The Kingston View: Children’s Care Services, Potholes, Traveller Incursions and more…

Published on: 30 May, 2018
Updated on: 31 May, 2018

Cllr Keith Witham

By Keith Witham

Conservative county councillor for Worplesdon

In his occasional column giving his personal view of county council matters, Cllr Witham covers: children’s social care services in Surrey; Surrey’s primary school admissions; fairer funding for Surrey’s roads; Illegal Traveller incursions; Surrey Wildlife Trust; Surrey Matters e-newsletter and; small SCC grants for voluntary groups…

Children’s social care services in Surrey

Recently a report issued by the government body OFSTED rated Surrey’s children’s social care services as “inadequate”. This is both worrying and disappointing for everyone who wants the best possible services to support our most vulnerable children.

Dave Hill the new director of
children’s services at SCC

I can assure you that it is being taken very seriously at the highest levels of SCC, across all political parties, and that action has already is in hand to make the improvements necessary.

At the end of last month Dave Hill, CBE, took up the role of executive director of children’s services at SCC. Mr Hill is one of the most experienced and respected directors in this field in the country and has been responsible for “turning round” these services in several other areas.

If you wish to see more about this the link is: https://news.surreycc.gov.uk/2018/05/16/ofsted-publishes-report-following-inspection-of-surrey-childrens-services/

Surrey’s primary school admissions

But now some good news! Surrey is leading the way in primary school admissions. 86% of Surrey pupils were offered their parents first choice of primary school and almost all applicants – 96% – were allocated one of their top three preferred schools.

This is the sort of news that parents might take for granted, but it doesn’t just happen by chance. Surrey County Council has been working hard for years to ensure that more school places are created, in anticipation of known pupil trends at infant, primary and secondary levels.

Fairer funding for Surrey’s roads

Potholes in Lawn Road, Guildford

You may recall from my previous articles that an issue with government funding of local highways authorities is that government money is given on the basis of the miles of road in each area. But this takes no account of how heavily used the roads are. And in the case of Surrey, we have amongst the most heavily used roads in the UK, which of course costs more for maintenance.

So a petition has been started on the Parliament website calling for a fairer funding formula to be considered. Do please look at it and sign the petition to support the efforts of Surrey County Council to get more of our roads fixed, more quickly. I have! https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/217930

The procedure is that you put in your details and you are then sent an email, which you have to acknowledge for your name to be added to the petition.

Please sign this petition. And do please also write to and lobby your MP as well.

In the meantime, Surrey County Council is not just waiting for the government to respond. £5 million has already been allocated to get more roads resurfaced and plans are in hand to allocate an extra £15 million for road repairs over the next two years. You will not be surprised to hear that because of this year’s winter weather the number of potholes this year was double the number from last year. But action is planned, and funds are in place, to deal with our roads.

For more info: https://news.surreycc.gov.uk/2018/05/22/video-surrey-leader-announces-extra-15m-investment-in-roads/

IIllegal Traveller incursions

A Traveller incursion on
Bannisters Field, Guildford

Recently, there have been several local illegal traveller incursions. These have affected each of my local Parish Councils at Pirbright, Normandy and Worplesdon.

A traveller occupation is not usually a criminal offence, but a “civil” matter, that puts the onus on the owner of the land to take legal action, which if it is public land, owned by a parish council or the borough or county council is then a cost on the council tax payer. Plus of course the inevitable clear up costs.

One such incursion last year on Common Land near Fairlands cost Surrey County Council £10,000 in security and clear up costs.

I have recently sent all three of my local Parish Councils details of the following current government consultation regarding a review of the law covering the powers for dealing with unauthorised development and encampments – see the link below. The consultation is open until 15th June.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/powers-for-dealing-with-unauthorised-development-and-encampments

Surrey Wildlife Trust

We are fortunate to live in a lovely part of the country and have a huge amount of open countryside to enjoy. Surrey Wildlife Trust looks after much of our open countryside across Surrey, both common land, and at Newlands Corner (people are often surprised to learn that Newlands Corner is not public land, it is actually private property owned by the Albury Estate. The public only has access thanks to an access agreement between Surrey County Council and the estate).

For some years SCC has contracted the maintenance of the commons across Surrey and the land at Newlands Corner to Surrey Wildlife Trust.

But as everyone knows, the funds available to all councils, including Surrey, are considerably less now than just a few years ago. Which is why parking charges are to be introduced at some common car parks, including the Whitmoor Common car park and the Britten’s Pond car park at Salt Box Road, Worplesdon, as well as at Newlands Corner.

Funds raised from those charges to be used specifically towards the annual costs of maintaining the Surrey countryside estate – approximately £1 million a year.

But Surrey Wildlife Trust is a charity. I have personally been a member of SWT for some years. Are you a member of Surrey Wildlife Trust? You can help protect Surrey’s wildlife by joining as a member or making a donation.

Surrey Wildlife Trust cares for more than 9,000 hectares of the county’s countryside and could not carry out its vital conservation work without the support of members, supporters and volunteers. To join and to find out more about the benefits of SWT membership, visit www.surreywildlifetrust.org/join

Surrey Matters e-newsletter

Surrey Matters – now online only

The Surrey County Council newsletter is no longer being produced in printed format This is to save £200,000 a year printing and distribution costs.

But you can keep up to date with what’s going on in Surrey with news, features, a what’s on guide and a monthly competition with Surrey Matters online. Don’t miss out! If you wish to receive the monthly Surrey Matters sign-up today, subscribe here:
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/news-and-events/surrey-matters/e-newsletter

Residents in Worplesdon Division are welcome to contact me to be added to my list of email contacts. keithwitham1@hotmail.co.uk with your name and postal address and postcode, please.

Small SCC grants for voluntary groups

Small grants for local voluntary groups are available. Different councillors will use different criteria, but in my area applications can be for between £50 and £500 for the purchase of equipment or a one-off project, but not for running costs. The group must be based locally and have at least a majority of its members and beneficiaries living locally.

Until August 31, priority is being given to any group that has not had this funding before. After September 1 previously supported groups can apply again, but success will depend on the funds still available then.

All applications are now made online, so at least member of the group needs to have internet access. Please send any enquiries to me. I will be happy to advise. Email: keithwitham1@hotmail.co.uk

And if you are a member of a local voluntary group that might benefit, please pass this onto the chairman, secretary or treasurer. You know how the saying goes: “If you don’t ask…!” Groups in areas other than Worplesdon should contact their local county councillor.