Lib Dems Urge Longer Term Funding Commitment for "Self-Reliance"

Surrey Liberal Democrats have called upon Surrey County Council to maintain funding for its work devoted to building stronger communities in disadvantaged areas of Surrey, the so-called Self-Reliance Projects.

In a motion proposed by Cllr Fiona White (Guildford West), the Lib Dems acknowledged the £130,000 provision in the recent budget to continue the work for 2008-2009 but urged the Council to go beyond that and opt for funding until 2011.

Said Fiona White, "As part of its own self assessment in the current performance review, the Council highlights the importance of building stronger communities which will result in safer communities. This work has been so important in involving residents in dealing with issues within their communities. The confidence of people living in those areas is incredibly low - communities where people don't expect to be listened to, so they are used to not participating.

"If support for self-reliance projects stops, it will not just mean that no further progress is made," continued Cllr White, "but that the achievements made so far will gradually be lost. It is essential that we do not allow that to happen."

"But if we want to keep the momentum going, we need to make sure there is a commitment in future years to this work. At the end of the three year period proposed by the Lib Dems, a review should be carried out and, so long as there is evidence of progress, further funding should be made available."