Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats

Reacting to the news that Government Commissioners will be overseeing Children's Services in Surrey for 3 months, Cllr Chris Botten, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council,said today:

"I welcome the decision for Commissioners to work in Surrey over the next 3 months. The County Council needs a laser-like focus in improving these vital services for the children of Surrey and the work of the Commissioners will aid this process. The Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member have rightly spoken about the need for urgent change and I share their passion. But this most recent judgement from Ofsted means that my patience for change is at an end. The children of Surrey deserve the highest standard of services and Liberal Democrats councillors will play their part in holding the County Council, and its leadership, to account".

Responding to the publication of today's Ofsted inspection of Surrey County Council, Cllr Chris Botten, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, said:

"The publication today of the Ofsted report into Surrey's Children's services makes difficult reading, and tells of a slow, almost dilatory approach to improvement since the last Ofsted inspection.

The Liberal Democrat group on Surrey County Council have appointed Cllr Chris Botten as Group Leader following the retirement of Cllr Hazel Watson from the group leadership, a role she has fulfilled continuously since 2005.

Cllr Botten, who has represented Caterham Hill division since 2017, said: "Hazel has worked incredibly hard over many years and I will be looking to build on her strong legacy. It is fitting that her 25 years as a county councillor will be celebrated at next week's Council AGM.

The South Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrats have won control of South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Tthis is an amazing result and the first time that the Liberal Democrats have been in charge of the district since it was created. It is a huge responsibility, but the leaders of the local party believe there could not be a better team to take it on.

In an amazing victory Liberal Democrats have won 39 seats on Kingston Council in the local elections, with the Conservatives winning only 9 and Labour 0.

You can see the ward by ward breakdown on the Kingston upon Thames council website.

Congratulations to all the new councillors and to all the campaigners who helped to make it happen! This will be the largest ever Lib Dem Group on the Council.

Up 5%, up 4 Councils, up 75 Councillors.

Following our numerous by-election gains earlier this year, our spectacular wins in the recent local elections in Kingston, Richmond and South Cambridgeshire mean that the Liberal Democrats are the only party to gain control of more councils, as well as winning an additional 75 seats.

Liberal Democrat county councillors have expressed their concern after it was revealed that Surrey County Council is planning to reduce spending on services by nearly £200m by the end of 2019/20. The figures were released in a report to the Council's Cabinet earlier this week, alongside the Conservative-administration's decision to hire consultants, at an undisclosed sum, to assist with the County Council's "programme management and change capacity" project.

Liberal Democrat county councillors have expressed their concern after it was revealed that Surrey County Council has not spent any of the income derived from its £298 million commercial property portfolio on council services. Previously, the Conservative Cabinet Member for Property & Business Services stated that: "We also have an additional need to generate an income from our strategy if we are to have any hope of raising enough money to fund the services our residents need."

Brexit makes no sense. The EU is:

• The worlds largest economy.
• The worlds largest trading bloc.
• The worlds largest exporter and the worlds largest importer of manufactured goods & services.

These are all good Reasons to Remain in the EU. The list doesn't stop there - see Reasons2Remain.EU.

Liberal Democrat county councillors in Surrey have expressed concern that proposed changes to the arrangements for drug and alcohol detoxification will make it more difficult for those trying to beat addiction.

Surrey County Council is currently consulting on proposals that include the closure of the in-patient facility at Windmill House in Chertsey, leaving only one in-patient bed for the whole of the county - which will be located outside of Surrey. Other patients will be required to attend day centres in either Guildford or Redhill, and will have to return to their homes in the evenings and at weekends in a programme called "ambulatory detoxification."