A Community Services Task group has been set up to examine the work and development of Connexions. It is worrying that 40% of Surrey's resources for young people are already committed by the Tory administration to Connexions, yet another quango, and they are aiming for 80%. To make matters worse, we still do not know details of requirements for Connexions Centres, i.e. what is a Connexions Centre and how should it be planned? Also many operational issues are unresolved.
Surrey County Council's Conservative Executive has decided to press ahead with their cuts to bus services, contrary to the recommendation from the Council's own Transportation Select Committee and despite strong opposition from Surrey residents and the Liberal Democrats.
The Liberal Democrats are pressing for key worker housing initiatives to tackle the shortages of key workers such as teachers, social workers and youth workers, that adversely affect services to the public and increase costs to the Council, for example by increasing spending on agency staff. The shortages of key workers are worsened by the high property prices in the County.
