Cabinet papers released yesterday by Surrey County Council reveal the outcomes of recent consultations carried out in relation to a number of essential services provided by the Council.

The public consultations were based on a set of proposals for five service areas: Children’s Centres, Community Recycling Centres, concessionary bus travel, libraries and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services.

The consultation delivered over 28,000 responses from across the county, yet seem to have been somewhat overlooked in the recommendations to the Cabinet.

The recommendation to close 31 of Surrey’s Children Centres – including 5 of Woking Borough’s 7 Children’s Centres – is very saddening news. The consultation responses seem to have been completely ignored, as nobody wants to see the centres closed.  Children’s Centres provide support for families most in need, and now not everyone will be able to easily access them.

Whilst it is positive that the recommendation surrounding Community Recycling Centres has been reviewed to now only close 4, instead of 6 as originally proposed.  One thing that is certain, is that the closures will increase both queues at the sites that remain open, and increase fly tipping in the areas where the recycling centre are closed.

These cuts are a result of serious mismanagement of the County Council and a lack of forward planning.  My Lib Dem colleagues and I am also concerned that these cuts are not the end of the story, because the books are still not balanced.  What services will be under threat next?