At today’s meeting of the County Council, Surrey’s Lib Dems unanimously voted against an increase in council tax, equivalent to just 44 pence a week[1], which will provide funding for roads, schools and care services, at a time when Surrey’s residents need them most.

Money will also be invested in an apprenticeship scheme designed at getting 500 young people into employment, thereby giving Surrey’s young people the leg up they need at a time when the job market is so tough.

The Conservative Budget, which was endorsed at today’s meeting, will invest an additional:

·         £10m to raising school standards over the next 5 years;

·         £45m to providing 12,000 school places;

·         £25m to our roads over the next five years;

·         £11m to adult social care next year to help elderly people live at home;

·         500 apprenticeships next year to give the County’s young people a boost in the job market;

·         Boost the Community Improvement Fund of £1m to help communities improve their local areas.

David Hodge, Leader of the Conservative Group, added ‘People consistently tell us that what matters most to them is roads, schools places, opportunities for young people to get into work and looking after the vulnerable. The easy option would be for us to take the Freeze and park the problem until after the election but that would be irresponsible and saddle Surrey with a time bomb that would go off in 5 years, crippling Surrey’s finances. The Surrey Conservatives continue to show that we are listening and understanding what our residents want, whilst regrettably the Lib Dems voted against these important investments whilst also failing to table their own alternative budget – yet again!’

[1] Figure quoted is for an average Band D property