Council leader to discuss SEN and devolution
Tim Oliver will appear on the hot seat on the breakfast show on Wednesday from 09:00 BST.
The council's provision for children with additional needs has been previously criticised, with the cabinet member responsible saying the authority was "resolute" in its ambition to improve.
Its children's services department was rated "good" on Friday, after "inadequate" ratings in 2015 and 2018.
Listen to the BBC Radio Surrey breakfast show from 06:00 - 10:00, Monday to Friday, on BBC Radio Surrey or on BBC Sounds.
The council submitted plans to central government earlier in May for how local government could look in the future with fewer, larger councils responsible for services.
Surrey County Council, supported by Elmbridge Borough Council and Mole Valley District Council, is proposing that two new councils are created, with one in the east and another in the west.
Elections that were due to take place in 2025 in Surrey have been postponed until 2026 as part of the devolution plans.
Oliver has been the leader of the county council since 2018, and is a councillor for the Weybridge division.
In 2024, he was awarded an OBE for services to local government.
Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
Council's 'long journey' to good Ofsted rating
More than 1,800 children with SEN missing school
Council apologises to families over SEND provision
Fines for education failures approaching £1m
Surrey County Council
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
18 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Christian MAGA Singer Vows To Continue Despite Canada Protests
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Sean Feucht, a prominent American Christian worship leader and vocal supporter of the MAGA movement, says he will press on with his tour of Canada, despite a wave of public protests, security concerns, and event cancellations in multiple cities. Newsweek contacted Feucht for comment via email on Sunday. Why It Matters Feucht's tour has become a flash point in Canada's ongoing debate over freedom of expression, public safety, and the role of religious and political ideologies in public spaces. As communities respond to his messaging—often framed around conservative Christian values and American right-wing politics—the backlash highlights tensions between freedom of speech and protecting marginalized groups from perceived harm. Despite the setbacks, Feucht remains determined to complete his tour. He is continuing to organize events at alternative venues and actively posting about it on social media. On Saturday, Feucht posted on his Facebook and Instagram accounts: "We've been canceled, banned, protested and smoke-bombed in Canada, but the MOVE OF GOD ONLY GROWS STRONGER! "The greater the resistance, the greater the breakthrough! See you today Ottawa and tomorrow Toronto!" Sean Feucht is seen at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza outside the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 19, 2024. Sean Feucht is seen at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza outside the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 19, 2024. Rebecca Noble/AFP/Getty Images What To Know As reported by Newsweek, Feucht is a pro-Trump American Christian singer-songwriter who unsuccessfully ran as a Republican candidate in California's 3rd congressional district in 2020. Feucht has previously been criticized over remarks he has made about the LGBTQ+ community and for his pro-life stance. He first rose to prominence with his "Let Us Worship" tour in the latter half of 2020, which protested COVID-19 lockdowns. In April of 2022, he helped to lead a protest against The Walt Disney Company for their opposition to anti-LGBTQ legislation. In early 2023, he announced a "Kingdom to the Capitol" tour co-sponsored by Turning Point USA, the nonprofit that advocates for conservative politics at high schools and university campuses. Several Canadian cities, including Halifax, Quebec City, Charlottetown, and Moncton, have canceled Feucht's scheduled events in recent days. Officials cited public safety concerns, protest activity and logistical complications. In Halifax, Parks Canada revoked a permit for a concert at the York Redoubt historic site after consulting with police and local residents. The event was moved to Shubenacadie, about an hour away, where hundreds of attendees gathered. Despite the relocations and cancellations, protests have continued to follow Feucht's appearances. In Montreal, demonstrators set off smoke bombs inside a venue, and at least one person was arrested. Critics of the tour, including advocacy groups and local officials, argue that Feucht's rhetoric is inflammatory and harmful to community cohesion. Some have also pointed to Feucht's political affiliations, which they believe are inconsistent with Canada's inclusive values. Feucht has accused Canadian authorities and media outlets of discriminating against his religious beliefs, claiming his events are being unfairly targeted for expressing traditional Christian values. He has maintained that his message is peaceful and spiritual in nature, not political. What People Are Saying Feucht posting on his X account on Saturday: "I've led worship and