Sir,-For the Queen's golden jubilee, Surbiton's Indepen-dent councillors have suggested that a comm-emorative fountain or horse trough like Queen Victoria gave to Esher would be a lasting and focal reminder.

We think there should be flags and bunting throughout the town centre as we have erected for St George's Day and a parade involving scouts, bands and other community groups.

We have also requested that money should be allocated to repeat the popular hanging baskets that we implemented, not only in the centre but throughout all the shopping parades. And we have said that street parties should be encouraged and facilitated without red tape or regulation.

Notably, we have suggested that all these ideas be progressed as soon as possible as our experience from organising each year's Christmas decorations, the Surbiton Festival and the hanging baskets show that to do them properly, takes many months of preparation without incurring officer time at the public's expense. Sadly, the Conservatives on Surbiton Neighbourhood have consistently ignored our suggestions and the months have ticked by. What's more, the £300 they have allocated is peanuts compared to what residents or businesses pay in rates and is not new money but diverted from their poorly-attended business forum idea.

I hope that, for once, the Conservatives will put the politics aside and work with us, as we have always been willing to with them, to ensure that Surbiton really does celebrate Her Majesty's Jubilee in style, before it's too little or too late.

-Cllr Jan Jenner, Independent Group of Councillors, Guildhall, Kingston.

Sir,-So Cllr Kevin Davis, Leader of Kingston Council says that he wishes for a budget agreement that puts "people before politics"?

In August of last year, my colleagues and I reaffirmed our commitment to do precisely this (as we were elected to do) and formed the Independent Group of Councillors.

In fact, the first line of our published aims are, and I quote, "To safeguard the interests of all residents and taxpayers...without being influenced by party political dogma." Also in August, we registered a new website: www.PeopleBeforePolitics.com that residents and businesses will shortly be able to access.

Whilst I thank Cllr Davis for his endorsement, what is clear is that for far too long the people of Kingston and Surbiton have been used as a political football. To repeat the words of our slogan is one thing but, in reality, Cllr Davis knows that his Conservatives colleagues are made to toe a group or party line. How can anyone, therefore, trust them to put the interests of the community first, especially when their actions during almost the last four years have been the complete opposite?

-Cllr Dennis de Lord, Independent Group of Councillors, Guildhall, Kingston.