Primary school blighted by drive-by fly-tipper
A “horrible, antisocial” pile of rubble was fly tipped outside a popular Surrey primary school by a lorry in a drive-by dump and run. Neighbours heard a truck driving down … Read More
Author: Chris Caulfield - Local Democracy Reporter
Police probe abuse of public funds
Suspected fraud and alleged breaches of procedure in Guildford Borough Council’s housing maintenance team have snowballed, culminating in a police investigation. Last year, the council instigated a staff investigation following … Read More
Thames Water’s reputation going down the drain
Thames Water’s spending on infrastructure is “woefully inadequate”, its behaviour a “disgrace”, and direct lines of communications to MPs “unhelpful” – a meeting into the “largest ever” water outages in … Read More
Minister gets heavy on a Local Plan delay
A Surrey borough where the house prices are “amongst the highest in England” has been ordered not to delay its home building programme. The Epsom and Ewell neighbour borough of Mole … Read More
How far will £500m go for Surrey Councils?
Additional government funding for local councils will “go some way” towards easing the pain felt by local authorities struggling to balance their books – although calls remain for greater reform. … Read More
Surrey Police funding: not a fair cop
The “outdated” underfunding of Surrey’s police is “unfair” to residents according to the May 2021 elected Conservative Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend. The Government announced its funding for … Read More
Surrey’s debts match Woking’s but its position is secure?
Surrey County Council expects to add a further billion pounds in “additional” debt to its balance sheets but experts have praised its financial sustainability and suggested it is better placed … Read More
Surrey’s £1/4 m fines for failing children
The failings of Surrey County Council’s children services has meant the under-fire authority paid more than £250,000 in fines, compensation, and redress payments to families it let down last year. … Read More
Drills in the Hills lawful
Oil drilling near the Surrey Hills can proceed after the Court of Appeal dismissed a legal challenge to stop fossil fuel extraction from Dunsfold. Climate emergency campaigners are still hopeful that … Read More
Dorking Halls to get refit
The “jewel in Mole Valley’s crown” is set to shut over the summer as it undergoes a £3.24million safety refit. Dorking Halls has been recommended for the “minimal” amount of … Read More
Homeless child will have his day in court
The High Court has granted a judicial review into Surrey County Council’s decision not to house a “child in need”. In 2019, a 17-year-old who was known to Surrey’s social … Read More
Surrey social landlord downgraded by regulator
Problems with repairs, service charges, complaints, damp and mould, contributed to one of Surrey’s largest social housing landlords being downgraded by regulators for failing its tenants. The Regulator of Social … Read More
Surrey braces for doctors’ strike
Hospitals and health services across Surrey are bracing themselves for the longest “and most difficult” strike in NHS history. Junior doctors, who make up about half of the medical workforce, … Read More
Underinvestment hits most vulnerable
The “most vulnerable” people in Woking will be made to find new homes after their extra care facility failed vital fire safety checks and was “all but condemned”. Brockhill Extra … Read More
Surrey Borough running up big debts
Runnymede Borough Council has been served formal notice over its “significant debt” and an over reliance on commercial income to support its services. The Department for Levelling up, Housing and … Read More