Last year local MP David Wilshire voted against recommendations at Westminster to have MPs expenses externally audited. Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman Mark Chapman is challenging the level of expenses claimed by Mr Wilshire.
The Sunbury Liberal Democrat Councillors have consistently opposed the imposition of car parking charges in Lower Sunbury. The following is the content of the formal response to the consultation from all of the Lower Sunbury Lib Dem Councillors.
Liberal Democrat Councillors have promised to continue to ask questions despite new Council rules designed to make it harder to do. In an echo of George Orwell's 1984 these changes have been described as "improvements" by Spelthorne's Tory majority.
A change in the procedures for scrutiny has been proposed which will have the effect of restricting scrutiny of key Council decisions. If the change is passed by the Council it will be impossible for LibDem Councillors to call a scrutiny committee meeting to review a decision.
A new Grounds Maintenance Contract has been agreed by Spelthorne Council which will save the Council money, but this means that 27 open spaces will not be maintained to the same standard as previously. LibDem Councillors have been deliberately prevented from having any input at every stage of the process and are very concerned about the impact of the change on public open spaces.
Spelthorne's budget for 2009/10 is under great pressure largely due to falling interest rates, but this is only part of the story. Many years of financial incompetence by the ruling Tory administration has led to a reliance on asset sales and high interest rate income - both of which have been hit by the economic recession.
