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Surrey Heath Borough Council has been controlled by the Conservative party for 49 years. That party (and often the same people) also control Surrey County Council and prop up our absentee MP.

Today, we are all paying a very high price for this tired and widely discredited monoculture. Millions of pounds of our money have been lost on risky property speculation. Our council’s accounts have gone unaudited for years. And the recently-passed Conservative budget (supported by Independents, Labour and Greens) will, on current forecasts, pitch our council into effective bankruptcy by 2027.

The Surrey Heath Liberal Democrats understand and respect that Surrey Heath Borough Council is funded with your hard-earned money. We have a clear vision for the future that restores financial competence, engages and empowers our communities, enhances our local democracy, and is committed to the care and sustainable stewardship of our natural environment.

In everything we do, we are guided by our commitment to enhancing and celebrating our diverse, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-faith community through our core values of Accountability, Community and Transparency.

The people of Surrey Heath deserve a fresh start and a fair deal. Let's work together to make that happen and take our borough forward. Every vote counts on May 4th. Please use all of your votes to support the Liberal Democrats.

— OUR VISION IS BUILT ON OUR CORE VALUES —

It is only by engaging with the community and promoting participation that the interests of the community can truly be represented.

Surrey Heath is a truly special place to live. But, for many, life has become a daily struggle.

The cost of living crisis, social isolation, a lack of affordable housing, poor transport links, overdevelopment, and a failing NHS are impacting our quality of life. Residents deserve so much better - and that requires a new vision for our local council.

A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT COUNCIL WILL...

Secure the council finances

Our vision for Surrey Heath starts with ensuring our Council has a secure financial future, reversing the chaos of past Conservative administrations.

Over the last four years in opposition the Liberal Democrats have consistently demonstrated sound financial leadership by forensically uncovering the CEO pay scandal and revealing the painful financial realities behind the purchase of Camberley Mall. There is still much to do to build a full picture of the Council’s financial position, our assets and liabilities. This is vital work if we hope to secure not only the financial future of Surrey Heath Borough Council, but also secure the services that residents rightly expect.

Remove the veil of secrecy that surrounds the Council’s finances
Conduct a root and branch review of Surrey Heath Borough Council’s finances and budget
Deploy new Quality Management Systems to ensure that the Council’s operations are effective, efficient and meet the expectations of residents

"The first duty of an incoming Liberal Democrat administration will be to rebuild our Council's finances by investing in the local economy for the benefit of all residents - that's the key lesson from our experience and achievements within Surrey Heath Borough Council over the past 4 years. We will ensure that SHBC is fit for purpose, fit for the challenges and opportunities of the future, and an inclusive administration for all the residents of Surrey Heath."

Sashi Mylvaganam, Frimley Green Candidate

Campaign for residents

As an active, campaigning Council, Surrey Heath will be a vocal and powerful advocate for our residents and businesses.

Faced with a raft of significant challenges – including overstretched and outdated infrastructure, climate change, and issues of access to housing, healthcare, and education – councils should be taking proactive measures to influence stakeholders with governmental, political and financial power to secure the resources that benefit their communities.

Transform the ethos of Surrey Heath Borough Council by being an active voice on the big issues impacting our residents, including national planning policy and accessibility to affordable housing
Fight for the resources and powers we need to improve Surrey Heath's community, renew Surrey Heath's infrastructure, and secure the services that Surrey Heath needs now and in the future
Hold our MP and Surrey County Council to account for their decisions, and ensure that County Council–funded roads, schools, and emergency services are meeting the needs of Surrey Heath’s residents
Vigorously lobby for improvements to our outdated and inadequate local travel and transport infrastructure

“In 2023, it takes longer to get from Camberley to London on the train than it did 100 years ago. Disabled rail passengers are poorly served with irregular step-free access at stations. Our roads are crumbling and congested, with no viable public transport alternative. And raw sewage has been allowed to pollute Surrey Heath’s rivers. We need Surrey Heath Borough Council to be proactive in defending the interests of Surrey Heath residents by holding the agencies, companies and councils responsible to account.”

Councillor Shaun Macdonald, Lightwater

Protect our environment

Sustainable stewardship of our environment is critical to the future of our borough, our quality of life, and to fulfilling our commitments to address climate change.

Over the last four years, despite being in opposition, the Liberal Democrats have led the Council’s development of an ambitious Climate Action Plan which will preserve, protect and enhance our environment. But we need to go further and faster.

