David Munro responds to questions about highways spending (27th July)

At Tuesday’s Full Council meeting SCC’s Executive Member for the Environment, and Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, David Munro, addressed the issue of highways funding.

Speaking afterwards he remarked;

“Over the last 4 years SCC has spent increasing amounts of money on Surrey’s roads. In 2006/07 we spent nearly £5.5 millions more than in 2004/05, and we will be spending even more money in 2007/08.

In fact, with recent initiatives having put an extra £1 million into the budget this summer we are delivering more services to the people of Surrey.

We are increasing spending on drainage, highways maintenance and integrated transport, and we are intending to put more money in as part of the budget for 2008/09.

Regrettably we are not able to spend as much as we would like, but until this Labour government stops applying an unfair funding formula to Surrey we will be restricted in what we can spend.

Surrey’s residents should be aware that despite continued under-funding by central government we are doing our very best to improve the state of Surrey’s roads, and we are very grateful to our staff for their continuing efforts and hard work”.