SURREY has been "short changed" to the tune of £215m by the Local Government Funding Settlement according to county council leader David Hodge.

In response to last month's Government announcement of the next financial year's (2015-16) funding settlement for councils, Mr Hodge said: "Today's funding settlement means we can just about keep essential services going in the short term but in the longer term government needs to recognise the enormous pressure we are facing."

But he pledged not to borrow money to bridge the gap for the 13,000 school places the county needs over the next five years.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.