Surrey County Council Lib Dems

Speaking at a Surrey-wide Conference on the threat to Green Belt organised by the Surrey Branch of the Council tp Protect Rural England in Dorking on Saturday, Liberal Democrat County Councillor Ian Beardsmore said the County has been suffering from a decade of pressure under successive governments.

It's time to put UKIP on the spot, Catherine Bearder MEP has said.

The party picked up a number of county council seats at last week's election and Catherine said it was time to turn the spotlight on its policies.

She said: "UKIP better get its thinking cap on because it's got some questions to answer. We are hearing about the party's broader appeal and it has become a home for the disillusioned, angry and concerned.

The Coalition Government has announced a £2.7 million boost for school sports in Surrey from September. Every state primary school in Surrey will receive funding for sports in 2013/14 and 2014/15.

The funding is the equivalent of around two days a week of a primary teacher's time to provide more sport for their pupils. A typical primary school with 250 pupils would receive £9,250 per year.

Surrey County Council's Conservative administration is covering up the true state of the County's roads according to the Liberal Democrat opposition at County Hall.

In response to a written question from the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition Hazel Watson to today's meeting of the Council asking: "What percentage of Surrey's roads will deteriorate to a standard of poor over the next 5 years?", the Conservative Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment has responded: "Our intention is that 0% of Surrey roads will deteriorate to poor during this period through a combination of the new 5 year major maintenance programme and preventative maintenance on the rest of the network."

The Liberal Democrats are calling on Surrey County Council to protect the County's Green Belt. In a motion to the County Council next Tuesday, 19 March, Liberal Democrat Councillor Ian Beardsmore will call on the Council to do everything in its power to protect Green Belt land and to ensure that any Green Belt development in the County is in line with the needs and wishes of Surrey residents.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has closed the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Brighton by calling on members to spread the message of the Party's commitment in Government to deliver a stronger economy and a fairer society.

In his keynote Leader's speech, Nick paid tribute to the work of the Party in winning the Eastleigh by-election, beating the Conservatives into third place and squeezing Labour while campaigning on the Lib Dem record of delivering in Government.

Commenting on the further raising of the Personal Allowance, Hazel Watson the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition on Surrey County Council, said:

"From April, 470,800 ordinary working people in Surrey will get a further Income Tax cut, bringing the total tax cut to £600 a year since Liberal Democrats joined the Coalition Government.

Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council were the only party at today's budget setting meeting to vote for a freeze in Council Tax for Surrey residents, and against the Conservative administration's 1.99% Council Tax increase.

In the critical Council Tax vote today every Conservative County Councillor present voted for an increase of 1.99% in Council Tax, while every Liberal Democrat voted against. Several Conservatives were absent for the vote, with one leaving the room just seconds before the vote. Members of the Residents and Independents group all either abstained or voted with the Conservatives. Surrey's one Labour County Councillor was not at the meeting.

Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have welcomed the formal announcement that following the pressure they have brought to bear on Surrey County Council's Conservative Cabinet a future overnight stay at Farnham Castle has been cancelled.

However, following further answers to questions from Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition, they are now calling on the Conservative Cabinet to cut overseas trips at Council Taxpayers expense.

Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have today announced their priorities for the 2013/14 County Council budget following their announcement calling for a Council Tax freeze last week.

Cllr Hazel Watson, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition said: "The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have called for a Council Tax freeze for 2013/14 to help Surrey residents keep their cost of living down.