There have recently been a number of letters giving both incorrect and misleading information. This may be due to elections and an attempt to score political points but, in an attempt to put the record straight, I have responded below. I am more than happy to meet with residents and expand on any of the points below, or indeed anything else the council is doing.
1. RA leader?
The Residents Association does not have a leader or deputy leader, we are not part of a national party or political body but a group of unfettered individuals with the aim to serve the residents we represent and we have done so very successfully in Epsom and Ewell for nearly 80 years.
2. Frustration?
As anyone who is involved in local government the legal processes are necessarily slow to ensure that everyone is properly consulted and informed before changes are made. This does not mean that I, and others, do not get frustrated, especially as there is nothing I, or any other councillor, can do to change this.
3. Action!
Hollymoor Lane redevelopment and Horton Chapel, as reported on your online paper, now have a dedicated project manager to progress these important projects. There have been numerous challenges on both projects which have been out of the local council control but we are now confident that they can proceed and, with the new project manager, will proceed as quickly as possible.
4. Staff budgets Staffing has been reduced but no services have been cut as we are using our workforce more effectively and efficiently. We have weathered the recession extremely well as a local council despite the draconian cuts made by the coalition government. Thanks are due to our loyal and hardworking council officers and staff who have continued to serve you, the resident, despite frozen and below inflation wage rises over the last few years.
5. Business development manager In the past few years, despite the recession, we have gained as many businesses and retail outlets as we have lost in the town centre. Adam Worley, the business development manager has made a major contribution during the nine plus months he has been in post and is still doing so. Many of his ideas and initiatives will come to fruition after he has moved on and many more have already taken effect. His successor will come with ideas of his/her own and will both continue progressing current initiatives and start new initiatives and ideas of their own.
6. Council tax The modest council tax rise agreed for this year was a) less than the Conservative council tax rise for Surrey County Council, b) just 6p a week (for band D), less than the inflation that affects council expenditure.
c) ensures that the non-statutory services provided by Epsom & Ewell can be protected (like our social centres, meals on wheels, and many other services for the elderly and handicapped), d) ensures that in the longer term Epsom & Ewell has a balanced budget and a sound financial footing to continue to provide both mandatory and non-statutory services that are so much in demand.
To accept the 1% one off payment offered by the government would have lost the council more than £250,000 revenue over the next few years!
At the Council meeting (budget meeting) that this was debated and agreed. The Conservatives had an opportunity to present an alternative budget but chose not to do so, in fact the Conservative leader has chosen not to attend for the last two years!
It is easy to criticise when you have no responsibility or answerability; fortunately your Residents Association councillors are responsible and I am happy to explain to genuinely interested residents why we did the right thing! If you are in doubt read the independent auditors report that praises Epsom & Ewell for its financial management!
7. The next year Over the next year there are going to be a number of false claims and political comments that are not based on fact as there is a local election in 2015. Please do remember that your local Residents Association councillors are always available and serve you every year, not just during election years!
Councillor Neil Dallen
Residents Association councillor for Town Ward
Chairman of Strategy and Resources
- Send your letters to: letters@epsomguardian.co.uk
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