East Surrey Liberal Democrat Manifesto 2026

• New Council New Thinking

  • This manifesto outlines Liberal Democrat ambitions if given the opportunity to run the East Surrey Council. 
  • Our first objective will be to ensure that essential services continue to run effectively and that the necessary changes required in the transition are planned responsibly to ensure their success. 
  • Realism and honesty are critical to the Liberal Democrat approach which recognises the significant constraints imposed by inherited debt and the continued reduction in central government financial support. 
  • The experience and expertise successfully nurtured in running Borough and District Councils in Surrey combined with new ideas, new perspectives and new thinking will be invaluable in making a success of the new Council. 
  • Under Liberal Democrat control East Surrey Council will provide efficient, userfriendly, services, transparent communication of policies and decisions; and will always take residents’ views seriously. 
  • Recognising that Councillors are elected to serve their residents and their communities, transparent decision-making and responsible stewardship of resources will always be our priority. 
  • The culture of the Council, from day one, will be collaborative and inclusive and will always treat people with respect and compassion.

• Financial Stability and Value for Money

  Bringing proven financial competence and ensuring value for money in all areas

  A LibDem-controlled Council will:

  • Always act responsibly with taxpayers' money; run a fiscally prudent Council and never undertake risky gambling with Council funds. 
  • Undertake a robust and transparent asset and service review taking account of the community asset transfer schemes currently underway in several Districts and Boroughs.
  • Prefer In-House provision for undertaking Council services over commercial contracts with private companies where In-house operation can be justified on grounds of best value and quality of service; particularly in circumstances where contracting out does not offer genuine competition and clear deliverable outcomes. 
  • Campaign for a rapid and fair redistribution of government funding to support essential services such as adult social care, especially when increasing demand cannot be fully supported from Council Tax.

• Roads, Pavements and Buses

  Ensuring the basics are right with an accountable highways team to fix potholes, improve road safety and invest in public transport.

  A LibDem controlled Council will:

  • Address, as resources permit, the massive road and footpath repair backlog by
    prioritising resurfacing over patching and investing in long term re-construction.
  • Provide better planning and management of council roadworks and highways
    projects with careful scheduling to minimise traffic queues and congestion.
  • Ensure that members of the public can report potholes and highway damage easily
    and that requests receive an appropriate response; and when there are a number of
    potholes close together, they are all repaired.
  • Expand the School Streets initiative with measures to increase safety for students by
    for example, by implementing 20 mph zones outside and approaching schools, to
    encourage walking and cycling.
  • Seek to provide better public transport options appropriate to the urban and rural
    communities that they serve with improved links to our town centres.
  • Improve the quality and quantity of walking and cycling routes.
     

• Social Services for Adults and Children

  Putting children, young people and adults who need support at the centre of decision-making with joined-up support, early help, and fair outcomes.

  A LibDem-controlled Council will:

  • Ensure that the significant resource required to provide this essential service is used
    effectively and that clients are always treated with dignity and respect.
  • Invest, as resources permit, in social workers and care workers to provide the
    necessary workforce numbers, essential training, and time to engage appropriately
    with service users.
  • Ensure that communication with clients sets out clearly the timing and status of the
    care to be provided.
  • Expand the provision of Council-owned and operated care homes to reduce
    dependence on more expensive private provision.
  • Improve services for children and young people with a particular focus on more local
    and better SEND provision for children and their families. Improve both access to
    and quality of Child and Adolescent Mental Health services.
  • Review inherited policies on Home to School transport and direct available resources
    better to meet the needs of parents and their children, particularly those with
    EHCPs.
  • Ensure that communications with parents are open and transparent in all services, making tribunals and legal battles the last resort and not the result of inadequate first responses.
  • Review the provision of facilities such as youth clubs for young people with a view to expanding their availability, through Council and voluntary sector involvement, in communities where these resources have been depleted.

• Environment, Climate Change and Waste

  Protecting and celebrating Surrey’s unique environment, tackling climate change and ensuring effective waste management.

