After 20 years of Conservative rule have now finished, Tandridge Council voted to exempt all young people leaving care from paying council tax.
Cllr Jeffrey Gray says, “We tried to get the old Conservative administration to agree to the change, but they flat refused. Last month I spoke privately to the new administration and today we passed a motion to do what we can to help Tandridge’s young people in most need.”
We demand that Surrey County Council listen to local residents and increase the opening hours of both Warlingham and Caterham Tips and allow local residents to walk their filled wheelbarrows to the tip without needing to use their car!
Sarah Green produced a classic Liberal Democrat by-election win in the Chesham & Amersham constituency, overturning a Conservative majority of 16,223 to win with 56.7% of the vote, a majority of 8,028.
Following the 17 June poll, Sarah said, "Tonight the voice of Chesham and Amersham is unmistakable. Together we have said, 'enough is enough, we will be heard and this government will listen'."
Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey added, "This is a great result, a huge swing to us. There are many Conservatives across the country who are now worried.
"People have been talking about a red wall. Well, after Chesham and Amersham and Sarah Green's victory, they'll be talking about a blue wall and how the Lib Dems are the main threat to the Conservatives."
The loss of seats in the south of the district means the Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group (OLRG) and their alliance of independents are the largest political group with sixteen councillors. The Tories now have fourteen and the Liberal Democrats have nine. The Conservative group has shrunk from 29 councillors in 2000.
Tandridge District Council has been run by a Conservative administration since 2000. They have run out of steam, lost any sense of direction, run down key departments, especially Planning, and came close to bankruptcy last summer.
The Liberal Democrats have driven forward the building of council homes for local people, the development of Quadrant House in Caterham - supporting local business and employment and worked hard to secure proper parking enforcement. They successfully declared a Climate Emergency and action plan.
“Prince Philip dedicated his life to our country. We will always be grateful for his amazing service, not least the powerful legacy he leaves to millions of young people who have taken part in his unique Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
“His quiet and steadfast counsel and support of The Queen, is perhaps his greatest if unquantifiable contribution to our nation’s history.
“At this sad time for millions, we should never forget Prince Philip was a much-loved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. So our thoughts must be with the whole Royal Family, but in particular with The Queen at this difficult time.”