preached in Africa, the Middle East and all across the world in 2025. The most intense persecution was not in Iraq or Turkey - but CANADA! Didn't have that on my bingo card." The city of Vaughan, where Feucht was due to perform on Sunday, said in a statement, per CTV News: "The City of Vaughan has denied a Special Event Permit for a music event to be held at Dufferin District Park on July 27 on the basis of health and safety as well as community standards and well-being." What Happens Next City officials in other planned tour stops are assessing whether to grant permits, and national law enforcement agencies are monitoring developments closely. As protests persist, the debate over who gets access to public spaces—and under what terms—is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Hamilton Spectator
6 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Disruptive ‘scam' or legitimate protest? Here's why Pierre Poilievre's byelection ballot will have dozens of candidates
OTTAWA—One candidate is a 22-year-old university student living four hours north of Toronto. Another is a Montreal-area teacher and tour guide with a fondness for dinosaurs. A third lives in Nebraska, working in IT. And there are more than 175 people, just like them, on the ballot for a byelection in a sprawling riding sandwiched between Calgary and Edmonton. Battle River—Crowfoot is the Alberta riding vacated by Conservative MP Damien Kurek so his seatless leader, Pierre Poilievre, can run in a byelection and return to the House of Commons. It's also the sixth target for the Longest Ballot Committee, a protest group that swamps ballots with dozens of independent candidates to drum up attention about electoral reform. The idea is simple: when voters notice the colossal lists of contenders on their ballots, candidates and organizers use that opening to promote alternative electoral systems and their belief that politicians should not be in charge of shaping election rules that may benefit them. This week, the Conservative leader, whose former riding of Carleton was targeted during the last federal campaign, said he'd had enough. Poilievre penned a letter to Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon, calling the effort a 'blatant abuse' of Canada's democracy and elections integrity, and demanded the Liberals introduce reforms in the fall that would stifle 'the longest ballot scam.' In a statement to the Star, MacKinnon's office said the government shares Poilievre's concerns and was 'examining' the issue. But for those who believe the gargantuan ballots make an inexcusable mockery of Canada's electoral system, well, that's kind of the whole point. 'I get emails, I get Facebook messages saying, 'Why is a person from Ontario running in an Alberta riding?' And this is exactly why I do want to see a residency requirement. I don't think somebody from Ontario should be able to run in Alberta,' said Dillon Anderson, the 22-year-old university student from Callander, Ont. 'I'm hoping that this is the last time we'll do the longest ballot and that we get some changes, some actual meaningful changes, that don't restrict Canadians' rights to run, but gives us more of a local-focused approach,' said Anderson, who is one of several protest candidates who believe other rules, like residency requirements, ought to be changed. For Nicola Zoghbi, the Montreal teacher, the initiative is 'one of the most efficient ways' to point out flaws in Canada's electoral system, which he says include its use of the first-past-the-post system, where the candidate with the most votes wins — even if most voters actually voted for other contenders. What's unique about this byelection, said Zoghbi, whose campaign platform is almost entirely about dinosaurs , is how Poilievre is able to take advantage of some rules while trying to ban others. 'There's this loophole that Poilievre and other politicians are using, so regular people like me could use it, too,' he said of the residency requirement, which politicians have historically used to run in ridings far away from where they actually live. Jason Buzzell, the Nebraska IT expert, joined the movement in part because of his personal ties to the riding. Buzzell was raised in Battle River—Crowfoot, and started his family there before work took him across the border. He wonders if a proportional voting system would have seen Poilievre re-elected in Carleton last spring. 'If we had had electoral reform … we wouldn't even have to do this byelection,' Buzzell suggested. The question election experts are now wrestling with is whether the whole scheme is fair game, or whether the integrity of races is being compromised. There are indications that the latter has not occurred, said Dennis Pilon, a professor and chair of the politics department at York University. One is a lack of reports that electors have felt too confused by affected ballots to vote properly. Another is no indication that the number of spoiled ballots has unduly increased. A third is that voters ultimately still have the agency to choose the candidate who they want to represent them. But if the strategy isn't harming voters, could it harm candidates from established parties? 