Traffic Calming Scheme for Heywood Road

Posted January 31, 2010

Details of a traffic calming scheme for the southern part of Heywood Road (from Heys Road down to Scholes Lane) have been announced.

The proposals include a 20mph zone as the road nears the area of Park View Primary School (Rectory Lane roundabout to Scholes Lane, including Park View Road itself.

The full details of the scheme can be downloaded here.

I must say it was only me that was Laughing, Charlie just chewed michelle’s pretty picture - Charlies like that no respect.  

Childrens education and Islam, never mind extremism, are not the areas to be weighing in with irresponsible unconsidered, not to mention unsubstantiated claims. 

However, whilst I do not support the extremist organisation concerned there are clearly questions that have to be asked. Firstly they claim to be a registered political party. If so the organisation although extremist has the same rights to exist as the BNP - regardless as to whether I loathe their views.

If they are not legitimately registered or indeed if they are to be banned then of course there are procedures and protocols to be followed. And indeed if they have supported the killing of British troops then I would be first in the cue to support a ban.

But where is gets really messy and worrying is the Tories allegations with regard to the funding of schools. Last night claims were made which were then unable to be substantiated then they were withdrawn, and today I woke to find that certain allegations have been reiterated.

The Conservatives really do have to be correct with their facts when it comes to throwing allegations around about extremism especially when it concerns schools and the education of our young people. If there is any substance at all then those facts need to be conveyed to the authorities without the need to wave them like some kind of patriotic flag in the House of Commons. Then on receipt of those facts the Government needs to give assurances that they will be thoroughly and rigorously investigated.

I wonder are we seeing an example of what the Conservatives would be like if they formed the next Government?

Would they ban organisations, withdraw funding, exclude people, on the first whiff of an accusation, before receipt of the facts, before asking the necessary questions.

Jumping on the bandwagon of populism carries risks, even more so when they jump to the tune of the red top tabloids as they appear increasingly prone to do.

Remember we are also dealing with young people and their education

There will be lots of family entertainment to enjoy this splendid day with top local entertainment, Dave K, a Town Cryer, Besses o’th Barn Brass Band, Pop Star Academy, Prestwich Arts College Choir, Sweeky the Clown and Santa’s Grottos of course.

Prestwich Library have pulled its own cracker for the visitors at the Farmers Market to drop in with their children to enjoy Carnival of the Animals Story time and mask-making 11am-12 for children under aged 10 and under in Prestwich Children’s Library and a FREE prize draw for a big cuddly blue teddy bear. (Please contact the library to book your place), a chance for children to write your letters to Santa and post them in the post-box at the Santa Grotto,

Local History Displays – with Craig Brisbane, Guitar Class & Art Society Demonstrations and a one off Computer Taster Session – ‘Shop till you Don’t Drop!’ teaching shoppers how to online shop from the comfort of your home 11-1pm. There’s even a chance to pop in and see Prestwich Hospital Exhibition. What a Cracker!

Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) is providing free travel on Metrolink all day, from the first tram until the last tram, this Saturday, 14 November, and next Thursday, 19 November, as a ‘thank you’ to passengers.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chair of GMITA, said: “We’ve invested a significant amount in improving the Metrolink network this year; projects that will make journeys smoother, quieter and more reliable.

“We’ve completely replaced the city centre tracks, provided high quality new street finishes, upgraded two of the busiest city centre stops and installed the first sets of new ticket machines – major improvements that were completed on time and on budget.

“However, we fully appreciate that passengers were left without a full service while all this work was done, and we want to thank them for their patience and understanding during that time – that’s why we’ll be providing these two days of free travel.”

The city centre section closed in April and services returned on 2 November.

Major overhauls of the St Peter’s Square and Piccadilly Gardens stops – two of the most heavily used on the network – have been completed.

The St Peter’s Square stop has been widened and the platform heights modified to allow level boarding for all passengers. The Piccadilly Gardens stop has also been widened and new canopies have been installed to provide better shelter for even more people.

New state-of-the-art ticket machines that take bank notes and credit and debit card payments, have also been installed on the two revamped stops. They will be rolled out across the Metrolink network by spring next year
All the city centre stops now bear Metrolink’s new identity, which will be rolled out across the remainder of the network.

Councillor Ian Macdonald, Vice Chair of GMITA, said: “Shoppers will be able to benefit from free travel this Saturday and I hope more people will choose to leave the car at home and try the tram instead.

“Commuters will benefit from free travel next Thursday, but I hope people will also take the opportunity to travel in to the city centre in the evening to sample the Christmas markets and get into the festive spirit.

“Meanwhile, the investment in Metrolink is going to continue, with several brand new trams in service by the end of this year, all-new ticket machines installed across the network by spring next year and four new lines being built.”

A total of 40 new trams have been ordered to provide more room on existing services and to cater for passengers on new lines being built to Oldham and Rochdale, Droylsden in Tameside, Chorlton in South Manchester and MediaCityUK in Salford.

Passengers who have a season ticket which covers the days valid for free travel can claim a refund by writing to Customer Service Secretary, GMPTE, Freepost MR7 116, Manchester, M1 9QL, by 7 January 2010 with their name, address and telephone number.

They will also need to provide a photocopy of their Metrolink Travel Club membership card as well as a photocopy of their season ticket if it is still valid, or the original ticket if it has expired.

