Yet another briefing session, this time at Epsom Town Hall, mainly for new councillors. We had a visit from a senior Police officer, whose name escapes me, to tell us about neighbourhood policing. This is, I believe, closer to what people are asking for. More visible policing but also policing which doesn't lose sight of what the community wants. It's a developing process and there have been recent changes as to how it will be implemented in Epsom & Ewell. Currently the number of Police panels for the area has to be finalised. The relationship with the community will, hopefully, crystalise then. There is also talk of 'natural neighbourhoods' and of how they are involved. The whole process is dynamic and can therefore react to urgent and immediate needs as well as dealing with issues of a temporary nature.

The latter part of the evening was given over to the Finance Director, John Turnbull, to tell us where the Borough's money comes from and what it is spent on. This was never going to be very exciting. But John dealt well with an important subject clearly marking the boundary between the officers' roles and the members' roles in deciding how money is raised and spent. He also clearly made the point that the Borough is one of the big spenders in the area even if we can't always decide where some of the money goes.