents are consulted about planning applications. The Council's approach is to do the bare minimum (eg only contacting the immediate neighbours for non-major applications) although we pressed for a more common sense, and wider, approach to be taken - referencing several recent cases that you have brought to our attention.
- We are keeping an eye on how the Council is processing the Council Tax Energy Rebate scheme. If you are aware of people who should have benefited but have not please let us know.
- We have three bids going forward for the Infrastructure Levy fund charged to developers. New notice boards for all the allotment sites, new playground equipment and some refurbishment works to 9 tennis courts.
- It is now less than a year before the next Borough-wide Council elections in May 2023. If you would like to stand, please contact one of us for more information about what it involves.
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