![Councillors Ruth Mitchell, John O'Reilly and Mary Sheldon](/sites/www.esherwalton.com/files/styles/gallery_large/public/candidates.jpg?itok=EvLlF2eI)
Despite losing over half a million pounds in government grant, far more than feared, with complete abolition from 2018, all Elmbridge Borough Council’s services, including our community centres, meals on wheels, leisure and recreation, and environment have all been fully protected in next year’s budget that was overwhelmingly approved by 38 votes to 11 in February.
Elmbridge's Conservative Administration has also been able to give above inflation increase in funding for the voluntary organizations, such as the Citizens Advice Bureaux, that provide such amazing assistance to many people.
After freezing the Elmbridge share of the Council tax for seven out of the last nine years, the only responsible choice was for a modest 1.94% increase, which equates to just 7p a week, to help ensure that we can continue to provide high quality services in the years ahead.
Council Leader, John O’Reilly described this year's budget as “grounded in fairness to every section in our community in these tough times that won’t get better anytime soon" and added: "We will never play politics with our residents’ services – they are too important."
Councillor Ruth Mitchell, who is a Conservative candidate in Hersham Village ward on May 5th, together with Cllr O'Reilly and Cllr Mary Sheldon, said: "It is because Elmbridge has been such a well-run and efficient council for the last ten years that we are able to protect our front-line services and still give excellent value for money to our residents.”
Cllr Mary Sheldon commented: “We have such an incredible variety of services in Hersham, our Community Centre, two large parks and other green spaces, a legion of dedicated volunteers and I am delighted that this budget has been agreed.”