The 2010 MESSAGE FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR MICHAEL GOSLING

 

In the Village Voice recently Simon Parnall raised the matter of the poor condition of the local roads.  I am taking the opportunity to reply here because the root cause of the problem is political and I feel that the journal is not the right place. The relationship between taxes paid by Surrey residents, who contribute more per head to the National Exchequer than anywhere else in the country and the receipt by Surrey at the lowest grant per head to any County Council, demonstrates that this Government’s priorities are not ours. This makes it extremely difficult for the County to control the level of council tax to supply the services that local residents have a right to expect.

 

We have set the lowest rise in Council Tax at 2.5% since local needs were met in this manner. With the expected cuts due to the credit crunch we need to restrain expenditure. All departments are subject to budget restraints. This year and for the next four years, all contracts are being reviewed and where necessary re-negotiated.

 

I would be quite happy to sit down with any local group to explain how we set our priorities and the funding of the budget in detail.

 

The first fruits of work since last year’s election are to be seen in the new lighting contract. Over 70,000 out of 85,000 lamp posts in Surrey will be replaced and will be fitted with new lights.  The lights will be better in quality, lower in energy and centrally controlled to lower the electricity usage.  For instance, we can choose to dim the lights or turn them off in the middle of the night, all at a lower annual cost.  The good news for us is that the Banstead area will be the first for the implementation of this contract so we will see a change before next winter.

 

The County Council work covers a broad number of areas. Schools - including from April this year the Sixth-Form colleges; Waste Disposal over 560,000 tonnes - we have dropped the incinerator plans in favour of a new eco park; the largest departments are those for Social Care - both adults and children - which take a large percentage of our resources. Adult Care as you know has figured high in the national news of late. The full list is much longer.

 

Our aim is to work as closely as possible with eleven Boroughs and Districts, the Police and the Voluntary Sector in the County to achieve the best for the Residents of Surrey.

 

Whilst I appreciate the lobbying by the KRA, I would ask you to remember that I live here too and share the same concerns.  I am, therefore, pleased to tell you that the following roads in the Banstead South Division, that includes Kingswood, will be resurfaced in the next financial year.  In fact, by the time you read this you may have noticed the pre-patch work that will be undertaken in preparation:

• Merland Rise, Tadworth – full length
• Chequers Lane, Walton – complete road
• Shelvers Way, Tadworth – from the A217 to Ashurst Road
• Tadorne Road, Tadworth – full length
• Waterhouse Lane, Kingswood -  from the A217 to the railway bridge, east of Bonsor Drive

 

Having secured these works I am aware that there are many roads in the area that need similar treatment and I will continue to fight our corner as you would expect.

C. Cllr. Michael Gosling is our member for Banstead South and is the Cabinet Member responsible for Adult Social Care in Surrey.  He may be contacted by e-mail at michael.gosling@surreycc.gov.uk