Surrey County Council has voted to increase its council tax by 2.99%.
Of that, 0.99% is an increase in general council tax, with the remaining 2% ringfenced for adult social care.
The council said the increase would add £0.94p a week to a Band D property’s bill.
The full council voted through the increase on 7 February.
The council could have increased it by a further 2%, but council leader Tim Oliver said: “This is not the year to be adding to the pressure for residents so that is why we’ve worked really hard to keep it down to the lowest level we possibly can.”
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Around £500,000 worth of crack cocaine and heroin destined for the streets Sussex has been prevented from reaching its intended destination following an arrest at an address in London on Thursday, February 2.
Officers from Sussex Police worked collaboratively with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police to conduct the arrest in Leyton Grange, Waltham Forest.
The vast quantity of class A drugs seized in the property is one of the largest hauls found by Sussex Police officers.
Mohammed Shafick, 27, of Leyton Grange, Waltham Forest, was arrested at the address and was then transported to Crawley where he was interviewed by members of the West Sussex Community Investigation Team.
Shafick was subsequently charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug and two counts of possession with intent to supply a class A drug.
He appeared before Crawley magistrates court on Friday, February 3, where he was remanded in custody and will appear before a crown court which is yet to be determined on March 3.
Detective Inspector Alan Pack said: “This is a significant amount of crack cocaine and heroin destined for Sussex which has been seized. Our officers and colleagues from the Metropolitan Police have stopped these class A drugs being circulated in our county and causing significant harm in our communities. These results don’t just happen by chance but through a comprehensive investigation and collaborative working with different forces.
“We will continue to work tenaciously to stop the supply of drugs coming into Sussex and disrupt criminal organisations exploiting vulnerable members of our community.”
If you have news for Sussex and Surrey, contact us on news@susyradio.com
Surrey County Council is supporting all residents in the county with the launch of a new Online Energy Advice Tool, as energy bills are expected to further increase in April 2023.
Residents can use the new online tool which will ask a series of short questions and depending on the answers will offer tailored information on grants, support and advice, and non-financial help on a range of topics including:
– Free or part-funded schemes to make homes more energy efficient
– Signpost to debt relief grants
– Where to find additional services such as clothes and food banks
– Fuel vouchers
Marisa Heath, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “This winter has and will continue to cause many communities to struggle and face difficult decisions. Our new online tool is designed to give residents information on the support they can benefit from and ensure they get the best support they can.
“Since our Warm Hubs launched towards the end of last year we have seen communities come together and support one another to keep warm and hope this tool is just another way we can reach out to support everyone who needs it.”
The online tool will also be available at the majority of Warm Hubs, as well as by using the council’s welfare support phone line.
The Fortress Theatre Company is raising funds for St Catherine’s Hospice with a stage performance of Calendar Girls. Becky Munden, who appears in the production and is a member of the Fortress Theatre Company explains more to Tony Williams.
PERFORMANCES:
Tue 21 Feb, Wed 22 Feb, Thu 23 Feb, Fri 24 Feb, Sat 25 Feb