STATEMENT FROM CLLR HAZEL WATSON ON SURREY'S DECISION TO GIVE NOTICE TO QUIT THE LGA
28 Mar 2017
Commenting on the news that Cllr David Hodge has unilaterally given notice for Surrey County Council to leave the Local Government Association (LGA) in a year's time, Cllr Hazel Watson, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, said today:
"I am appalled by this decision. The Local Government Association is the key organisation within local government which enables the county council to lobby central government and make its case for resources and funding. The LGA has helped Surrey to save money, enabling the county council to recover millions of pounds back after the Icelandic banking crash. The county council needs a voice at the top table and this short sighted move takes that voice away. Only three councils in the country are not members of the LGA, so we are moving from the membership of a large and influential group to an isolated position on the fringes.
"Cllr Hodge should have consulted widely within the county council before even considering such a rash and intemperate move. Yet again, his poor judgement and secretive leadership style have led to a poor decision being taken unilaterally, which is not in the best interests of the county council or Surrey residents."
NOTES
A copy of the letter from Cllr Hodge can be found here: