With pledges from businesses and other organisations of £10,000 towards Christmas lights for Epsom Town Centre, Residents’ Party councillors refused to “match” this level of funding as they had originally agreed.

A meeting of the borough council on Tuesday 22nd July saw “Christmas Lights” once again on the agenda, but my eleventh hour intervention was unsuccessful. The borough council’s contribution remains at £6,000 for 2008/9, a one-off payment which is unlikely to inspire businesses to contribute in future years.

I had pledged up to £4,000 toward Christmas lights from my County allocation, taking external contributions to £10,000, but although the Residents’ Party councillors had previously agreed to “match” funding up to precisely that level, they stuck steadfastly to £6,000 and no more.

It’s been made quite clear at the Business Partnership Board that we need more than just £12,000 to achieve a good display which will also last for a few years. If the political will had been there and my offer had been matched, we would have had £20,000. This only goes to show that the RA councillors have just been paying lip service to residents’ concerns about our lack of Christmas spirit.

I was disappointed that, although some of his colleagues had the decency to abstain, Cllr Dallen, who has publicised his desire for a festive display at Christmas, voted against an increased contribution from the borough council. Nevertheless I will continue with my additional contribution if this will help make it possible to purchase a good and durable display of lights.

Work on finding a user for Horton Chapel has been held up. The borough council’s legal staff had to be diverted to deal with two problems created by the county council. First they withdrew support for the Children’s Centre and Day Nursery in Hollymoor Lane. Then they delayed a decision on the future of the Mansion in Nonsuch Park for over 15 months, resulting in a lot of extra work. It is now hoped to invite tenders from interested parties later this year.

Tuesday night was ‘Mayor Making’. Cllr Alan Winkworth succeeded to the role and looked the part in his red robe. Good luck to him. Lots of speeches and bouquets - then all the RA and Conservative councillors plus the Mayor’s guests were off for drinks and food at public expense, whilst as ever the Lib Dems left them to it and went off for drinks and food at our own expense.