Firstly Cllr Bibby said he had another meeting to go to and must leave by 8.oo so we only had a short period of time.
Cllr Bibbys opening gambit was a statement from the Council and as usual it as long as possible let us waste some time. After 10 minutes of time wasting Cllr Vic D’Albert tried to stop the statement and get to the questions and answers, “I’m just setting the scene was the answer” at this time the crowd became very agitated and it was a little bit touch and go if Cllr Bob Bibby saw an easy escape route and went immediately.
We then did get to some question unfortunatley alot of people wanted to make a statement rather than ask specific questions however questions and answers as follows
“You only care about the leafy suburbs and don’t invest in Prestwich and Radcliffe!”  -  as leader I care about all areas I wouldn’t had made sure of the massive investment ( cost neutral ) in the regeneration of prestwich , I have spent more in Radcliffe than twenty years of the previous administration.
I have requested to see the figures as a Local Cllr for this ward and have had no reply- I will make sure it happens
The rest of the questions were more arguments about how can you say the Longfield is losing money and has a usage of 37% etc etc

 At 7.40 the dance group class act came down just to give a brief flavour of what they do at the Longfield and it was a fantastic interlude, but as they finnished Cllr Bibby had slipped half way down the hall and then promptly left to the enevitable boos
After this there was a lengthy discussion of what the next step is and how the campaign should proceed.
At the end of the meeting many people stayed around and had a chat about the campaign many people were aghast about how Cllr Bibby behaved and one of the campaigners who had a long discussion with Cllr Wiseman reported that she was equally aghast with Cllr Bibby behaviour and that she was going to complain to the conservative party directorate. 

Suggested answer to written Question 1 submitted by Councillor O’Hanlon

Q The Council is considering changing the use of the Longfield Suite in Prestwich, whilst proposing to retain the Elizabethan Suite in Bury and Ramsbottom Civic Hall.

Why is this the case when the Council’s own figures show that the Longfield Suite is better utilised and makes more money than the Elizabethan Suite and Ramsbottom Civic Hall?

Can the Leader of the Council assure me of the Council’s commitment to provide a civic hall for Prestwich which allows community groups to use a dedicated public events space and which provides a hub for local community activities?

A I would like to thank Cllr O’Hanlon for his question

First of all I would like to remind all members that no decisions have been taken regarding the future of any of these venues, despite some member’s best efforts to whip up public anxiety and anger.

A task and finish group will look at all four venues with a view to finding the most viable and sustainable solution for local communities and the Council. Commitments have already been given by the Leader that there will be extensive consultation with any interested groups, individuals and the Local Area Partnership and their views on alternative use for the Longfield Suite be reported back as part of the Group’s final report.

Suggested answer to written Question number 3 submitted by Councillor Baum

Q At the last meeting of the Council I asked for a progress update on my proposal to allow free parking after 3pm in Bury Town Centre, after a similar scheme boosted trade and Council coffers in Rochdale. Cllr Gunther replied saying that the Council “will continue to look at initiatives wherever they are and assess the value for Bury, taking into consideration the potential impact on the business community as well as the Council’s financial position.”

What are the outcomes of the assessment of “Park free after 3″ for Bury, what is her assessment of the potential impacts for the business community and the Council’s financial position of the scheme, what are the comparative costs / benefits of “Park Free After 3″ compared to “Park Free for 15 minutes,” and when will my scheme be introduced?

A The potential impact on the Councils financial position is likely to increase the parking budget deficit. The anticipated deficit from the on-street “15 minutes free parking” scheme alone is likely to be in excess of £80k. There would also be the additional costs of setting up the scheme such as legal costs, signing, machine software changes etc.
Given the financial constraints of the Council there are no plans to change the current arrangements which are very satisfsactory.

Suggested answer to written Question number 5 submitted by Councillor Pickstone

Q Goals Soccer Centres Ltd seem likely to be submitting an amended application for a commercial soccer centre in open piece of parkland adjacent to the Bury MBC border in Holyrood Ward. Is the Leader of the Council aware of the serious heritage concerns raised by English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Garden Heritage Society and others around the destruction of part of this historic piece of parkland?

Were the Authority aware of these objections when making its own comments to Manchester Council’s original application?

A The application is wholly within the area controlled by Manchester City Council and as such it is for them to assess the acceptability of the Planning Application and any concerns over the application should be sent to Manchester City Council, as per the advice to all local councillors in an email from the Planning Department on the 29th June 2009.
The Council is not party to the replies to consultations received by Manchester City Council, and was not aware of any comments that the City had received when it made its comments.

The Planning Control Committee considered what impact the application would have on the nearby residents in terms of noise and light pollution and the impact on the highways network.

The assessment on the impact of the Listed Park is a matter for Manchester City Council and English Heritage and we are not part of this assessment.

On a point of information, it is understood that whilst English Heritage did not support the application, it did state that it had no objections in principal to the development of sports facilities and made various recommendations for amendments to the scheme.

A joint meeting has been held between English Heritage, Manchester City Council and the applicant to discuss these recommendations and a revised scheme is awaited by Manchester Planning Department.

The Council will be informed of the revised scheme when it is received.

Suggested answer to written Question number 7 submitted by Councillor Andrew Garner

Q Council recycling facilities at Tesco Prestwich have recently been closed. Does the Leader agree with me that this is a backward step for recycling in the borough, and that a reduction in recycling sites without a commensurate increase in collection from the remaining sites will result in fly-tipping?

Have alternative sites and increases in collections been considered? If so, what are the plans and when will they be introduced?

