Surrey deserves better (22nd January)

Nick Skellett, Leader of SCC, today berated Labour for failing to provide Surrey with an adequate level of funding whilst simultaneously making misleading comments about the financial settlement for 2008/09.

“Despite what the Government may claim, the settlement for the next financial year isn’t great. They are reducing the amount of capital funding available, and they are also failing to support capital borrowing. What this means, in essence, is that there is less money available for importance services, such as schools and transport, and no amount of creative accounting by Ministers will do anything to disguise this fact.

Surrey contributes an enormous amount to that national economy, a fact that often appears to be overlooked on a regular basis by this Government.

We are proud of Surrey’s contribution to the UK’s economy, but if we are to maintain the County as an economic powerhouse we cannot continue to receive unfair and damaging funding allocations.

Surrey deserves better, and the residents of Surrey deserve better”.


Mr. Skellett has already met John Healey MP, Minister for Local Government, to lobby for a fairer funding deal for Surrey.