Joining the Government’s campaign ‘Cheaper Energy Together’ aimed at keeping energy bills down and homes warm, tonight (25th October) at Place and Sustainability Committee, Liberal Democrat councillors will be discussing their motion to explore the feasibility of setting up a Kingston Energy Switching initiative.

With this week’s announcement from Energy Secretary, Edward Davey MP, there is now a £5 million competition scheme which Kingston Council can apply to and win funds for collective energy switching.

Leader of the Administration, Councillor Derek Osbourne, wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg in the strongest terms about Government plans which would see residents being able to extend their homes by up to eight metres without planning permission.

Councillor Derek Osbourne said:

“We welcome any changes that will stimulate the economy, boost jobs and growth but I believe this change to policy would be a disaster for residents and our communities.”

Thanking parents and residents for attending last night’s meeting (11th October) regarding the proposals to create a new secondary school in north Kingston, Councillor Tricia Bamford, Lead Member for Children and Young People said:

“There has been huge community disappointment that capital funding has not been forthcoming from Michael Gove for the agreed Community School at the North Kingston Centre.”

Kingston Hospital’s children ward has been saved from closing after a major campaign this summer led by local MP, Edward Davey.

The threat to close “Sunshine Ward” came earlier this year in a NHS review of children’s services across South West London. People feared the proposal would send many more local children now attending Kingston Hospital to St George’s in Tooting instead. That would seriously inconvenience hundreds of local families and undermine the financial viability of any remaining children’s services at Kingston.

Following the Ofsted inspection, Cllr Tricia Bamford made this statement to Council on 17th July 2012:

Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills) have completed an inspection of our Safeguarding and Looked After Children services. The outcome of the inspection has come as a shock to us. We have been found wanting and there are serious issues for us to address. We must now demonstrate our resolve to address the issues raised and get our services back to the level at which we expect them to be.

The construction of the new school in Oakhill, Surbiton is progressing according to plan.

It will be opening with a nursery class and two reception classes this September.

Malcolm Self, councillor for Surbiton Hill ward, says: “I’m pleased that the Lib Dem council has been so successful in providing new primary school places.

Despite finding a suitable site and provider, Kingston’s new secondary school is now in jeopardy again, because its bid for funding from central Government was unsuccessful.

“Kingston Council is more prepared than most for the increase in the number of children needing a school place; spending £46m on permanent primary school expansion and ready to go on the new secondary school. However Michael Gove seems to prefer to fund his pet projects of unnecessary free schools,” says Liz Green, Deputy Leader of Kingston.

Recently, rumours have been spread by the local Tory party over the future of Surbiton library.

In order to set the record straight:

At a recent meeting, looking at all the local properties administered by the council, one councillor did express a view that the library could relocate to Surbiton’s town centre.

Rebekah Moll and retiring councillor Marc Woodall

The Lib Dem Focus team has selected a strong local candidate for the council by-election, to be held in Grove ward, on 5th July.

Kingston resident Rebekah Moll says:

Last year, Lib Dem Councillors in Grove ward took the initiative to make further improvements to the ancient Kingston Market Place.

Recent improvements have seen the removal of traffic, the installation of the very popular fountain and a greater variety of stalls and events throughout the year.

Join the campaign to save children’s services at Kingston Hospital. Local MP Ed Davey and Grove ward candidate Rebekah Moll have joined forces to stop the closure of ‘Sunshine Ward’ – the in-patient paediatric facility at Kingston Hospital.

Lib Dems saved A&E and Maternity - now we need to save Sunshine ward

Kingston schools will get nearly £2million more through the Liberal Democrat Pupil Premium national policy. Every school will get £600 per pupil per year for each pupil who currently gets, or has in the last 6 years received, free school meals.

Lib Dem policy has taken over a million of the lowest paid out of paying tax altogether and many millions more will pay £130 less a year, on top of the extra £200 per year saved last year. So a basic rate tax payer now pays £330 a year less each year thanks to the Liberal Democrats.

In Kingston Borough over 71,000 residents now pay less tax.

Richmond Liberal Democrats invite you to join us in sending a message to the Conservative Prime Minister not to build a third runway at Heathrow.

Local Lib Dems, Dr Vince Cable MP and Baroness Susan Kramer will be giving speeches.

Bring some food and your friends and we will provide the rest!

Saturday,14th April, 1pm to 4pm.

Richmond Green