A The decision by Tesco to withdraw this facility was unfortunate but the decision was taken following persistent large scale fly tipping of waste at the site which it proved impossible to control. This was despite a range of preventative measures being employed such as signage, CCTV, regular cleaning of the site and speaking to users of the facility.
There is nothing to suggest that the closure of this recycling centre will result in an increase in fly tipped recyclable waste. That sort of waste does not typically get fly tipped.

There are a network of recycling centres across the borough, the nearest to Tesco’s being the Longfield Centre which has the full complement of recycling banks. Furthermore the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Clifton Road, Prestwich has recently been refurbished and its recycling facilities improved.

Furthermore, all Bury residents living within the vicinity of Tesco’s have access to kerbside collections of paper and card, plastic bottles, cans and glass and so should have little need for a recycling centre in any case.

Suggested answer to written Question 9 submitted by Councillor V D’Albert

Q Could the leader confirm how much is left in this year’s Council budget for Disability Grants for Building adaptations for the current year?
A Private Sector Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG’s), budget, expenditure to date and remaining budget 2009/10
Budget £1,107,000
Expenditure to 22.10.09 £418,713
Remaining Budget £688,287

Suggested answer to written Question number 11 submitted by Councillor Baum

Q Bury Market is one of the jewels in Bury’s crown, and the best market in the country. I have spoken to many traders who are struggling through the recession, and who trade at different sites but would prefer to trade in Bury more often. Has any thought been given to opening the market fully on more than three days per week, helping traders and boosting visitor numbers to Bury?

A Traditional market days at Bury Market are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Bury Market Hall is open six days a week and Bury Fish and Meat Hall five and a half days a week.

The Open market comprises 212 daily licence stalls and 82 leasehold units who trade on the three established market days. In addition to these market days, Daily licence traders have the opportunity to trade on the open market on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Open market leasehold traders can, if they wish, trade for seven days a week.

However, traders make their own judgment as to whether it is commercially viable to open or not outside of the established market days. The vast majority of traders choose not to open.

Traders are represented by two trader organisations - Bury Market Traders Association (BMTA) and Bury Open Market Traders Association (BOMTA). Markets Management have ongoing dialogue with the trader organisations and have requested they consider Sunday opening in light of Town Centre developments. Feedback to Markets Management is that traders have expressed concerns and are reluctant to open on Sundays. Further consultation regarding Sunday opening is to be undertaken with the Trader Organisations.

Suggested answer to written Question number 13 submitted by Councillor S Wright

Q Can the leader inform us of the total amount spent on taxi fares by the council in the last four years, split down by department?

A I am happy to send round a full analysis of taxi costs by service but for brevity tonight I thought that it might be more helpful to provide the total costs for the last four years, which are

2006/07 £959,546

2007/08 £1,039,983

2008/09 £1,067,548

2009/10 £479,306

Of these costs 99% relate to the provision of transport to people with specific needs within Adult social care, Children’s social care and schools.

I can assure Members that Taxi services are procured following a full tendering exercise and I can also assure Members that the way in which transport is provided to vulnerable people is subject to on-going review to ensure that their needs are met in the most efficient and effective way.

Suggested answer to written Question number 15 submitted by Councillor Steve Wright

Q Has the council given any consideration to allowing sole traders permission to use council-run household waste recycling centres in an attempt to ease problems like flytipping?
A This is a decision for the GMWDA who operate such facilities.
Having said that, the GMWDA, through its contractor Viridor, do provide outlets for commercial waste at some of its other facilities. E.g. when the Transfer Loading Station at Every Street, Fernhill reopens in January traders will be able to dispose of their waste there, subject to a minimum half tonne charge.

Suggested answer to written Question number 17 submitted by Councillor Ann Garner

Q Can the Leader confirm the number & location of all the public waste bins in Bury, the collection rotas for each, and the plans for the future of such waste bins?
A There are currently 728 public waste bins situated across the borough which are emptied on different days of the week at different frequencies, depending on location. A full list detailing the location and collection rotas for each bin can be passed to Cllr Garner.

Requests for new bins are considered on an individual basis, taking into account several criteria, for example

location e.g. on a school route, near shops, fast food outlets etc
feedback received from residents and the Street Care Teams
numbers of bins already within the locality
whether any additional funding or sponsorship is available from tenants and residents groups or LAPs
whether there is any potential obstruction to the footpath.

Suggested answer to written Question number 19 submitted by Councillor Davison

Q Given that 25% of PCN’s are cancelled for one reason or another, can the Leader confirm whether we are attaining “best value” from our current enforcement providers (NCP); when their contract is due for review; and what figures/circumstances would he consider appropriate for an immediate review of such provision?

A A vast majority of the 25% cancellations are based on the Council’s customer care policies and not NSL Ltds performance. In fact less than 1% of cancellations are for Civil Enforcement Officer errors and therefore we are attaining “best value” from NSL Ltd.

The current Enforcement Contract with NSL Ltd is for 5 years with w.e.f. from 31st March 2008 and expires 30th March 2013.

As the mis-understandings of the Annual Report, and the following apologies in the Bury Times regarding the cancellation reasons are not related to the performance of NSL Ltd, I do not consider an immediate view of their enforcement provision is required.
Suggested answer to written Question 21 submitted by Councillor M D’Albert

Q Can the Leader explain what assistance this Council has given to groups wishing to set up Credit Unions in the last year?

A In the last year the Council has not received any requests for groups wishing to establish Credit Unions. At our annual Community Conference this year our lead third sector partnership agency – B3SDA sought the views of the third sector around the possibility of setting up a Credit Union in Bury. However, neither the Council nor B3SDA have been approached by any group seeking support in this respect.

