**
------------------------------------------------------------

GOOD AFTERNOON & welcome to my South West Surrey update No.217
A very busy week last week delivering my first budget ([link removed]) and the next part of our plan to halve inflation, grow the economy and reduce debt. I was also busy locally with visits to Shottermill House ([link removed]) , Broadwater Schoo ([link removed]) l and the Bright Horizons Nursery in Godalming. ([link removed]) I also chaired a meeting on noise pollution from Farnborough Airport, ([link removed]) held several surgery appointments ([link removed]) , and went door knocking in Shamley Green ([link removed]) to hear local views about the budget - I heard one word, ‘childcare
([link removed]) ’!

WHAT’S GOING ON IN WESTMINSTER

NEVERENDING PARTYGATE I know many of you will have listened to Boris Johnson giving evidence to the Commons Privileges Committee yesterday. The Committee has the very important task of answering whether the House of Commons was misled - a fundamental pillar of the primacy in parliament in our system is confidence that MPs always tell the truth (and correct anything wrong they have said inadvertently). Many of you have asked me how I will vote on the conclusions of the report, which will be a free vote. The answer (boring I know) is that I will read the report first before making any judgements. I think that is the least I should do - and I hope it will bring the sorry saga to an end.

METROPOLITAN POLICE Lots of you will have been horrified, as I was, to read Baroness Casey’s final report into the culture and standards at the Met Police. It is clear that there have been very appalling failures in culture, standards, and leadership. I do however have confidence in Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley whom I got to know when he was in charge of Surrey Police, where I found him to be very straight-talking and effective. Surrey PCC Lisa Townsend has commissioned an independent project ([link removed]) aimed at building on the anti-violence against women and girls culture in our local force.

BUDGET RESPONSE It has now been over a week since I had the enormous privilege (and nerve wracking duty) of standing in front of No 11 with the famous Red Box and delivered the Budget. Lucia, Jack and Anna watched and then came to the House of Commons to hear it being delivered. It was Anna’s first time in the Chamber of the House of Commons so I asked her what she thought of it. “A pantomime, Daddy,” she replied. Sometimes 10 year olds are very wise. When I was knocking on doors last weekend there was one word that came up more than any other – ‘childcare.’ I suspect that is what it will be remembered for - because for the first time we will now remove the gap in support from when a child is 9 months to when they turn 3 (and the current 30 hour offer kicks in, also introduced by the Conservatives I am pleased to say). For school age children, schools will offer ‘wraparound’ care, allowing parents to drop off at 8am and pick up at 6pm. I also visited Busy Bees Nursery to talk to staff about
what impact the changes would have, which you can watch here ([link removed]) .

COVID CONTINUES ALAS The number of Covid cases in England has stayed roughly the same this week, with the ONS reporting that still around 1 in 40 of us ([link removed]) currently have the virus. The government’s Coronavirus dashboard ([link removed]) shows that cases are up by 6.5%, hospitalisations down 12.2% and, concerningly, deaths slightly up by 1.8%. As always vaccines are key to keeping these numbers low, so when called next month, all eligible individuals should schedule their 2023 Spring Booster. ([link removed])

The key number is 0300 200 1008 for anyone with pandemic related difficulties. Also, check out my full list of local groups ([link removed]) working to support vulnerable residents.

WHAT’S GOING ON IN SOUTH WEST SURREY

GREEN SPACES - As many of you already know, I have been trying to get Thérèse Coffey (Secretary of State at DEFRA) to visit South West Surrey for some time now, and I’m pleased to confirm that she will be visiting us in June. I want to show Thérèse just how special our local environment is, and how myGreen Spaces Campaign ([link removed]) is trying to protect it for future generations. I also look forward to discussing the Surrey Hills consultation with her (which will be about to close when she visits), why we want it to be a national park and what more needs to happen on sewage overflows into our rivers. I changed the rules so any fines paid by water companies are now used to clean up rivers, so she owes me! If there are any additional concerns you would like me to raise with Thérèse, please do let me know via email at: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

BRAMLEY ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Talking of which there are still odour issues in Bramley. It’s reassuring to hear that last week all fuel tank chambers at the filling station were clear, and no fuel smell was detected. The interceptor separator was inspected and cleaned and water levels were normal. The last 12 months of wet stock reconciliation records have also been reviewed, and reassuringly confirm that there are no variances that would indicate loss of product. I also got back in touch with the Environment Agency who carried out a further site visit on 10th March to assess the local watercourse. They too confirmed that there remains no evidence of any fuel/oil contamination. An EA officer also re-visited the public house last week, and as soon as I receive the report from this visit, I will let you know. In the meantime, I have requested more regular updates from WBC. Thames Water engineers have also been working both upstream and downstream from the pumping station to understand exactly
why we’re seeing high flows in the network. More on which next week.