'Maybe it ends up denying one of the candidates the win. That's the whole point of the protest,' said Pilon. So far, all ridings targeted by the movement have been won by a Liberal, Conservative or Bloc Québécois candidate. But ' everything that's happening is legal, and it's allowed to be done,' said Laura Stephenson, a professor and chair of the department of political science at the University of Western Ontario. Poilievre has asked the government to consider three changes: to require that candidates have more than the current minimum of 100 voter signatures needed to get on the ballot; that those signatures be exclusive to each candidate; and that each candidate needs their own official agent (the person who manages campaign finances). The Longest Ballot Committee has the same official agent for each of its candidates, and goes to the same voters to obtain physical signatures for nomination packages. Stephenson said some of the proposals could, in theory, 'tighten things up while still maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.' 'The key is that this shouldn't be seen as a political step. If these kinds of rules were being brought forward by Elections Canada … it doesn't have any political tint to it,' she said of the timing of Poilievre's demands. The one issue on which everyone seems to agree is that the protest has sidelined independent candidates not tied to the movement who are running serious campaigns. Bonnie Critchley, an independent candidate in Battle River—Crowfoot, has been frustrated by the protest drawing voter attention away from her campaign. 'This is a little bit sad for them. I'm very sorry for that,' said Sébastien CoRhino, one of the Longest Ballot Committee's organizers. 'But at the same time, it is impossible with the current political system to have independent candidates win an election,' he said. Michael MacKenzie, the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Vancouver Island University, says opposing the protest runs counter to Poilievre's stated focus on ensuring political elites have no say in the decisions of Canadians. But he questions whether the original purpose of the movement — to reopen a national discussion about electoral reform that the Liberals have abandoned — is being lost in all the noise. 'It's not generating a lot of focused discussion on the complexities of electoral reform,' MacKenzie said. 'Most discussions are about the disruptions and the difficulties and confusions associated with this initiative, and there's been very little discussion about the benefits or drawbacks of the electoral reform itself.'
Time Business News
12 hours ago
- Time Business News
Naidu Sammeta
A quick Google search for Naidu Sammeta brings up a clear and consistent personal brand across platforms: LinkedIn introduces him as a Digital Marketing Specialist with expertise in SEO, social media marketing, and brand strategy , helping businesses grow through customized online solutions. introduces him as a with expertise in , helping businesses grow through customized online solutions. On Instagram (@naidu_sammeta) , his profile stands out with personal flair — a passionate creator, admirer of Pawan Kalyan, and someone who builds brands with 'passion & purpose' . , his profile stands out with personal flair — a passionate creator, admirer of Pawan Kalyan, and someone who builds brands with . His blog and other search results reflect his entrepreneurial journey, content marketing insights, and dedication to empowering others through digital transformation. At the heart of Naidu Sammeta's journey is Srimediadigitals, a growing digital agency focused on delivering strategic marketing solutions for startups, local businesses, and personal brands. From social media growth to brand consulting, Srimediadigitals aims to bridge the gap between businesses and their digital audiences with creativity, analytics, and storytelling. Naidu is not just another marketer – he brings a 360-degree understanding of the digital ecosystem. His key strengths include: SEO and traffic growth strategies Brand building through authentic storytelling Content creation and distribution Paid ad campaigns and performance tracking Engaging audience management on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube His approach is data-backed yet people-focused, blending performance with personalization. What sets Naidu Sammeta apart is his commitment to value-driven growth. He stands by his core principles — consistency, integrity, and creativity — and believes in uplifting others while building his own brand. As seen in his Instagram bio, he's not just a strategist, but a community builder and someone deeply inspired by real-life role models like Pawan Kalyan. His content often reflects positive thinking, entrepreneurship, and the mindset shift needed to grow in today's competitive world. From being listed among top digital professionals on LinkedIn to gaining traction through organic branding on Instagram and Blogger, Naidu's name now appears on multiple digital platforms — a sign of a well-managed personal brand that resonates with both clients and followers alike. Whether it's helping a startup scale or inspiring young marketers through his journey, Naidu Sammeta is a name to watch in 2025 and beyond. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
