Changes at County Hall

It has been announced that the Conservative leader of Surrey County Council, Cllr Dr Andrew Povey is to resign at the Council's next full meeting on 11 October.

This followed just a day after the surprise announcement that Cllr David Hodge is no longer deputy leader.

Liberal Democrats have been aware for some time that there were divisions within the ruling Conservative group, over such issues as on-street parking charges and the cuts to the library service.

Nevertheless we believe that the Cabinet should be concentrating on serving Surrey residents, rather than allowing themselves to become distracted by their own internal politics.

For more information see the reports from this is Surrey Today and BBC Surrey.

The Conservative group have now chosen David Hodge as their leader. The new leader of the Council will be formally chosen on 11 October. See the report from Caterham and District Independent.

It has subsequently been confirmed by the Cabinet Member for Transport Cllr Ian Lake that he too was dismissed by Dr Povey, though no announcement of this has been issued by the council. Mr Lake has given no details, but has expressed support for David Hodge as the new leader.