Credit unions are financial co-operatives, linked to a specific body by a “common bond” (eg group of employees, trade union members, residents of a specific area etc).

Many existing credit unions are expanding their common bonds, if a credit union is required by the people of Bury, it would be sensible to first speak to the Bolton credit union (“quids in”). The Association of British Credit Unions Limited (ABCUL) can advise on initiatives happening in an area, or put residents in contact with the relevant bodies.

Setting up a credit union can take up to three years and simple step-by step guidance is available from the ABCUL – the LA’s role here should be to put residents in contact with the correct regulatory body. Credit unions also have to register with the FSA.

Suggested answer to written Question 23 submitted by Councillor Ann Garner

Q Can the Leader explain what negotiations, when and with whom he or members of his Executive Team have undertaken with neighbouring authorities on resolving issues relating to social housing schemes that we share with our neighbouring authorities?

A We are not aware of any negotiations that have taken place with regards to resolving issues relating to social housing schemes that we share with neighbouring authorities.

However, officers from Strategic Housing in Bury are currently commencing work with officers from Salford and Manchester Councils and housing associations in order to seek to meet the needs of the Jewish community in these boroughs. As yet, this work is at a very early stage.

Bury is also involved with other authorities in Greater Manchester in the sub-regional choice based lettings scheme. However, this is simply an initiative to give applicants greater mobility and does not involve sharing any social housing schemes with neighbouring authorities.

The Community Payback team will hit the town centre on November 3 and 4 for a final go, then head to the Holyrood Road/Heys Road/Bury Old Road Area to tackle graffiti on shops, businesses, backs of shops, and the side of houses.

Councillor Vic D’Albert, chair of Prestwich Local Area Partnership, said: “If this Community Payback team were playing in the Premiership or Champions League, they’d be champions. Their team work is fantastic, their commitment without doubt and the difference they have made to Prestwich is phenomenal.

“The work doesn’t stop here - we hope to continue to work with Community Payback, subject to funding, for three days a month to clean off graffiti and much more.

“We certainly want to expand the idea, and arrange community clean-up weekends of action whereby, if people volunteer, we will provide skips and litter picks to tidy the streets. This team is a winning team and I hope it is here to stay.”

Graffiti and No Graffiti outside M&S earlier this month.

Nowardays there seems to be only one useful purpose for this otherwise farce of a meeting, which is to remind me beyond all doubt why I am not a Conservative. Last night saw Bury’s Conservatives at their worst, or at least I hope it can’t get worse.

There are two main parts to a Full Council: questions and motions.

Questions
Since the Conservatives took control of the Council we’ve been restricted to 45 minutes of time for written questions, and then only 20 for questions asked on the night. As usual far too many questions had been submitted then was ever likely to be answered. A few from the Lib Dem group did get answered:
- Cllr O’Hanlon asked about the review of Civic Halls, and in particular why the “task and finish” group that is considering the future of civic halls has already been given the seemingly preferred “option” by the Council (keep and develop the civic halls in the North of Bury, “reconfigure” those in Radcliffe and Prestwich). Cllr Baum asked about whether the Council would visit Rochdale to see how they had extended their “park for free” service to encourage shopping in the town centre (the answer was that the Council wouldn’t visit Rochdale(!); I asked about the proposed commercial soccer centre in Heaton Park, and around whether the Council would reconsider its position if a revised application was made which significantly affected the way that it affected Bury residents (I think the answer was yes); Andrew Garner asked about recycling in Prestwich, in particular the problems that the recycling centre at the Longfield has seen since the Tesco site closed (the answer was a not very professional “phone up if you see it is full…)

But the shaming responses actually came from Labour questions this time. Both were from a Conservative Councillor I would normally have had a great deal of respect for. In response to a question on the stepping down of a fire engine at Bury fire station one day a week, Cllr Walton read what looked like a detailed 4 page response. It is an important issue, but when accused of “filibustering” (filling time to make sure not many questions could be answered), senior Conservatives could be seen smirking behind their hands. What a disgrace if this is how they want to avoid being asked questions?

Secondly a Labour Councillor asked a very important question about how the Equal Pay case is progressing through the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal. This is a very important issue that affects many of the people that Bury Council employs. The Councillor asked if the member could given an update on the Equal Pay issue. The answer from Cllr Walton: “Yes I can”.

Made me ashamed to be in the same room.

Motions
Next we came to motions, and what was essentially one debate on the 10:10 campaign to reduce carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. This was a motion proposed by the Liberal Democrat Group, with an additional amendment (which we accepted) by the Labour Group.
Over 50 local councils have already signed up to the 10:10 campaign, including next door Manchester City Council and many others of all political persuasions. We were hoping that this would be an uncontraversial debate where we could all commit to Bury playing its part to reduce emmissions and tackle climate change.

Regrettably, not so: the Conservatives forced through an amendment to the motion which:
- took out the commitment to reduce carbon emmissions by 10% in 2010
- took out the commitment to sign up to the 10:10 campaign!
Obviously we had to vote against their amendment, but in the end it was forced through.

I’m not quite sure why Conservatives (who a couple of years ago were peddling the obvious myth of “vote blue, go green”) have to be so ridiculous on a issue we should all be able to support, but perhaps we should ask them.

