Surrey gets more money than expected

The initial budget published by the Tories at County Hall included massive services cuts. As it turned out, it was a false alarm. The government gave Surrey more money than was expected. In fact, Tory council leader Nick Skellett had the nerve to complain that the government had given Surrey £70m more than the funding formula suggested. The Tories moan that the funding formula doesn't give Surrey enough money, and then when they get given extra money, they still complain.

The extra money means that the County Council will be able to increase spending. Here are some of the highlights:

• Adult social care up £16.3m, allowing 1,000 more people to live at home,
• children's services up £9.3m,
• youth services will get an extra £500,000 but we need to watch this area, as the Tories say that they need to review services: "In the coming year we will need to decided what kind of youth service we need, who will provide it and how much we can afford."
• For our terrible roads, the budget has increased by £1.7m, plus £25m extra in road maintenance and an extra £4m given by the government,
• bus subsidies will continue, but again a warning: "members" (that means Tory councillors) will review the support for public transport, especially in rural areas",
• libraries will get an extra £250,000 above inflation (last year a similar figure allowed 10% longer opening).

Tory leader Nick Skellett didn't even mention the schools budgets in his speech. It's no wonder - if he wants to whinge, he can't on schools. The government increased Surrey schools budgets by a massive 4.9% this year, 4.1% next year and 5% the year after, as Labour County Councillor, Victor Agarwal, pointed out in his speech.

Labour members lobbying ministers for more housing

More affordable and social housing is an issue we all feel strongly about. Surrey members have had a good chance to lobby housing ministers over the past few months, to tell them just how bad things are in Surrey, and how local Tory and LD councillors block planning applications.

Martin Phillips, a Surrey rep on Labour's National Policy Forum, spoke in the recent housing debate, explaining how local councils in Surrey drag their feet on targets and block planning applications for new housing. He also asked ministers to lower the limit on the size of developments to which the affordable housing percentage applies, to stop developers avoiding affordable housing by always building schemes just below the limit.

Regional Board member Michael Hassell and Parliamentary Candidate for Guildford, Tim Shand, also spoke at length to new Housing Minister, Caroline Flint and made the same points.

Surrey County Council established local committees to offer greater opportunities for people to have more say in their local affairs. Their effectiveness depends upon local people becoming actively involved. This is the best way of finding out what is proposed in your area and you are able to put questions to the committee.

Further information, including the agenda and venue is available form Surrey County Council by phone: 01483 - 517336 or email to diccon.bright@surreycc.gov.uk . Meeting papers are available on the Surrey County Council web site on the Guildford Local Committee page .