An attempt to get rid of the leader of Surrey County Council in the wake of an alleged ‘sweetheart deal’ with the Government has failed today.
Cllr David Hodge has survived a vote of no confidence, tabled by the Liberal Democrats. The motion was opposed by 47 councillors, with only eight supporting the proposal, and 12 absentees.
Cllr Hazel Watson, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrats, had called on Cllr Hodge to resign, arguing his credibility had been ‘undermined every day by new revelations’.
The council leader has come under fire in recent weeks after a proposal to increase council tax by 15% was scrapped in return for a funding deal with the Government.
Although Mr Hodge has denied a secret deal took place, documents released by the Department for Communities and Local Government revealed ministers had indicated ‘some extra funding’ would be available to the county after 2018.