  A LibDem controlled Council will:

  • Work towards making the Council’s operations net zero. 
  • Protect our natural environment and enhance biodiversity; in particular, preserve, maintain, and enhance areas of countryside and parks and open spaces owned and leased by the Council.
  • Ensure separate recycling, food waste and garden waste collections are operated and that recycling centres are retained and enhanced. 
  • Fully implement the government’s Simpler Recycling directive where possible and put in place measures to ensure 70% of waste is recyclable. 
  • Develop in partnership with appropriate commercial operators, a programme of installing on-street Electric Vehicle charging facilities and Electric Vehicle Chargers in Council car parks.

   

• Local Economy and Regeneration

  Local Economy and Regeneration

  A LibDem controlled Council will:

  • Establish an economic policy that will be delivered town by town and community by
    community, recognising the distinct roles of each of East Surrey’s places.
  • Target and focus public investment aimed where appropriate at supporting private
    investment rather than replacing it.
  • Introduce an economic policy focused on revitalising our towns and villages,
    strengthening their character and restoring vibrancy to our town centres.
  • Help to improve the retail and leisure offer in town centres whilst bringing back
    service and civic hubs, thereby creating employment opportunities and enhancing
    town centre viability

• Planning

  Putting communities and residents at the centre of planning decisions

  A LibDem-controlled Council will:

  • As far as government planning policy allows, seek to protect our towns, villages, and important green spaces by safeguarding local character, protecting valued countryside, and opposing overdevelopment. 
  • Ensure that approved infrastructure is in place, whenever possible, before development takes place, for example, the provisions of roads, schools, healthcare, drainage, and parking at an early stage in any development. 
  • Plan for the delivery of well-designed and good quality housing of mixed sizes and types, including affordable homes that genuinely meet local needs. 
  • Seek to ensure that development control decisions are made locally, strengthen enforcement, involve communities, and fairly apportion development throughout the authority.

• Housing

  Prioritise building social and affordable, especially council homes and the early provision of infrastructure.

  A LibDem controlled Council will:

  • Develop a long-term housing strategy delivering well located growth with
    appropriate infrastructure and long-term planning.
  • Seek to increase social housing developments significantly and prioritise housing for
    people who live and work locally. Use and support discounted market sales housing,
    shared-ownership, social and affordable housing for rent and other affordable
    routes to home ownership.
  • Provide more homes by appropriate land purchase, unlocking stalled sites, buying
    back former Council built homes, ensuring developers meet affordable housing
    obligations and work with housebuilders to build Council owned homes.
  • Prioritise high quality sustainable homes which are well-designed, energy-efficient
    and zero carbon, in locations with access to good transport and community centre
    facilities.
     

• Leisure and Culture

  Protect and enhance sports and leisure facilities and cultural venues as vibrant community assets.

  A LibDem controlled Council will:

  • Provide Council support for the theatres and community facilities in our towns and
    villages and commit to running them for the benefit of residents.
  • Maintain, and where possible extend, Council owned Sports Centres and sporting
    facilities.
  • Seek funding to develop sports facilities not currently available and to extend
    availability where existing facilities do not meet local demand.
  • Initiate Sports and Arts Councils to encourage public involvement in development
    and develop partnerships with local clubs; seek financial support and expertise from
    business and the community to help local sports clubs and arts organisations
    provide facilities.
  • Introduce measures to encourage tourism including provision of information and
    support the night-time economy including measures to preserve and protect pubs
    and community facilities.
  • Support local library and museum provision utilising whatever system best suits
    communities

• Public Health and Protection

  Ensure effective licensing and safety services to protect the public.

  A LibDem controlled Council will:

  • In partnership with the NHS put public health, public protection, safety, and
    wellbeing at the heart of local government.
  • Seek to prevent crises by early evidence gathering, action to reduce health
    inequalities and investment in prevention services.
  • Uphold high environmental health standards, protect residents from pollution and
    unsafe housing, and ensure that food safety and public protection are enforced
    fairly, and robustly.
  • Enforce fair regulation to protect residents, prevent exploitation and support
    responsible business.

• How the Council is run

  Strong leadership with effective scrutiny and local decision making.

  A LibDem controlled Council will:

  • Operate under a Cabinet and Strong Leader governance structure as required by Central Government with Cabinet members required to consult with Council members before making decisions. 
  • Establish Local or Area Committees of East Surrey councillors with devolved resources and powers to take responsibility for services such as Development Management and local Highway operations. 
  • Encourage, support, and develop partnerships with Parish and Town Councils where there is demand from the community.