The second piece of farce which made me ashamed to be a member of Bury Council came with the voting on the motion and amendments. Regrettably one Conservative Councillor has had a serious hospital operation and was unable to attend. A early vote was 24 votes in favour, and 24 votes against, but we were told of a “new” rule (I say new, because in all my life I have never heard of such a thing) where this meant that something was lost (ie the Conservatives won). The next time we voted the (Conservative) Mayor obviously thought differently, and began voting in the debate (normally the Mayor “abstains” on everything) - so it was 25 to 24. However for the final vote one Conservative Councillor had obviously needed to visit the Gents, and we were back, even with the Mayor voting with her Party, to 24 / 24. Again the “new” rule came into play and the Conservatives “won” the tied vote.

You couldn’t make it up.

So, not a good night. If anyone is interested the papers for the meeting are available here. More information on the 10:10 campaign is available here - join me and sign up as an individual - even if Bury Council won’t!

Words do fail me apart from cheers tony and gordon you’ve done a great job with the NHS  

At last nights well attended meeting residents called for the Council leadership to come to Prestwich and face the public over their plans to alter facilities at the Longfield Suite.

Vic D’Albert chaired the meeting and welcoming members of the public he told the meeting, “Coming only a couple of months after this Council adopted the Love Prestwich Strategy document, following the biggest ever public consultation in Prestwich, this amounts to nothing less than a betrayal of the wishes of local people”.

The meeting was also attended by St.Mary’s Cllrs Donal O’Hanlon and Mary D’Albert, Sedgley Councillor Steve Wright, Ivan Lewis MP and Michelle Wiseman.

Several organisers of events at the Longfield Suite spoke, highlighting how well used the facility is, all condemning the proposals and calling for protests. The overwhelming view of those attending was that the much prized dance floor should be retained and that the size of the Suite should be maintained.

One resident told Conservative, Michelle Wiseman, “You don’t understand, we like it the way it is, we want it to stay the same”. Under pressure from local residents Cllr Wiseman would only confirm that “the leader of the Council has given assurances that there will be a Council civic “amenity” in Prestwich”.

“Sadly when repeatedly challenged by myself, Ivan Lewis and members of the public, to confirm that the dance floor would be retained, Cllr Wiseman refused to elaborate. That is not good enough”.

“Hopefully the message will be relayed to the Conservative leadership at Bury Town Hall, that local councillors and the Prestwich public will not stand idly by and watch much treasured community facilities sacrificed in order that the Elizabethan Suite at Bury Town Hall can get a facelift.”

St.Mary’s ward Councillor, Donal O’Hanlon commented, “This meddling by Bury Conservatives is frankly outrageous, tonight local people have made it clear that they won’t accept dodgy figures and false assumptions and statistics to justify their ambitions. We will hold the Council to account and will be asking serious questions and challenging them to prove their rationale.”

If you want to get involved or pledge your support for the Save the Longfield Suite campaign just contact one of your local Prestwich Councillors, or sign the on-line petition at www.myprestwich.org.uk or join the facebook page: save the longfield suite

Nick says: “This election is our best chance – it’s probably our last chance – to get a government that acts to cut carbon emissions and protect our planet for our children. This is not a time for people who care about the environment to quarrel between ourselves. This is a time for unity.

I understand completely why people are drawn to the Green Party. Lots of people tell me they know the Greens can’t win, but they want to send a message that the environment matters. I understand that.

But the time for sending messages is over. Climate scientists tell us the next government will be the last one that can stop dangerous climate change. So it’s time for action. Only a party that has real power and influence at the heart of government will be able to make it happen.

There has been too much hot air from Labour and the Conservatives. If either of them is given a free rein in the next Parliament, they will fall short of what’s needed. They will kow-tow to business interests and political pressure. We cannot afford to let that happen.

That’s where the Liberal Democrats come in. We can make the difference.

Already, there are 150 Liberal Democrats MPs and peers in Parliament. Our votes in Parliament got a “feed in tariff” put into law to encourage renewable energy. Our votes forced the government to commit to smart meters in every household. Our votes forced companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions. We are a force for real green change, not just green words.

Just imagine what we could achieve in the next Parliament, with your help. We will demand 10% cuts in emissions in 2010, like the brilliant 10-10 campaign is fighting for. We will demand a real commitment to renewable energy. We will demand Britain be set on course to a zero carbon future. And if – with your help – our voice is strong enough, we will succeed.

Many people vote for the Green Party for good reasons. But time is running out, and a vote for a party that probably won’t win a single MP is a wasted vote. The best bet for all environmentalists is to unite under the banner of the only green party that’s actually got power in Parliament. With your support, the Liberal Democrats will be bigger and stronger than ever, and we will force through the change you want - the change our planet needs.

The clock is ticking. Climate change is worsening. We have one planet, and no second chances. So let us have one voice, too. Lend your vote to the Liberal Democrats, and stop climate change before it is too late.”

Nick Clegg
Leader of the Liberal Democrats

The amount of bulky waste sent for recycling in Bury has slumped since the Conservative Council introduced charges for collection, say local Liberal Democrats.

Information gathered by the Lib Dems shows that over 800 tonnes of bulky waste (excluding fridges) was collected in 2007/8. In 2008/9, the first year during which charges were fully operational, that figure almost halved to 468 tonnes, and in the first quarter of this year only 72 tonnes was collected.

Commenting on the figures, Lib Dem Councillor for St Mary’s ward Cllr Donal O’Hanlon said “These are truly shocking figures. At a time when we should be encouraging recycling, this Tory policy does exactly the opposite. Since introducing the charges, we’ve seen the amount of waste collected almost halve. Now it’s falling even more. More bulky waste will be illegally dumped, and less will be recycled. The Tories have put money before doing the right thing.”

