News Last update: 10 April 2008

Full Council of 5 December 2007: Residents with LibDems get rejection of carpark price hikes; but the political parties railroad through huge pay increases against Residents' opposition

Not many members of the public were present at the Elmbridge Council meeting last Wednesday. If they had been there, they would surely have been appalled at what went on. The Conservative Cabinet proposed huge increases in their own allowances - up by 32.3% - and for committee chairmen and vice-chairmen, while at the same time trying to increase charges for most car parking, for children's holiday activity schemes and for cemeteries, by amounts way above inflation, mostly over 30%. The allowance of the Conservative Leader of the Council will go up from £8,460 to £12,000, and in addition he receives over £10,000 in his other role as a Surrey County Councillor. Conservatives also voted to reduce the number of Cabinet meetings, so more money for less work!

To increase car parking charges before proper parking management schemes are in place is plain daft as the higher the charge the more parkers will use the nearby roads and leave the car parks half empty, thus increasing rather than reducing congestion. The Cabinet evidently sees car parks as a milch cow and they have clearly not talked to traders who rightly complain about the amateur way the Conservative administration is going about its policies.

Fortunately, their car park charging plan was rejected by a combination of Residents and Liberal Democrat councillors and the schemes will be reviewed. However, Liberal Democrats joined the Conservatives to vote in the huge increase in allowances- a move opposed by Residents councillors. No wonder the national political parties are no longer respected!

Absolute majority = absolute dictatorship

The Elmbridge Conservatives make no bones about wanting an absolute majority from the next local elections, so that they will not have to take the views of other Councillors into account. Since last May, their party whip has already stifled much debate in Cabinet and Council meetings and we think this is unhealthy. An absolute majority will lead to an absolute dictatorship, with many residents' views seen as rival and to be excluded. The checks and balances of the Oversight and Scrutiny (and other) Committees will be lost if the Conservatives pack them overall.

You may wish to reflect on this before voting.