Update from your LibDem Borough Councillors - Saturday 6 March 2021
Dear friends, welcome to our latest Update covering material since our last one on 19 February.
Thank you to all who voted for her, and for the army of volunteers who put so much effort in.
The work starts now.
You can watch her gracious acceptance speech via this link.
Dear friends, welcome to our latest Update covering material since our last one on 19 February.
Dear friends, welcome to our latest Update. This differs from our last one of 5 February as it concentrates on the Borough Council's budget passed at full Council on Tuesday 16 February, and how this impacts your overall Council Tax for 2021/22.
An electoral review takes place every so often to make sure that electoral equality is achieved and Councillors represent roughly the same number of electors. The last review of Epsom & Ewell was over 20 years ago. The Borough Council makes recommendations based on criteria set by the Boundary Commission, and then embarks upon a public consultation after which there can be changes before final approval by the Commission. Numbers of electors in each ward or area have to include current occupancy plus estimates some five years forward. So the final numbers include things like known development, land availability and housing targets. The number of wards can change, as can the number of councillors which represent them. Ward boundaries themselves might need to be adjusted and the names of them can change. The process has just begun in Epsom & Ewell but it will be a couple of years before any changes actually happen.
Lib Dem County Councillor Angela Goodwin is delighted that a road safety scheme on The Chase in Onslow, that she has long been lobbying for on behalf of residents, has now received the go-ahead from Surrey County Council for implementation in 2023/24. Although the details are yet to be confirmed, solutions being looked at are the installation of a zebra crossing that links Benbrick Road to Elmside on The Chase and the possible closure of the northern slip into St John's Road.
Surrey Lib Dems have long looked to highlight the dire consequences of food poverty, especially for children and shown their support for extending the provision of Free School Meals advocated by other Lib Dem groups across the country.
Heart attack victims in some parts of Surrey are waiting on average over 30 minutes for help.
As liberals, we believe that true equality is achieved when individuals are not only free from prejudice and discrimination, but also free to fulfil their potential. So fighting for LGBTQ+ rights is not a choice Liberals make.
The Liberal Democrats' bold plan to restore UK leadership in science and innovation will drive investment, boost global collaboration, and ensure technology benefits everyone, not just the privileged few.
Reflecting on the year’s International Women’s Day theme of “accelerate action”, I am sadly reminded of how much more we still need to achieve.