Liberal Democrats in Bury have accused the Conservatives of breaking an election pledge after it was revealed that no new CCTV camera is being installed in the borough this year, despite the Tories promising an increase.

Figures obtained by the Lib Dems show that since coming to power in May 2007, no new public safety cameras have been introduced across the borough. The only increase planned for this year is a single additional camera aimed at catching motorists parking illegally on Silver Street.

Commenting on the news, Liberal Democrat Councillor Steve Wright said “The Conservative election manifesto made a specific commitment to improving community safety by investing in CCTV cameras. The Tories have broken that promise and have not given Bury a single new camera.

“I am very disappointed that whilst the Police and the Bury Safe Partnership continue to work so hard to make Bury Town centre and the wider Borough a safer place, the Tories at the town hall aren’t pulling their weight. They have broken their promise, and the only CCTV camera they have bothered to install is more about fining motorists than making the town safer.”

Cllr Wright pointed out the recent initiatives in Lib Dem-run Oldham to make the town centre safer at night. “In Oldham there are innovative schemes in place to make town safer. Here in Bury we are hamstrung by ineffective Tories who have neglected our borough and seem happy to make promises which they just don’t deliver on.”

In the last eight weeks, 28 British soldiers and Royal Marines have been killed in Afghanistan. However easy it may be to forget, we are a nation at war. Already more than 75,000 British men and women have done tours of duty in Afghanistan.

Thousands upon thousands of our compatriots, putting their lives on the line in the burning heat and the frozen winters of a country on the other side of the world. I want to pay tribute, on behalf of all of us, to the tenacity, bravery and extraordinary professionalism of every one of them. Their families, too, have borne with incredible fortitude the separation, the fear, and the anguish of bereavement. We salute them.

I’m afraid the hardship has been deepened, for all of them, by the enormous difficulties of this war. After nearly 8 years, victory not only seems more distant than ever, failure seems inevitable unless we change course.

I know some of you believe we should call for British troops to withdraw now. If things continue on the present disastrous course, then sooner or later that is a judgement which we may need to make. That is why we must change course. We have one more chance, one only, to turn things around.


Success cannot be secured through military means alone. Development assistance must be bigger and faster. Talks with moderate elements of the Taliban network must commence. The international community must at last agree to a single plan in place of the present patchwork of duplication, disunity and muddle.

The threadbare legitimacy of the government in Kabul must be strengthened by reaching out across ethnic and tribal divisions. And here at home Gordon Brown must change gear, too.  He must now show the leadership and conviction that has so far been so disastrously lacking in making the case to the British people.


You cannot win a war on half horse power. We owe it to the young men and women serving in Helmand to give them all the political leadership and all the resources they need to do the job. We should either do this properly or we shouldn’t do it at all. So I say to the Prime Minister: time is running out.

Unless you change course, there will be no choice but to withdraw, and that would be a betrayal of the servicemen and women who have already made such enormous sacrifices on our behalf. I do not want British troops to come home defeated by political failure. I want them to come home, mission successfully completed, with their heads held high.

Today is the beginning of real change in Britain

Let me tell you why I want to be Prime Minister. It’s because I want to change our country for good.

Because I want to live in a country where prejudice, insularity and fear are conquered by the great British traditions of tolerance, pluralism and justice. Where political life is not a Westminster village freak show, but open, accessible and helpful in people’s everyday lives. Where fine words on the environment are translated into real action.

Where every child can grow up safe and secure, able to flourish, no matter their background, their income, or the colour of their skin. Where we make sense of the complex, globalised world of our times and play a creative role in shaping it.

Where rights, freedom and privacy are not the playthings of the government but safeguarded for everyone. I want to be Prime Minister because I want to be the first Prime Minister in my lifetime to be on the side of the weak against the powerful, on the side of freedom against conformity, on the side of human innovation against government decree.

I want to be Prime Minister because I have spent half a lifetime imagining a better society. And I want to spend the next half making it happen.

I was lucky enough to be brought up in a large, warm family that had almost no time at all for the status quo. By parents who encouraged us, required us, as children always to ask why. Always to assume that there is a better way of doing things. If you only bother to look for it. That’s the spirit I found in the Liberal Democrats. It’s why I joined, and why I wanted to lead our party.

Friends, this has been quite a week for us. I’ve been called a number of names. Even “a good leader”. By Evan Harris. I am never going to duck asking the important questions, however difficult they are. But I am immensely proud to lead a party that actually debates things, openly and democratically. Let’s always remember: we are in this together.

So let us not look back any longer. Let us look forward. From this point on, keep your eyes on our goal. Let today mark the beginning of real change in Britain.

These are extraordinary times. A global recession. Mass unemployment. A broken political system. Government finances in crisis. And still: inequality rising and climate change spinning out of control. Faced with these extraordinary challenges; We need an extraordinary government.

Blue-Red, Red-Blue

Because one thing, above all others, is certain. The way we got here is not the way out. The blue-red, red-blue politics that got us into this mess cannot clear it up. The way we got here is not the way out. Britain needs a change of direction. Let today mark the beginning of real change in Britain.

Look at what the old red-blue politics offers. Back in 1997, Peter Mandelson told us to judge Labour after 10 years in government. It’s been twelve years. And we have made our judgement.

If you’re poor, you’re still far less likely to go to university than if you’re better off.

If you’re from an ethnic minority, you’re more likely to be stopped by the police, even when you haven’t done anything wrong.

