Councillors will be held to account. (Reigate Liberal Democrats)

Reigate Liberal Democrats <info@reigatelibdems.org.uk>

Councillors will be held to account.

December 2, 2004 3:23 PM
By Jane Kulka, Reigate Liberal Democrat, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate in Surrey Mirror

I was amused, but not surprised, to see Crispin Blunt's attempts to defend the local Conservative-run Councils. In the last comprehensive performance assessment of Reigate and Banstead Council, the Independent Inspectors pointed out how poor the Council was at strategy and long term planning. It is quite clear that they haven't had an original idea and are reactive rather than proactive; no wonder they end up wasting tax payers' money.

Similarly the County Council can hardly hold its head high. It maintains a waste strategy that would still allow incinerators to be built in this Borough and if Mr Blunt were to travel around the roads of this constituency, as I do, he couldn't fail to notice the appalling state of the roads and pavements. These are the responsibility of the County Council and despite a rise of 20% over the past 2 years in Council Tax, they have failed to address this health and safety problem.

As MP for this constituency, Mr Blunt has a duty to work for his constituents you would think as a Conservative he would have some influence over his local Conservative colleagues, but clearly this is not the case. Perhaps Mr Blunt has been recalled to the front bench of the Tories because Michael Howard needs 'yes men', that won't be able to influence his regressive policies.

I look forward to next year's elections when the residents of this constituency can hold their County Councillors and our current MP to account.

Jane Kulka

Reigate Liberal Democrat

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate

01737 215111