CULTURAL BOOST FOR FARNHAM On Monday DCMS announced funding for 71 projects worth a total of £58.8 million ([link removed]) , and this builds on the £68 million which has already gone into 68 organisations since 2020 through the Cultural Investment Fund. As part of this government initiative, I’m pleased to announce that the Museum of Farnham ([link removed]) will receive £734,335 and Surrey Libraries ([link removed]) will receive £75,000 of funding. A manifesto commitment, the Cultural Investment Fund is the Government’s flagship investment in galleries, museums, libraries and other cultural venues to help improve people’s access to the arts, and drive economic growth in our thriving cultural sector by improving much-loved public assets across the UK. Click here ([link removed]) for more
information, including on local projects.

SURREY SCHOOL PLACES - On 1st March, Surrey County Council successfully confirmed the secondary school place offer for 12,815 Surrey children transitioning into Year 7 (primary school place offers will be confirmed on 17th April), and 93.4% of these children received an offer at one of their first three preferences. Whilst most parents and children are very happy with their offers, there will be a small number who are not. In this instance, SCC will seek to offer a place in line with other preferences, or where that has not been expressed or possible, at the nearest school with availability. Following these placements, I want to highlight that all parents have the right to appeal against the Council’s decision through the Admissions Appeals process ([link removed]) , but that this is the only legal route. The Appeals Panel’s judgement will then be based on the legal test of whether the admission arrangements compiled with
admission law and whether they had been correctly and impartially applied.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE SHOPPING LIST - As the cancer and surgical innovation campaign for the Royal Surrey continues apace, I have now seen some of the equipment on the wish list for the new facility. The items include a wide range of specialist and pioneering equipment, which will make this new facility one of the best in the UK. Each week, I hope to bring you details of some of the equipment - why it’s needed, and what makes it so special. (I'll also include the cost to give you an idea of the challenge we still have ahead of us). This week it’s:
* ITEM: TS7000dV Surgical Tables
* USED FOR: Multiple Areas of Surgery
* COST: £285,000 (for three)
* BENEFITS: Less invasive surgery and quicker recovery times

These state-of-the-art surgical tables will also seamlessly connect to Royal Surrey’s existing surgical robots, and allow surgeons to easily position patients while operating, ensuring better access and exposure to organs and tissues. For more information including how to donate (to help us buy them!), please click here. ([link removed])

JOIN ME Want to get more involved locally? Email me at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) to join my growing team supporting our work in our community.

LOCAL EVENTS - This weekend is the Surrey Hills Spring Festival, ([link removed]) bringing together the very best of Surrey’s food, drink, art and crafts at the Rural Life Living Museum ([link removed]) in Tilford. Doors open at 10am on Saturday through to 5pm on Sunday, and if booked today, entry is priced at only £10 pp.

AND FINALLY…Training for the London Marathon is in full swing, with just over a month until race day! But if I’m finding training challenging, let’s spare a thought for Tom Harrison, who this year has announced he will be completing the course backwards! ([link removed])

As always, if you know anyone (a friend or neighbour perhaps?) who might like to receive this email, please do forward it on. Anyone can sign up here ([link removed]) to receive them and can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the box below or emailing me.

This email and any attachments to it (the 'Email') are intended for a specific recipient(s) and its contents may be confidential, privileged and/or otherwise protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this Email in error, please notify the sender immediately by telephone or email, and delete it from your records. You must not disclose, distribute, copy or otherwise use this Email. Please note that email is not a secure form of communication and that the Conservative Party ('the Party') is not responsible for loss arising from viruses contained in this Email nor any loss arising from its receipt or use. Any opinion expressed in this Email is not necessarily that of the Party and may be personal to the sender.

Promoted by Sean Donovan-Smith on behalf of Jeremy Hunt MP and South West Surrey Conservatives, all at 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road, Hindhead, Surrey GU26 6TD.

============================================================

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
South West Surrey Conservative Association . 2 Royal Parade, Tilford Road . Hindhead . Surrey, GU26 6TD . United Kingdom