If you’re a woman, you’ll probably be paid less than the men you know. And if you’re a child born in the poorest neighbourhood of my city, Sheffield, you will probably die 14 years before a child born the same day, just up the road, in a more affluent part of town. We have made our judgement of Labour. They betrayed the best hopes of a generation.

People are hungry for change. So the question now is: what change? David Cameron talks about change. But is it real change?

He talks about broken Britain but campaigns for tax breaks for the very rich. He says he cares about the environment but then teams up with climate change deniers in Europe. He claims he wants to clean up politics but won’t tell you whether his biggest donor pays taxes in Britain. That isn’t real change, it’s fake change. And Britain deserves better.

To be fair, the Conservatives do have one belief. That it’s their turn to govern. They think power should come easily. You get the sense from so many of them that they became Conservatives mostly because it looked like the simplest route to a job in the cabinet.

I chose the Liberal Democrats. Not because I thought it would be an easy route to power. I knew it would be hard. But because I wanted to fight for what I believed in, however hard, however long it took.

The Conservatives want to inherit power; I want us to earn it.

The thing about David Cameron is – the PR might be good, but what’s behind it? It’s like my grandmother would have said. There’s less to him than meets the eye.

As for me? Well, occasionally I’m a bit too blunt in interviews – but at least you know I’m not just spinning you a line. I speak out.

On the Speaker of the House of Commons.

On Afghanistan.

On bankers’ bonuses.

On citizenship rights for the Gurkhas.

And I am so honoured that some of you have been able to be here with us today.

People are turning to the Liberal Democrats. Because they see there’s something different about us. It’s our pioneering spirit.

It was a liberal, Gladstone, who helped develop the concept of universal human rights. It was a liberal, Lloyd George, who introduced the world’s first universal state pension. It was a liberal, Beveridge, who invented the NHS.

Ours is the party of Paddy Ashdown, the first person to put climate change on the national agenda. Ours is the party of Charles Kennedy. Of Ming Campbell. Who used all the courage of their convictions to oppose the illegal invasion of Iraq. Ours is the party of Vince Cable, the first to see problems brewing in our economy, the first with a vision of how to take us to recovery.

It’s because Liberal Democrats are different that, when Gordon Brown let casino investment banking loose on our economy. The Conservatives said yes, and only Liberal Democrats said no.

When Gordon Brown let house prices rocket and personal borrowing get out of control, the Conservatives said yes, and only Liberal Democrats said no. When the contracts were being drawn up for new polluting runways. When our civil liberties were being torn up. When our troops were massing on the borders of Iraq. The Conservatives cheered from the sidelines, and only Liberal Democrats said no.

We are the only party that offers real change at the next election. Labour is dying on its feet. We are replacing them as the dominant force of progressive politics. We are the alternative to a hollow Conservative party that offers just an illusion of change.

Make no mistake. There is only one party that will bring real change to Britain. The Liberal Democrats.

The Challenge

The biggest challenge for the next government will be sorting out the public finances. It’s a challenge neither exhausted Labour nor fake Conservatives are fit to take on. This year’s deficit is likely to be one of the highest in Europe. We will borrow £175bn this year alone – £5,550 every single second.  Total national debt could hit £1.2 trillion next year – £20,000 for every man, woman and child.

I’ll be straight with you. There is no easy solution. There isn’t a serious economist in the world who agrees with the Conservatives that, right in the grip of recession, with two and a half million unemployed, we should pull the rug out from under the economy with immediate spending cuts. But, once the economy recovers, we are going to have to control spending tightly for many years to come.

We were right, in years gone by, to campaign for new spending to help people, to support them, as children, as young adults, as parents and as pensioners. As Charles Kennedy rightly says: our commitments demonstrate generosity of spirit. And those manifestos were right for an age of plenty. Now something different is needed.

But let me make something very clear. I am not going to abandon our vision for a better Britain because money’s tight. It makes me more determined. Balancing the government books isn’t a maths test.

Fiscal discipline is not an end in itself. We offer discipline for a purpose. Not just austerity, but progressive austerity. Reducing the deficit, yes, but also building a fair society and a green economy. Still driven by generosity of spirit, but fit for the circumstances of the day. It’s the only way to deliver real change in Britain.

That’s why our approach is completely different from the two other parties’. We aren’t going to salami-slice budgets like Labour and the Conservatives. Pretending that you can save billions of pounds just by using fewer paperclips and putting up the price of Parliamentary salads.

It isn’t true, and everyone knows it isn’t true. We know what happens when you simply squeeze budgets, across the board, until the pips squeak. We know, because we lived through it before, under the Conservatives. We remember the tumble-down classrooms, the pensioners dying on hospital trolleys, the council houses falling into total disrepair. We remember, and we say: never again.

Liberal Democrats will do things differently. Not shaving a bit off everything, but asking fundamental questions about what the government should and shouldn’t be doing. Working out, openly and publicly, what works and what doesn’t. So we can completely cancel the things that don’t work. In order to protect, and even in some cases extend, investment that really matters. That is progressive austerity.

We’ve already identified big areas where substantial long-term savings can be made. Reducing the bureaucracy of Labour’s centralised state, databases and agencies. Cutting the cost of politics - changing our electoral system and having 150 fewer MPs. Reforming tax credits so they go to the people who really need them. Spending less on defence procurement.

We heard yesterday Gordon Brown is considering taking one of the Trident nuclear submarines out of service. I welcome that step in the right direction.  But if you want to lead nuclear disarmament around the world, you need to be more decisive. That is why we say no to the like-for-like replacement of Trident.

