Yesterday, the Surrey County Council Conservative Group successfully passed its £1.1 billion Budget for 2023/24, with a focus on balancing our needs and ambitions, while investing in residents’ priorities in a challenging, economic climate.
This balanced and responsible budget includes £439.7m for adult social care, a £152.8m boost to investment in Surrey’s roads and tackling climate change, £254.8m to protect children, local education and families, £36.6m to improve public health, and £38.7m per year to keep residents safe and respond to emergencies.
Cllr Tim Oliver, Leader of the Council said, “Our 2023/24 budget is about protecting the services residents rely on, while recognising the huge pressures household budgets are under at present.
“We have worked hard over the last five years to ensure our finances are in a solid and stable state, and we think it is therefore important to only levy the absolute minimum we need to meet increased costs, in order to protect the money in people’s pockets.”
The Leader added, “It is disappointing that the Liberal Democrats, Labour, Residents’ Association, Independents councillors didn’t support our budget or make their own constructive and costed proposals. All councillors have had ample opportunity to raise ideas or alternative Budget suggestions through the select committees or directly with the Cabinet, though none did so except from one member.”
Despite this positive financial programme aimed at giving Surrey residents a brighter future, all the Liberal Democrats, Residents’ Association, Independent, Labour and Green councillors present voted against the Budget, with one abstention from a Residents' Association councillor. By voting against this costed budget, they have failed to support the vital, extra investment into more school places, adults and children’s social care services.