++++++ Community news from your Esher Conservative Councillors: Autumn 2017 ++++++ The Esher News Issue 4 Local issues, local action, local Conservatives | Visit our website: www.esherwalton.com Simon is ready to serve Esher ESHER Conservatives are continuing traffic problems in Oliver, Leader of the Conservative delighted to announce that the town and to use my property Group on the Council said: “Esher Simon Waugh has been selected background to ensure local planning needs strong representation now as our candidate for next May’s is fair and the green belt and our that the Conservatives are no longer Elmbridge Borough elections. open spaces are properly protected.” in control of the Council. Simon has strong local links. He Simon was twice elected an Esher “We have seen the total shambles has lived in Esher for 14 years with councillor (in 2010 and 2014) and this Residents/Liberal coalition his wife Heather and two sons, who served on planning and licensing has made of the bin contract which attended Esher Church School and committees as well as chairing the was entirely avoidable. With three Esher High. A Chartered Surveyor, Audit and Standards Committee. Conservative councillors, Esher he enjoyed a 30 year career as a He is a Trustee of the Henry Smith will have a much stronger voice in Partner with a major surveying Charity, which funds projects that improving our local environment practice and now runs his own address social inequality, a Court and further enhancing our resident company based in Esher. Member of the Chartered Surveyors experience.” He said: “If elected next year Livery Company and a member of If you have a question for Simon I am keen to see Esher High Esher Rugby Club. or would like help in his campaign Street improved, to look into the Welcoming his selection, Cllr Tim call him on 07818 012425. Murray’s mum BINS FIASCO: After a summer of missed collections the Environment cabinet member slams ‘tennis tax’ in the Elmbridge RA/Lib Dem coalition still insists: ‘I’m not accountable’. We say: ‘What a load of rubbish!’ IM Oliver has called for the ineffective Elmbridge Tcabinet member, who pre- sided over months of missed bin collections, to do the decent thing and resign. Liberal Democrat Barry Fairbank is Portfolio Holder for the Envi- ELMBRIDGE Council’s deci- ronment in the chaotic eight-party sion to charge residents for us- coalition which is responsible for ing the public tennis courts has running the borough council. been criticised by the mum of It was his job to ensure the smooth two-times Wimbledon cham- transition to a new waste contractor, pion Sir Andy Murray. Amey, in June. But the switchover Judy Murray tweeted her sup- proved a disaster, with hundreds of port for a petition which called residents bombarding the council for the charges to be scrapped. with complaints following thou- She wrote: “Public tennis sands of missed refuse, recycling, courts should be free to access. food and garden waste collections. We don’t pay to use swings At a meeting of the full council in or feed ducks or picnic on the July, Cllr Fairbank was challenged grass. Don’t tax tennis.” by the Conservative opposition, n A dozen courts have been fit- over his failure to get a grip of the Cllr Fairbank (above, left) faced calls for his resignation from Cllr Tim Oliver (above, right). ted with a keypad entry system. situation. Rather than apologise, liver the services residents pay for I’m afraid if you want the position He added, however, that the coun- Players must now register online Cllr Fairbank tried repeatedly to and deserve and to accept a share and the money that goes with the cil’s reputation had been damaged. and pay £5 per hour or £36 for a shift the blame on to the contrac- of responsibility when these things job, then you’re accountable!” Cllr Fairbank is belatedly having season ticket. tor and to Joint Waste Solutions (a go wrong. He should show some Cllr Fairbank remained on petu- weekly meetings with the contrac- The RA/Lib Dem coalition group representing Elmbridge and humility and offer his resignation.” lant form at the meeting and was tor to get the service back on track. running the council has received three other councils on the joint Conservative deputy leader, Cllr defended by Cllr Stuart Selleck, He narrowly survived the no confi- £25k from the Lawn Tennis contract) and insisted “I’m not ac- James Browne, seconded the mo- leader of RA/Lib Dem coalition, dence vote by 24 to 22, with three Association to help pay for the countable”. tion saying: “Cllr Fairbank told us who insisted the blame lay with the of his own side voting against him. keypad system, and they defend He also admitted he had not taken he was not responsible in any way. contractor, not his cabinet member. the scheme on the grounds that it the trouble to meet with the con- is expected to raise around £26k tractor at the height of the crisis, per year for the maintenance of despite hundreds of residents Centre needs new Trustees the courts. It is interesting to flooding Elmbridge Council’s LOWER Green Com- try to find new trustees, note that this is close to the £30k switchboard with complaints. munity Centre urgently prepared to take over that the RA/Lib Dems added to At September’s council meet- needs to find new trus- the management of the the annual council bill when they ing Esher councillor Tim Oliver, tees if it is to reopen. building. put up by their own allowances who leads the Conservative group, The centre was tempo- A Council spokesperson by 12.4% last year. tabled a motion of no confidence rarily closed earlier this said: “We held two com- Charging was imposed despite in the portfolio holder. year to allow Elmbridge munity meetings in April a council survey which had Tim said: “This gives me no sat- Council to address con- and at the end of May, found that 68% of respondents isfaction on a personal or political cerns about the govern- and further engagement would not play tennis if the level. This is about the failure to ance and condition of the with residents through the courts were not free. Now they deliver a service and the principles building. school holidays. No one are mostly deserted. This is yet of responsibility and accountabil- At a Special General has as yet followed up another policy disaster by this ity.” Meeting of the Lower initial interest to complete administration and Conserva- He contrasted our experience Green Community As- the training required.” tives have called for a rethink. with that of Woking, where Amey sociation (LGCA) in May Esher county councillor achieved its 99.9% service target it was agreed that the Peter Szanto said: “I very USEFUL NUMBERS: on the first week of its contract LGCA should close as much hope trustees can Elmbridge Council’s out of there. a charity due to lack of be found to work with hours emergency number Tim added: “If another local trustees. Since then the Elmbridge Council and is 01372 466114. Surrey authority doing exactly the same Council has been working bring the community cen- County Council Social Care thing can get an effective service with advisors from Surrey tre back into use - please out of hours emergency on day one why can’t we? It’s Community Action to en- contact your councillors if number is 01483 517898. easy to point the finger and blame gage the community and you can help.” someone else but we’re here to de- Esher’s new champion at County Hall PETER SZANTO was elected in May as 13% of its funds from Central Government the county councillor for East Molesey and compared to 44% in London and Metropoli- Esher - the first Conservative to hold the tan Areas. post in eight years. He reports here for the As a simple example, funding for road and Esher News on some of the issues he has highway repairs is allocated purely on the been tackling. miles of road in our county and does not consider traffic density. ET me start by saying a huge thank Since Surrey’s roads have the highest traffic you to everyone who voted for me. density outside London and the requirement LIt is a great privilege to represent for road repairs is related to traffic, Surrey’s East Molesey and Esher and I will do my highways budget funding is insufficient to very best for all residents over the next meet the needs of our residents. four years. I have added my voice to those of the Con- Since I am not a career politician, I have servative administration fighting for fairer had a lot to learn about the workings of the funding from central government and better Council and I have been impressed by the outcomes for our residents. comprehensive training. I have been ap- I am delighted that Surrey County Council- pointed Deputy Chair of the Elmbridge Local n Peter signs the Declaration of Acceptance as a new county councillor in May, lors voted on 10 October that total allow- Committee and a member of the Audit and with Surrey’s legal, democratic and cultural director Ann Charlton. ances should be reduced by over £70,000 Governance and the Children and Education and that Cabinet Members will refuse the 8% will be to evaluate options to improve the mercial sector. Above all, taxpayers’ money Select Committees. I am keen to support our increase proposed by an independent panel.