Build on our Climate Action Plan and commit Surrey Heath Borough Council to achieving Net Zero by 2030
Protect and enhance our borough’s biodiversity through a new and ambitious Biodiversity Action Plan
Transform our commitment to cycling and ‘active travel’ across Surrey Heath, with an immediate viability study into the deployment of a London-style “rent-a-bike” scheme
Use all the levers at our disposal in the planning process to demand and require developers to create the greenest and most sustainable possible homes and biodiverse green spaces, an expansion of EV charging facilities, and the widest possible adoption of solar energy generation
Remove the obstructions to residents looking to enhance the energy efficiency of their own homes
Emulate the most future-looking UK local authorities by creating 'group buying schemes' so homeowners can instal solar panels and improved insulation in easy and cost-effective ways.

"Protecting and enhancing our environment should be one of the primary duties of any responsible local authority - and there are so many new and innovative ways that this can be done that simultaneously enhance the quality of life of residents, reduces their bills, and helps support active lifestyles. Let's get going!"

Councillor Louise Ashbery, Heatherside & Copped Hall Ward

Make council property work

Surrey Heath Borough Council has accumulated a sizeable property portfolio over recent years. Financed using borrowed money, much of this portfolio is now in negative equity and requires significant investment. We need to reverse this managed decline with improved management, maintenance, and forward-looking business plans that deliver in the social and financial interests of all of us.

Undertake a comprehensive survey of all Surrey Heath Borough Council-owned properties - from The Square and House of Fraser building in Camberley to the Briars Centre in Lightwater – so we can fully assess the condition, asset value, liabilities, and viability of our whole property portfolio
Produce a comprehensive business plan to ensure that all Council-owned property delivers in the interests of the community
Be creative in the use of our property portfolio by attracting new entrepreneurial businesses, start-ups, and innovative educational opportunities - all things that will create long term dividends - to our borough
Create a new "Business Unit" with the sole objective of retaining existing businesses and attracting new businesses to Surrey Heath - making Surrey Heath "a place for doing business"
Ensure that Camberley’s London Road development is treated as one of the Council’s highest priorities, in order to bring renewed prosperity (and much-needed social and affordable homes) to our major town centre and the wider Surrey Heath community

“The purchase of Camberley Mall and other retail premises was a reckless and ludicrous use of Council Tax funds at the worst possible time. A Liberal Democrat controlled Council will have no alternative but to manage our way out of the situation in the best interests of residents, businesses and local taxpayers."

Councillor Leanne MacIntyre, Town Ward

Engage our communities

You’ve told us that the decisions taken within Surrey Heath Borough Council all too often feel 'remote' and 'disconnected' from the communities that the Council should be serving. Your Council should be inclusive, transparent, and listen to you. A diverse, vibrant community… Aim to represent all

Restore faith in your Borough Council and its decision-making by fostering genuine, open dialogue with ALL residents
Devolve power to, and work in genuine partnership with, residents
Establish resident panels on the big issues facing our communities, including: Finance, Healthcare, Highways, Crime & Policing, Housing, Education, Sport, Young People, Poverty, Environment, and our Villages
Ensure that residents will have 30 minutes at the start of every Council meeting for open questions – not just pre-submitted questions at the end of long council meetings
Enable residents to 'call in' a Council decision for review via a transparent petition process, ensuring the accountability of Councillors and Officers.

“We never seem to hear from our Conservative councillors except at election time, when there’s a flurry of activity: posts on Facebook about local planning applications, or the conveniently-timed announcement of some new funding. We need Councillors (and a Council) who listen to, and will work in genuine partnership with, our residents."

Councillor Nirmal Kang, Parkside Ward

Empower our communities

The best local authorities recognise the enormous benefits of devolving power, involving residents in decision making, and empowering communities to participate in shaping their own futures.

Create Village and Community Task Forces to empower communities to take greater control of their local area, and stimulate local economic growth and prosperity
Facilitate the creation of resident-led 'Community Blueprints', enabling local communities to play an active part in guiding and shaping the development and regeneration of their communities
Support communities to self-organise and help them achieve their community priorities
Cut the red tape and bureaucracy that so often gets in the way of communities looking to organise events, 'action days', festivals, markets, and other projects.

"Surrey Heath is a rich, vibrant and diverse Borough and our residents have the skills, knowledge, expertise and experience that can benefit the whole community. Architects and planners, financial and procurement experts, environmental scientists and horticulturalists, social workers and NHS workers at all levels, carers, caterers, teachers, befrienders, mentors, good neighbours and everything in between. Everyone has something special to offer - and there’s a real appetite to get stuck in and get things done for cohesive, well-functioning communities. A self-confident council should be engaging and empowering their communities to ensure that they flourish, in all sorts of ways."

Councillor Lisa Finan-Cooke, Watchetts Ward

OUR COUNCILLORS

Following the Borough Council elections on 4th May 2023 the Liberal Democrats became the largest party on Surrey Heath Borough Council, winning 21 seats, and an outright majority. We are now working to implement "Our Vision", and to transform our Borough in the interests of our residents.

BAGSHOT