Lib Dems call for more spending on roads in Surrey budget

- County Council criticised for sitting on £150 million in reserves whilst roads crumble

- Concern at cuts of £30.5 million to services to vulnerable adults and children's social care

- Council's budget includes £51.8 million of future cuts in roads budget

The Lib Dems have criticised the Conservatives on Surrey County Council's budget for keeping £150 million in the bank whilst cutting spending on roads and services for vulnerable people.

Across much of Surrey, roads are failing apart following years of neglect and a tough winter. However, rather than invest money to tackle Surrey's pothole epidemic, the County Council is planning to cut future highway spending and make the situation worse.

Sky high inflation, currently affecting the costs of repairs to roads and pavements, means that in the coming year the Council will get significantly less done for the same money. Current plans are that the Council will then cut £51.8 million from highway spending in the following year, giving it no chance to catch up with outstanding works.

The Council is set to dramatically reduce the highways maintenance capital fund from £69.8 million in 2023/24 to £29.5 million in 2024/25. The local highway scheme, that funds projects like pedestrians crossing, tackling speeding and other improvements is cut from £12.5m in 2023/24 to just £1 million in 2024/25 and Councillors' individual delegated highway budget of £100,000 is completely abolished from 2024/25.

Lib Dem Group Leader on Surrey County Council, Will Forster said:

"Residents won't understand why their County Council is sitting on £150 million in reserves whilst our roads and pavements are failing apart. We need to invest in our highways to keep cyclists and other road users safe, not squirrel money away. People in Surrey deserve better roads than we have now."

In the last year, Surrey County Council spent nearly £12.5 million on locum social workers in children's services and yet plan to make cuts of £11.3 million in the children's services budget, including £6 million relating to some of the most vulnerable, children in care. Despite demand for home-to-school transport increasing in recent years, the Council is looking to save £3 million by cuts and efficiencies in this service.

Lib Dems on the Council also criticised the Conservative administration for overspending by more than £11 million on a replacement IT system that is yet to be implemented.

Councillor Will Forster added:

"The priorities of the Conservatives running the Surrey are all wrong. Rather than protecting services that vulnerable residents rely on, these services are being targeted for cuts. Time and time again, Councillors find examples of mismanagement and wasteful spending. It is appalling that ordinary and vulnerable people have to pay the price for the Conservatives' mistakes."