LIB DEMS LOSE PLOT, CASH AND JOBS
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The Conservative led Scrutiny Panel forced Lib Dem leader Cllr Osbourne to admit at last night’s Scrutiny of the One Council Project that £2 million savings that had been previously promised have not been achieved saying ‘It is down to us – we are the Administration.’
In another shocking piece of news the Lib Dems announced there will be 200 fewer Council posts by 2013 and that any future savings will depend on the reduction of staff. The Scrutiny Panel were also told that the future savings were ‘not in the bag’ and more needed to be done. Conservative portfolio holder for the One Council Project Cllr Nick Kilby expressed his grave concern and said ‘The Lib Dems know, like us, that the Council cannot go on as we are, and as in all their ideas, they sound good until the wheels fall off! They fail every time to give the political leadership that these projects need. Worse still they fail to make the savings the Lib Dems have promised.’
Deputy Conservative Leader, Cllr. Paul Johnston, said: ‘It’s pretty obvious that morale among some staff is quite low and, through staff turnover, this is starting to feed through into the experience of citizens accessing Council services . Staff reductions may well be inevitable but they must be handled sensitively so that staff are engaged in the process of change, not threatened by it.’
Conservative Leader Cllr Howard Jones said ‘We are concerned that savings which were promised are still not being realised and have serious doubts about the robustness of the financial plan. Two of the projects are at least two years behind schedule and that in spite of assurances given we are concerned that the Customer First project neither actively engages with the customer nor engages sensitively with the staff. It is a wasted opportunity to improve efficiency and make positive changes for residents. We would do it differently and do it better.’
Surbiton Lights Switch-on
Info from RBK website:
Come and experience the magic of Christmas in Surbiton with festive children’s entertainment, music and carols from school children
Festivities begin at 4 p.m at the top of St James Road (junction with Victoria Road/opposite railway station) Father Christmas will drive his sleigh along Victoria Road and magically switch on the glittering lights at 5.30pm.
Join in the festive fun:
- Christmas craft workshop
- balloon making
- face painting
- roasted chestnuts
- mince pies
- opera singer
- Christmas Carols
plus, Radio Jackie will be getting everyone in the Christmas spirit!
| Where? | St James Road, Surbiton |
| When? | Thursday 26 November |
| What time? | Festivities begin at 4 p.m |
| How much? | activities free, unless otherwise stated |
Kingston Christmas lights and events
Follow this lead to RBK website info about pre-Christmas events including switching on of lights in Kingston
Green Guardian Awards 2009
From RBK website:
Have you been working to protect the environment over the past year? What about your family, neighbours, workmates, school, business, scout group…? Would you like to get some recognition and help others go green?
If the answer is yes, then we really want to hear from you.
Nominations are now open for the Green Guardian Awards 2009.
Since they were first launched in 2006 these awards have said Thank You to many hundreds of individuals, groups and organisations across the Borough, encouraging them to do more and others to follow their example.
The awards now run across eleven south London boroughs and are widely recognised and respected. Projects have found partners, companies have won customers and organisations have gained the oxygen of publicity.
Taking part is easy and it’s free. There are awards for all different types of activity, including a new one this year for anyone with a bright idea which could help protect the environment.
And you don’t have to be an eco angel to take part. If you are proud of what you, or what another individual or organisation has achieved then that is good enough for us.
Nominees are put through at borough level, with winners from each of the participating boroughs going through to a stunning south London final award ceremony to be held in February 2010, the drinks reception of which has been kindly sponsored by HSBC for the second year.
For more information on how to enter yourself, nominate someone else, categories, previous awards and prizes visit the website below:
Related External Links:
Remembrance Day
Nick and Paul and Janet’s husband John attended the Surbiton Remembrance service this morning. The wreath from Kingston and Surbiton Conservatives was laid by Surbiton Hill resident Group Capt. David Salusbury RAF . The ward was well represented, as usual.
The attendance of the public was very impressive also, possibly reflecting, not only the seventieth anniversary of the outbreak of World War 2, but also appreciation of the sacrifices made in more recent and current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Whatever one may think about the political rights and wrongs of our involvement in these conflicts, ceremonies like this morning’s are there to remind us of the service to our country of those who have lost their lives in them. May they rest in peace.
A Night Out with the Youth Outreach Team by Nick Kilby
Friday night is party night and there is no better way to spend it than joining the RBK Youth Outreach team. I arranged to meet Helen and Greg at the Alexandra Park. Helen briefed me on what we would be doing during the evening and asked me to agree a phrase or comment that I could make during the evening. This phrase could mean I had seen something that may be a threat to us or that I felt threatened in a situation during our tour. I decided what I would say as we started to walk round the park…….
Now read on by viewing the new Youth Matters page
Surbiton Forum 