With the recession people are hurting. 1 in 4 of Surrey's residents are living in financial stress and 30,000 are financially excluded - as they don't have bank accounts, savings or insurance. Without them people turn to loan sharks, some even for basic things like when their washing machine breaks down.
A Liberal Democrat proposal that free meals for councillors and their partners should be scrapped, has been criticised by Residents' Association councillors as liable to "diminish the civic life of the borough". Currently meals are served free of charge to councillors and their partners at two Civic events each year, the Mayor-making and the Mayor's Reception. The cost is met from the Mayor's allowance, which in turn is funded from the Council Tax.
New proposals to develop the land attached to Dame Annis Barn in Burgh Heath Road, Epsom, are to come before the council at April's Planning Committee.
The first Conservative leaflet of the year has effectively been deconstructed at http://life-of-a-stranger.blogspot.com/2010/03/conservatives-leaflet.html , but look at http://www.labservative.com/ for a more balanced approach to current politics!
Commenting on the Channel 4 news report that revealed the Government is planning to cut the Attendance Allowance budget by £100m to pay for free residential care, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb, said "Labour promised to protect disability benefits from any future cuts but it looks like they're going to have to raid budgets to pay for their free care plans."
Brentwood Liberal Democrats have welcomed the news that the first national rail strike for 16 years has been called off after a High Court injunction blocked the walkout by 6,000 signalman.
