Lib Dems achieve restrictions on high cost staff

Yesterday, the Lib Dems saw success when our motion aimed at cutting the costs of interim staff at Surrey County Council was adopted.

The motion, proposed by Chris Botton and seconded by Will Forster, was produced in reaction to recent news that the Council was recruiting for another interim manager on a £90,000 annual salary. The motion approved by Council read:

"This Council:
• believes in the importance of an equitable wage ratio;
• notes the 60+ consultants currently appointed on interim contracts;
• recognises that interim contracts are often far more costly than those of permanent staff, with the Programme Manager currently being recruited for with a potential salary of £98,000/year on a two year fixed term contract;
• acknowledges that many residents within Surrey are struggling to make ends meet and facing higher Council Tax bills;
• notes the ongoing cuts to essential Council services including children's centres, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provisions and bus subsidies;
• notes that a number of senior appointments are not being approved by the People, Performance and Development Committee (PPDC) where they ought to be.

This Council therefore resolves to:
• adopt a policy of recruiting to permanent positions where appropriate;
• work with the Surrey Boroughs and Districts to share talent and resource where possible to contain the overall Surrey payroll costs."

Lib Dem County Councillor Will Forster commented:

"My Lib Dem colleagues and I think there should be no area of the Council's budget which is under less rigorous control than others. We believe staffing has been an area with inadequate scrutiny and we need to rein it back, by looking at sharing employee resource with Borough and District Councils wherever possible. There is excellent practice in this country in post sharing and we are pleased our motion was accepted by the Council."

"Surrey County Council cannot plead poverty, and ask both the public and Government for more money, whilst at the same time pay such high salaries to staff for such a short space of time. The Council needs to get its act together on interim staff pay."

"The Lib Dems and I want the County Council to only appoint temporary staff when absolutely necessary. Currently, the Council employs far too many interim staff and at a high cost."

More hoops for Citizens Advice to jump through

Cllr Barker calls on Conservative Executive Leader to end vendetta

Cllr Barker, Liberal Democrat Leader on Woking Council is saddened that the Council's Conservative Executive has come up with yet more hoops for our local Citizens Advice service to jump through to secure grant funding.

Liberal Democrats criticise move to 7-day property turnaround

Why set target council's own contractor doesn't meet?

Liberal Democrats were surprised to see proposals to reduce a properties' exemption from Council Tax from 30 days to just 7 days. Currently a property is not charged Council Tax whilst empty for one month. Proposals going to this week's Council meeting are to reduce that to just one week.

Delight that Carlos will be able to return to the park

Liberal Democrats welcome the Conservative U-turn that will restore Carlos' ice cream van to Woking Park. We look forward to confirming our support at the Council meeting on 13 February.

Commenting Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, Leader of Woking Liberal Democrats, said "The Bellancas have been through so much, from being told 5 days before Christmas 2017 that they couldn't return to the park in 2018, to then being offered a new site but later having that offer withdrawn. The Liberal Democrat Group are delighted that Carlos ice cream van will be returning to Woking Park in 2019".

Lib Dems get Surrey County Council to help Europeans stay post Brexit

Surrey County Council has agreed to the Lib Dem request to help its European Union (EU) staff and children in care apply for 'settled status' post-Brexit.

Earlier this year, the Government announced that EU nationals would have to apply and pay for settled status post-Brexit, though they have recently waived the application fees. This 'pay to stay' process has been widely criticised as being too complicated and making Europeans feel unwelcome in the UK.

Lib Dem County Councillor Will Forster recently addressed the Council's Cabinet to get them to commit to helping EU citizens that work for or are in the care of the local authority with their applications for settled status.

Will Forster said, "I am delighted that Surrey County Council has agreed to my request to support EU nationals from some of the damaging effects of Brexit and will help its EU staff and children in care apply for settled status if Brexit takes place."

"10% of construction workers are from the EU, that's 84,000 people. Without Europeans we will not be able to build new homes or schools, or resurface roads. 18% of social care workers are from the EU - without European staff, the County Council will not be able to look after vulnerable elderly people. EU citizens make a huge positive contribution to this country and our county."