News from Surrey Labour

Much to be concerned about Surrey Council Leader’s resignation

Surrey Labour believes that Dr Povey’s resignation is directly linked to his business interests in the care industry which is increasingly creeping into the public sector. Although he says he is covered by Section 151 regulation regarding conflicts of interest of this kind, that he is now going to promote his business in the adult care sector highlights an important issue.

If the Leader of the Council is not involved in vital discussions about our ageing population (Surrey has the fastest growing numbers of 80 and 90 plus people in the country), he has been hardly fit to lead the Council.

If on the other hand he has been present when adult care is being discussed and decided on, a very serious issue of conflict of interest appears to be involved.

The second issue raised by Dr Povey’s interviews is about his style of leadership. He apparently simply sacked Councillor David Hodge his deputy. There is no indication of a consultation with his executive or with the caucus of his own Party. The people of Surrey should be seriously concerned that a clash of personality has been allowed to disrupt and distort the work of the County Council.

Now there will be no effective political leadership of Surrey till the 11th October.

Finally it is sad that Dr Povey boasts of the way he is decimating Surrey’s library service with the closure of its mobile library service and the threatened closure of 18 other libraries.

Other news from Surrey Labour

• Newly appointed Chief Constable set to speak to Surrey Labour Parties - 20 February 2012
• Surrey Heath Tories forced into climb down on community meals - 12 January 2012
• Concern grows about pressure on schools to become Academies by "ideological" Gove - 8 January 2012