Epsom and Ewell RA councillors continued to reject a Lib Dem plan to allow questions from local residents at meetings of the Borough Council. This is despite the success of "public question time" at Surrey County Council's Local Committee.
An Audit Commission Report issued this week lays the blame for high Council Tax rises in the Totnes Constituency fairly and squarely on the Government. An investigation has shown a direct comparison with high Council Tax rises and low Government grants.
Following a motion tabled by Lib Dem County Councillor David Timms, Surrey County Council has now publicly acknowledged its concern over a number of serious weaknesses in its Children's Services that were identified in a recent report by the Audit Commission and the Social Services Inspectorate. The Council has also committed itself to monitor progress towards overcoming these weaknesses.
Residents face a big Council Tax rise as the Council has to find money to cover a £700,000 hole in Council finances left by the previous Conservative administration. Leader of Shepway District Council, Cllr Linda Cufley, will today announce the Council Tax increase for next year, as part of a four year financial plan for the district.
Totnes Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Mike Treleaven, today spoke out against the large rises in allowances that Torbay councillors have awarded themselves. Speaking after Thursday's controversial vote when rises of up to 60% were passed he said:
A meeting of the full council at Eastleigh Borough passed a motion calling on the Government to scrap the unfair and greatly disliked Council Tax and called for it to be replaced with the fairer Local Income Tax.