As the Lib Dems seek to distract the public from their own serious financial failings by making false claims about Surrey County Council (SCC), here are the facts.
In contrast to Lib-Dem run Guildford Borough Council, SCC’s robust financial management has ensured a balanced budget, well-managed finances and healthy reserves. Ernst & Young, SCC’s independent auditors, raised no concerns about the Council’s finances and governance. You can read the full audit report for 2023/24 by clicking on the icon below.
Surrey County Council does not have massive debts, but will be investing £692 million in major projects, including improvements to roads and pavements, schools and other facilities and services across the county.
Service improvement and capital investment includes in Children’s Services, which contrary to the Lib Dems constantly talking down Children’s Services in Surrey, and despite ongoing pressures and demands on this sector, the Ofsted inspection carried out in March this year rated Surrey County Council’s Children’s Services as ‘GOOD’ and highlighted the following:
- Most children in Surrey receive effective and responsive help and protection
- Social workers are skilled at building relationships with children and with parents
- Most children in care live in stable homes where they thrive and make good progress. They have trusting and positive relationships with social workers
- When children are identified as being at risk of significant harm, children’s services work well and in a timely way with other agencies to reduce the risks to those children
- Personal advisers make and maintain positive relationships with care leavers
- Children’s social care services are led by an impressive, highly motivated, resilient and established leadership team, whose members have been relentless and successful in their quest to improve the quality and consistency of social work practice in Surrey
- Staff are well-trained and committed, feel highly valued and are proud to work in Surrey.
The Liberal Democrats will tell you what they think you want to hear. The fact is that only Conservatives provide well-run local authorities, delivering best-value services for residents. The facts speak for themselves.