Since my last update, Elmbridge Borough Council has belatedly released a damning 2020 audit report on our local community centres. The report reveals the Council was warned back in 2020, and then had three and a half years to take action to improve services, yet nothing was done - leading to the closures over the Christmas period. You can read the report, and my letter to the Council, below.
Elsewhere in the constituency, we have had success in our campaign to remove illegal moorings along the Thames riverbank, as Elmbridge Borough Council - again belatedly - voted to accept my proposal to tackle illegal moorings properly with a Public Spaces Protection Order, four years after my initial request. More on this, and our wider work to tackle illegal moorings, below.
In Westminster, MPs debated the remaining stages of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill. This Bill will enhance the UK’s energy security by reducing dependence on higher emission imports from overseas and protect the domestic oil and gas industry. You can watch my contribution below.
As ever, if you are a constituent in need of my assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Best wishes,
Dominic
Elmbridge Borough Council Forced to Release Damning 2020 Audit Report on Community Centres
Visiting users at Hersham Centre for the Community when the centre reopened in January 2024
Following my Freedom of Information request to Elmbridge Borough Council, asking for the June 2020 audit report regarding Elmbridge Community Support Services to be released after the Council Leader ignored my requests, the Council have now belatedly published the damning report.
I was concerned to discover that the Lib Dem run Council knew three and a half years ago that all thirteen areas of community support services inspected in the audit needed improvement, with six of these areas requiring “major improvement”. It is particularly troubling that “Staff Supervision and Training” – the precise reason the Council gave for closing the centres in November 2023 – was identified as needing “major improvement” back in June 2020.
Elmbridge Borough Council had three and a half years to take action to improve the services being provided to vulnerable residents, yet nothing was done.
In light of this, I have asked the Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council to:
👉Issue an apology to community centre users, staff and volunteers for the failure of the Liberal Democrat administration to maintain a sufficient service at community centres which, ultimately, resulted in their closure
👉Guarantee all centres across the borough will fully reopen, with sufficient staffing delivering a ‘gold standard’ service
👉Conduct a genuinely independent review into the level of service being provided at community centres, which is agreed on a cross-party basis at the Council
I will continue to fight on behalf of our local community to ensure Elmbridge Borough Council delivers a safe and full service at our community centres. You can read my letter to the Council below.
Elmbridge Borough Council (Finally) Take the Action I Called For to Tackle Illegal Moorings
For too long, illegal moorings have been a blight along the Thames riverbank in Elmbridge and a key concern for local residents.
I have consistently favoured the removal of illegal moorings through a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO). In 2019, I formally requested that Elmbridge Borough Council pursue the implementation of a PSPO as soon as possible.
Despite four years of dither and delay, following pressure from myself and the Conservative group at Elmbridge Borough Council led by Cllr John Cope, the Council has now reversed its position and voted to accept my proposal to tackle illegal moorings properly with a PSPO. This is fantastic news for riverside residents and river users who can now expect to see proper enforcement against illegal moorings on council owned land.
As the Environment Agency also own a considerable stretch of the riverbank in Elmbridge, I will continue to work with both Elmbridge Borough Council and the Environment Agency to see both organisations taking a joined-up approach to enforcement.
Last year's winner was Ryan Scott from Creative Nature in West Molesey
There's still time to nominate an apprentice to be Esher and Walton's Apprentice of the Year 2024!
To mark National Apprenticeship Week earlier this month, I launched Esher and Walton’s Apprentice of the Year for the third year running.
Since 2010, 4,830 new apprenticeships have been created in Esher and Walton constituency as part of our drive to improve skills and productivity in our economy. I want to celebrate all the brilliant apprentices across the constituency who are rising stars in their businesses and sectors.
Nominate an apprentice to be 'Esher and Walton’s Apprentice of the Year 2024' by 12pm on Monday 26th February at the link below.
Official Opening of the Brand New Heathside Walton
At the official opening of Heathside Walton with Executive Principal, Anne Cullum
It was great to attend the official opening of the new Heathside Walton, where HRH the Duke of Gloucester unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.
Our Plan for Esher and Walton constituency includes providing good and outstanding secondary school places for every family, so it is fantastic news that families in Molesey and Walton now have a brand new, state of the art school on their doorstep.
It has been a pleasure to support Anne Cullum and the team throughout the project and celebrate the opening of the finished site with them.
You can read more about Our Plan to provide good and outstanding secondary school places for every family at the link below.
My recent pop-up surgery took me to The Heart in Walton.
Thank you to all the residents who took the time to speak with me about issues ranging from securing safer roads outside schools to the closure of community centres across Elmbridge.
You can find out more about my available surgery appointments at the link below.
This week in the House of Commons, MPs debated the remaining stages of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill. This Bill will enhance the UK’s energy security by reducing dependence on higher emission imports from overseas and protect the domestic oil and gas industry.
The Labour Party wanted to amend the Bill to stop licensing and increase UK dependence on imported products like liquified natural gas, which has production emissions that are four times higher than those of domestically produced gas. During the debate, I made the point that reducing producer emissions in this country, only to increase reliance on imported consumer emissions, is entirely counterproductive for the environment and energy bills.
