The Conservatives see no value in scrutiny The Tory Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council has put out a press release about next year's Council Tax without any discussion with councillors. Despite being a minority group with only 16 out of 39 councillors, the Conservative Leader has announced what the new tax rate will be with no opportunity for scrutiny or consultation.
The application has been refused ... for now When Cllr. Richard Dunn learnt that developers had applied to add an extra two storeys & 28 flats to Oakhall Court in Oakhall Drive, he worked closely with local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, Alan Mockford, and immediately wrote to warn residents. His street letter was delivered to 250 local households in Oakhall Court, Oakhall Drive, Kinross Drive, Kinross Close, Cumbernauld Gardens, Groveley Road & King George's Close to advise them of how they might write to Spelthorne Council to register any comments and the legitimate grounds for objection. These included the lack of any off-street parking, loss of light & privacy and a building which would be totally out of keeping with neighbouring properties and a hundred letters of objection were subsequently received by the council.
At the recent combined Runnymede and Spelthorne AGM, the motion to separate into two separate parties - Runnymede and Spelthorne - was passed. Subsequently, officers were elected for the Spelthorne Liberal Democrats as follows:
Email from Councillor Chris Bateson to Julie Iles OBE, Surrey County Council, Cabinet Member for All-Age Learning Date: 3 January 2020 Subject: Surrey Schools return Good afternoon I am writing in a similar vein to my fellow councillor Tom Fidler from Sunbury, concerning the imminent return to school of schoolchildren tomorrow. Whilst the situation is of immense concern in Sunbury, similar circumstances prevail here in Ashford and Staines. The infection rate here in Spelthorne is higher than the neighbouring London Boroughs of Hounslow and Richmond. However as things stand their schools will not return for another two weeks, whilst ours here in Spelthorne do so tomorrow. I have been contacted by at least one Headmistress, who is deeply concerned that by her school opening it will contribute to the spread of the virus. She is deeply concerned both for her pupils and her staff. We all collectively need to support our schools at this very difficult time given the intense pressure they are under. I believ
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Remedial work is required The swimming pools at Sunbury Centre were closed earlier this year when a problem was identified with some of the pool tiles. The Council had to wait for the results of a full structural report to identify the cause of the problem but is now in the process of appointing contractors to carry out remedial work to safeguard this popular facility for many more years. The work is expected to be completed in the spring of next year and residents will be kept up to date with its progress. Your local Councillors have been in contact with Spelthorne Officers throughout the closedown to ensure that the work is progressed as quickly as possible. Whilst we wait for contractors to complete the work on the tiles we are also investigating refurbishment of the changing rooms and repainting of the area around the pools to give the whole area a freshen up. The Council said: "Will continue to work alongside local ward [Lib Dem] councillors Sandra Dunn, Tom Fidler and Lawrence Nichols to ensure the re
