Conservative run County Council graded just ONE star

12.00.00am GMT Mon 9th Mar 2009

Conservative run Surrey County Council is officially one of the WORST in the country

The government's Audit Commission has awarded the Conservative-run Surrey County Council one star, the lowest possible score, in assessing its overall performance. Surrey joins Haringey Council where baby P was left to die in dreadful circumstances.

The Audit Commission states that 'services for vulnerable children and young people do not meet minimum requirements'. Some council workers in contact with young children had not undergone Criminal Record checks. Disabled children were also found to be staying at home because there was not enough care for them at school and teenage abortion rates were amongst the highest in the country.

According to the inspection report "the contribution of local services to improving outcomes for children and young people at risk, or requiring safeguarding is inadequate."

It is very sad that no single Conservative politician at County Hall has owned up to this failure. They have all chosen instead to bury their heads in the sand, pretending that everything is fine. In fact, they are challenging Ofsted's conclusions by calling for a Judicial Review, using taxpayers' money to instruct lawyers instead of improving services.

Anthony Sheppard Liberal Democrat Campaigner for Hinchley Wood, Claygate and Oxshott says "'this means they are wasting residents' Council Tax on very expensive legal action rather than improving services to Surrey's most needy children."

"The arrogance and complacency of the Conservative dominated County Council has resulted in this terrible One Star assessment of Surrey County Council services," added Molesey campaigner Alastair Sturgis.

The Conservatives have run the Council since 1997 and the Council services have deteriorated under their lack of leadership and commitment. The Liberal Democrats are the only ones who have the commitment and will to improve the Council services and deliver real value for money to Surrey's residents.