ASHTEAD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCATION BALLOT TO CUT LINKS WITH INDEPENDENT COUNCILLORS.
The Ashtead Residents’ Association (ARA) Committee is pressing ahead with plans to cut its links with the Ashtead Independent Councillors...
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Ashtead’s Independent councillors are restarting monthly surgeries at which residents can meet their County and District Councillors to discuss any issues of concern.
The surgeries will be at Ashtead Library (Woodfield Lane) from 14.00-16.00 on the first Saturday of each month, starting on 4 March 2023.
At least two Councillors will be present each time, and the Library Service is making an office available so any discussions can be in confidence.
No booking is necessary and there is on-site parking, just drop in anytime during the two hour slots.
We are grateful to Surrey County Council and the Ashtead Library for making this venue available to us.
Meet your Independent Councillors
Tuesday 19th September
ASHTEAD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCATION BALLOT TO CUT LINKS WITH INDEPENDENT COUNCILLORS
The Ashtead Residents’ Association (ARA) Committee is pressing ahead with plans to cut its links with the Ashtead Independent Councillors (AI’s).
Despite opposition from residents at ARA’s AGM in April and at subsequent meetings, the ARA committee is pressing ahead with a ballot which, if passed, breaks the traditional ties between the Association and the Ashtead Independent group of councillors.
The Ashtead Independents work in Ashtead’s “best interest” by being ‘wholly’ independent, which means each councillor votes on local issues in whichever way they feel fit. Members of the group therefore cannot be a member of a national political party; nor can they be whipped to vote in a particular way by a party or even their colleagues in the AI group. For election purposes only, the AI’s are registered as a party with the Electoral Commission as that offers them the same advantages as national parties at election times (you can find out more about these advantages here: Registering as a political party | Local Government Association
For its part the ARA Committee is suggesting that there could be other independent Councillors, with who they would like to work, who are not part of the AI group, but that is also allowed under their current Constitution which does not mention the AIs as such.
Read more HERE
Monday 18th September
The face to face training is booked for Thursday 28th September, 6:45PM. Location: Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall
Please use the following link to register your attendance.
Registration for Defibrillator training.
The training will cover: -
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What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest. (SCA)
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5 minutes to save a life.
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Physiology of the heart.
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How to recognise SCA.
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How to dial 999
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What to expect.
NEW DATE FOR DEFIBRILLATOR TRAINING!
Tuesday 22nd August
ASHTEAD INDEPENDENTS HAVE VOICE ON ALL MAJOR COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Ashtead Independents have voices on every major committee with Cllr David Hawksworth being the new Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee and Cllr Gerry Sevenoaks as Vice Chairman of that committee. Cllr Patricia Wiltshire is the new Chairman of the Council - akin to a Mayor.
Ashtead Independent Leader Cllr Chris Hunt said, "We were humbled by the overwhelming support given to the Ashtead Independent candidates in the May District Council elections, which resulted in the election of all six Ashtead Independent Councillors - thank you for the thousands of votes we received. We are determined to live up to our ballot paper description ‘Ashtead Independents Working with Ashtead Residents’, which of course means all of Ashtead’s residents.
“We are working on improving the environment of Ashtead and beyond, and we have submitted a formal Motion to ban the killing of animals for so called blood sports on Mole Valley Council land and seek other major landowners to do likewise. The Motion would still allow sick animals to be humanely killed, and is not proposed to affect angling, only shooting animals in the name of 'sport'.
“By putting politics to one side and working with the ruling Lib Dem group, we are hopeful that this will complement our other work to safeguard and improve the natural fauna and flora in Ashtead Park, Ashtead Common and elsewhere, and so help ensure that the natural environment in its' widest sense throughout Mole Valley can be protected, " said Cllr Hunt.
Wednesday 9th August
UK PETITIONS GOVERNMENT AGAINST USE OF ARTIFICIAL GRASS
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The Australians opt for the natural approach
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Ashtead residents look for a more open approach.
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ARGUG launched
Residents concerned about the Ashtead Football Clubs plans to install a fenced off artificial grass pitch on the Ashtead Recreation Ground may wish to add their names to a new petition to Government aimed at banning artificial grass products in the UK.
Read more HERE
Friday 21st July
Say ’No’ to national politics in the ARA
Strong support for the current, existing,
ARA constitution in 3 out of the 3 meetings held so far.
Six Ashtead Independent Councillors attended the second of the consultation meetings, held on 19th July at the Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall, to consider more of the proposals that have come from ARA members as alternative proposals to the ARA proposed changes.
Councillor Chris Hunt, Leader of Ashtead Independents who has attended both of the consultation meetings available for all ARA members to attend held so far says "The clear view of the members who were present at both meetings has been that the present Constitution works well, and apart from some minor changes such as to reflect changes in technology and a need to define the roles and responsibilities of some of their officer holders, there was no wish for any fundamental changes."
Read more HERE
Representing the two Ashtead Wards on Mole Valley District Council and Surrey County Council ... ... and with good reason!
Ashtead Independents
Ashtead Independents are registered with the Electoral Commission to enable them to be identified and use a logo. Our Constitution and Rules make clear each vote independently with no whip.
We, the majority of Ashtead residents and the Ashtead Residents’ Association, consider that National party politics has no place in local councils. It creates unnecessary antagonisms and divisiveness, and tends to prevent a proportion of members of the Council from being able to exercise full influence on behalf of their constituents.
In this site we introduce ourselves and try to keep you up to date with current issues affecting Ashtead. Please use it to contact us to ask questions, to ask for help, to offer assistance in our campaigns, or especially if you would like to join us!
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