Agenda item

Councillor Alan McClafferty reported that his first 20 days as Leader had been very interesting.  He thanked Officers and Councillors for the assistance and advice he had been given.  The Leader also thanked residents for taking the time to discuss their issues with him. 

The Leader had been pleased to see Councillor Morgan Rise elected as Vice Chairman of the External Partnership Select Committee and was sure that this was the first of many examples of cross party working.

Councillor McClafferty stated that he would be looking at issues relating to gypsies and travellers as a priority.  He reported on his first Surrey Leader’s meeting which had discussed the need for new funding solutions to pay for vital services as efficiency gains through partnership working and income from property acquisition were not sustainable in the long term.

The Leader announced that he intended to bring forward new initiatives in the next few months aimed at reducing homelessness and poverty and helping the most vulnerable people in society.