Surrey’s leader David Hodge insists residents still trust him despite calls for him to step down.

Hodge, who was re-elected to the position on Friday, is facing criticism over claims he brokered a ‘sweetheart deal’ with the government to avoid having a referendum on whether to raise Council Tax by 15% to help pay for social care.

Last week, Hodge was heard on a leaked recording saying ministers were “offering some extra funding”.

Council tax will now be increased by 4.99%.

A fresh deal’s been agreed between Southern and ASLEF over driver-only trains.

The Union says its concerns have been addressed and will be recommending its members accept the new agreement when they’re balloted on the 3rd of April.

However, this does not affect the RMT who have a separate dispute with the rail operator and will be taking more action this week.

A man was stabbed during a fight in the High Street in Crawley on Friday afternoon.  

Emergency services were called following numerous reports of a fight outside a barber shop.  

A 22-year old man suffered a stab wound to his leg and is recovering in hospital after undergoing surgery.

A dog has been thrown out of a moving vehicle that was travelling along the M23.

The female Lurcher cross was thrown from the back of a vehicle, believed to be a van, at around 4 pm on Thursday 2nd March.  The vehicle was travelling northbound on the M23 between junctions nine and eight, north of the Gatwick junction.  A passing motorist stopped to help, and officers from Surrey Police then took the dog to a local vet.  She was treated for two broken legs and is now being cared for by an animal charity.  

Anyone who witnessed the incident should call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference number 45170022317.

West Sussex has won a bid to become one of the first Time to Change hubs.

The new partnership of local organisations and mental health champions are committed to improving attitudes and behaviours towards people experiencing mental health problems.  The new hub is being created to combine the insights from the Time to Change Campaign run by charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness, with local knowledge to support communities to take action in their area. Time to Change West Sussex is led by the local Health and Wellbeing Board.  

West Sussex is one of four hubs to be launched along with Cumbria, Leeds and Suffolk. Over the next three years a further 12 hubs will be established across England to provide a focus for local campaigning work.