Reigate and Banstead Borough Council recently consulted on its proposed new Homelessness Strategy.
The Council’s review highlights two underlying problems that are making homelessness worse in Reigate and Banstead:
We responded, welcoming the measures set out in their proposed strategy, including the reduced use of bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation.
I had hopes for the Autumn Statement. The Local Government Association and Surrey County Council had talked up the massive funding gap to local councils and social care, which is making 4% a year council tax rise the new normal. And the UK government had, just a week ago ratified the Paris Climate Change Agreement. I heard the words ‘fiscal reset’ and ‘new chancellor’ and hoped this might indicate a change of direction in response to the concerns raised by Councils.
Redhill’s Belfry Shopping Centre is up for sale. I wrote to the Council Leader, Cllr Vic Broad, proposing that the Council should buy it. I’d be interested to hear residents’ views on this – please get in touch and let me know what you think.
Surrey County Councillors voted unanimously to support a motion calling for high standards of restoration of mineral sites across the county.
The motion was tabled by Green County Councillor Jonathan Essex, who represents Redhill East.
In introducing the motion, Cllr Essex said,
“Surrey has lots of quarries, active and historic.
“National planning policy requires quarrying to be considered as a temporary activity, and sites to be restored afterwards to what they were before.
Green Party Councillor Jonathan Essex has called upon Surrey County Council’s Pension Fund to change the way it does its business.
Cllr Essex, who attended the latest meeting of the Fund this week, highlighted the financial case for considering a more sustainable investment strategy
On Friday 23 September, Green Cllr Jonathan Essex is raising questions at a meeting of the Surrey Pension Fund Committee about their continued investment in climate-wrecking fossil fuels [1]. Surrey pension fund members and Divest Surrey campaigners will be there to show support for calls to divest from fossil fuels.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is consulting on new development management policies that include potentially allowing up to 1,400 new homes to be built in the Green Belt.
You can view the Council’s proposals and submit your comments online – or visit an exhibition to see the plans and meet planning officers. Details of both are on this page
East Surrey Green Party is holding a public meeting to discuss the proposals. All are welcome.
Jonathan Essex, County Councillor for Redhill East, will move a Motion at the Surrey County Council meeting on 12 July, inviting the Council to respond to the challenges posed by the result of the recent EU referendum.
The text of the Motion is as follows:
Liberal Democrat and Green County Councillors have formed a Combined Group, the Surrey Opposition Forum, on Surrey County Council to provide a more effective opposition to the Conservatives at County Hall.
Jonathan Essex, Green County Councillor for Redhill East, said, “The new Opposition Forum will enable us to more effectively scrutinise and challenge the Council’s Conservative leadership. It doesn’t commit Liberal Democrat and Green councillors to vote the same way but it does mean we can work together to better hold our very one-sided Tory Council to account.”
Liberal Democrat County Councillor Hazel Watson said, “I am delighted that we will be working closely with Jonathan Essex from the Green Party to provide a more effective opposition which can challenge the administration for the benefit of Surrey residents.”
Steve McKenna was elected as Councillor for Redhill East in last week’s local elections.
Steve joins Jonathan Essex as one of two Greens on Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.
You can read more about Steve here.
Thank you to everyone who supported the Green candidates – and all those who voted Green.
