Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats

Welcome to our latest weekly update, using material as at Friday 15 May. We hope you find this information clearer than Boris Johnson's speech last Sunday!

Borough and County update re COVID-19:

• Starting with some good news, the additional "overspill" ITU at Epsom Hospital has been able to close as the need slowly reduces. Follow the CEO's twitter account for useful updates on the Trust https://twitter.com/danielelkeles
• Following the changes in the national (English) guidelines, all Council carparks are now open. However, those on the Downs are governed by the Conservators, and are still closed, with people parking all over the place. We have chased the Conservators to consider reopening them.
• If you know about local businesses that have not applied for, or been refused, the £10k grants please tell us. From data we have seen not all eligible business (including charities) have applied yet.
• The tennis courts in Alexandra Park and Court Rec should be opened by the time you read this. Please follow the government & LTA guidelines!

Welcome to our latest weekly update. We are writing this on Friday and of course there is meant to be an announcement by Mr Johnson on Sunday so the position may change by the time you read this.

Borough and County update re COVID-19:

• The recycling/refuse tips will be reopening on Monday 11 May with strict rules - details here https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling/community-recycling-centres/epsom before planning your visit
• The council staff continue to do a good job. 30 of them still work from the Town Hall following strict health guidelines.
• They have found accommodation for 93 residents who would otherwise be homeless, unfortunately this is often outside the Borough (as far as Wembley) due to high fees requested by local hotels.
• Headley Court opened on Tuesday as expected - with its dual role as Community Hospital and additional mortuary space
• There appear to be no problems with the processing of grant applications for small business and retailers. However, the funds from central government are clearly going to be insufficient.
• We have asked how many local residents have applied for support on Council Tax but don't have the answer yet.

Following a request from the Lib Dems, Surrey County Council will start a phased reopening of its Community Recycling Centres on 11th May.

With fly tipping increasingly becoming an issue across Surrey, last month Lib Dem Councillors asked the Council to reopen local tips. This was supported by latest Government advice which said that Household Waste Recycling Centres can be open provided appropriate social distancing measures are in place.

Welcome to our latest weekly update.

First of all, apologies for a non-working link to job opportunities at Headley Court (which will open on Tuesday 5 May) in last week's edition - that was my fault. Here are the public links (these are all paid roles for nursing, ancillary services and admin roles):

Will, at least the sun is shining although I appreciate this may be no comfort to those with no garden. Here is our weekly update:

Council and health services:

• Car parks at Grandstand Road closed due to police concern over social distancing
• Council has delayed the process for community bidding on local infrstructure projects that uses developers funds (the CIL15% process). Julie & David did have some potential bids around Alexandra Park and Rifle Butts Alley which we will return to.
• Increased meals on wheels using council facilities, 1017 meals delivered in week, while 50 people using shopping service per week.
• We continue to call potentially vulnerable people and have follow-ups with those at risk (see latest Epsom Guardian), with "runners" knocking on doors of those Vulnerable we've not been able to speak to.
• Headley Court is about to become a temporary local community hospital to address Covid-19. There is now a call out for staff, which we've been asked to help promote (admin roles are now all taken) - see the link here.
• Community recycling centres remain closed for foreseeable future.
• Cemetery reopening between 9-3 on Saturday and Sundays for visiting graves of loved ones.

Surrey County Council has cancelled plans to move its headquarters from Kingston-Upon-Thames to Woking due the coronavirus pandemic.

As a result of the current Covid-19 situation, the current tenants of Midas House cannot move out and the Council cannot get access to all of the building to make it suitable for its use.

In addition, the procurement and commissioning of a contractor to carry out the necessary works to turn Midas House into a County Hall style property is just not possible under the current lockdown constraints.

Lib Dem County Councillor for Woking South, and Chairman of the Task Group responsible for scrutinising the move, Will Forster, said:

"Although I am disappointed the County Council will not be moving to Woking as planned, this was inevitable with the current pandemic. The Council is rightly focused on fighting Coronavirus and protecting vulnerable local people."

"If this move went ahead, there was a real risk the County Council would have purchased Midas House when the property market was at a high before the coronavirus pandemic but sold County Hall in Kingston-Upon-Thames when property was cheaper afterwards. That would be unacceptable and not be value for money for taxpayers."

"I am pleased the Council has agreed with me that Woking remains the best place for the County Council to have its Civic Heart once the pandemic is over."

Welcome to three more weeks (at least…) of lockdown. Here are the key updates from the Council and related sources from Julie & myself:

Council and health services:

The pedestrian gate at Long Grove Park has reopened as well as the main gates at Bourne Hall Park. The Council are encouraging safe use of these areas with social distancing. The skate park in Long Grove Park however remains closed.

The following captures some key updates since our last Update, mainly based on a catch-up with Kathryn Beldon (the CEO of the Council) on Thursday afternoon:

Council Services:

1 - Council matters:

• The council continues updating their website regularly during the crisis. Please see https://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/news/coronavirus-covid-19-council-services-update.
• They are trying to find better ways of sharing information but are not able to use the emails they have on their system because of data protection. I have suggested contacting local organisations (such as ourselves, Epsom Sports Club etc) so that we can email people directly (like this). She was grateful and will get on to it. Please let me know of any other local organisations with email lists that could be helpful.
• Because of historic cuts, EEBC hasn't got as robust "work from home" process as many private sector organisations. So, some work has to be done from the Town Hall with appropriate safeguards. Council staff are under extreme pressure so please be considerate in any interaction.
• Refuse collectors (see below) have been pressing to get PPE and this should now be available to them.

The Lib Dem Group on Surrey County Council has called for the Council to reopen its Community Recycling Centres with social distancing measures to avoid fly tipping.

This follows the latest advice from the Government that stated that Household Waste Recycling Centres can be open, but should have social distancing measures in place.

Lib Dem Councillors are concerned the closure of local tips has started to result in a spate of very unwelcome fly tipping.

Local authorities are focusing on household rubbish and food waste and regard the collection of garden waste and recycling as less of a priority. This coupled with Community Recycling Centres being closed and people being at home, so having time for gardening and housework, has resulted in an increase in fly tipping.

Lib Dem Group Leader at County Hall, Councillor Chris Botten, said:

"I am calling on Surrey County Council to reopen our Community Recycling Centres in a limited and safe manner to enable gardeners to dispose of their plant material and also for householders, who may be using the time at home to catch up with domestic jobs, to safely dispose of waste."

"The County Council has been listening to concerns so far and I hope for a partial reopening of our community tips in the near future."