Some people have asked me why we’ve talked so much about identifying cuts. I know it doesn’t feel comfortable some of the time. But we’re doing it because we know that the more we save, the safer our schools and hospitals will be. And we know that if we save enough, we will still be able to include in our manifesto, despite these difficult times, some of the pledges for new investment that we hold so dear.

Because if we end the child trust fund, we can pay for smaller classes for five, six and seven year olds. If we stop the waste of money on the useless NHS IT system. We could improve maternity services so every new family gets a great start.

If we substantially reform politics, with fewer MPs, government ministers, departments and quangos, we could save billions. And we could put the money into insulating homes and improving public transport, creating thousands of new, green jobs. Building up Britain’s infrastructure not our bureaucracy.

Many of these decisions will be difficult. Taking them is the price of fairness. But if we are brave enough to take them. It will be the beginning of real change in Britain.

I want to say something to teachers, doctors, nurses, police officers, social workers, in fact to everyone who works in our public services. Britain depends on people like you and the services you provide. I know these are anxious times for you.

Everyone is talking about cuts. But neither Labour nor the Conservatives has come clean about what that means for you. They’re not treating you like grown-ups. I want to work with you, hand in glove, to agree the way forward on pensions and on pay.

On pensions. Of course, we will guarantee every penny of entitlements you’ve already built up. But we do need to have a proper, independent review of what’s fair, not just for public sector workers, but also for the taxpayers who pay your salaries. Let me reassure you: my particular focus will always be on the gold-plated pensions enjoyed by senior civil servants, quangocrats, judges – and MPs. At a time of pressure for everyone, it’s only right for those with the broadest shoulders to take the greatest weight.

Next: pay. We will never go back on an existing pay deal. That would be a betrayal. But in future, we need to work together to agree strict, disciplined limits. Again, I believe people with the most generous salaries should take the brunt of cuts so their lower-paid colleagues don’t have to. But if it comes down to discipline on pay or mass redundancies. I think we all agree: protecting jobs must come first.

Young people are bearing too much of the burden of this recession. Imagine how it must feel to have slogged your way through school, college or university, maybe racking up thousands of pounds in debt, only to find there isn’t a job, any job, at the other end. This is supposed to be one of the most hopeful, optimistic moments in your life.

Imagine sitting at home day after day, no money, nothing to do but wait for your fortnightly appointment at the JobCentre. We used to worry about getting our children onto the property ladder. Now we have to worry whether they’ll ever get a job. There can be nothing more dispiriting at this formative moment. It destroys your self-confidence, perhaps for good.

I want to say, to young people. I am sorry. I am sorry that you have been, already, let down so many times. I am sorry that you will spend your working lives burdened by the debts of a previous generation.

But sorry isn’t good enough. Our job isn’t to feel bad about problems, it’s to fix them. My commitment to the next generation is simple. The Liberal Democrats will not fail you.

A New Promise

So today we make a new promise to young people that they will not be unemployed for longer than 90 days before we find them work or training. Let me spell out what that would mean: If you lost your job today, we’d find you work, training, or a paid internship by Christmas. Right now, we would cancel Labour’s VAT cut and use the money to invest in young people’s futures.

We would pay for 10,000 more university places and 50,000 more college places this year. And we would introduce a new “Paid Internship” scheme to give people real job experience. With an allowance of £55 a week. Young people would get experience that could make all the difference when it comes to looking for a job.

And you know. We could pay for 800,000 placements. for 800,000 young people. For the cost of just one weekend’s VAT cut. If it’s between 15p off a cinema ticket and a decent future. I know what we should choose.

I have always believed that you can’t make progress as a society unless every generation tries to do better for its children. That’s an idea that’s at the core of Liberal Democrat values. Providing opportunity for our children, even as we provide dignity and security in retirement and old age.

To build a fair society, you have to start with children. And you have to start young. In Britain today, a poor, bright child will be overtaken by a less intelligent, but wealthier child by the time he is seven. This has to change. The first few years are the most important in determining a child’s future. Those first few years when their character, their personality are being shaped.

The first few years are the most important ones. That’s why we’ve always said: scrap the Child Trust Fund, which gives people a cash handout on their 18th birthday. And invest the money when it can really make a difference. With classes of just 15 for five, six and seven year olds. The beginning of real change in Britain.

If you want to know how fair a society is. Look at its tax system. Britain’s is painfully unfair. The poorest pay a bigger slice of their income than the richest. Polluters are allowed to get away with harming our environment without paying for the clean-up. And we lose as much as £40 billion a year to tax dodgers.

That’s why the Liberal Democrats are going to reinvent the tax system to make it fair. Not changing the amount we raise, but changing who pays.

We will raise the income tax threshold to £10,000, funded by closing loopholes that the wealthy exploit. And by making sure polluters pay for the damage they cause. I’ll be honest. If you’ve got a house worth over a million pounds. If you fly trans-Atlantic a couple of times a month.  If you get a seven-figure bonus paid in share options to get round income tax. You will pay more.

That is what is fair. Why on earth should you get tax subsidies paid for by people whose salaries are just a tiny fraction of yours? I don’t want to penalise people who work hard. If you can make it big: all credit to you. But what it should win you is respect, not exemption from your tax bill.

In exactly the same way as on public spending. Many of these decisions on tax will be difficult. Taking them is the price of fairness. If we are brave enough to take them. It will be the beginning of real change in Britain.

So if there’s one policy you take away from this conference. One policy to mention on every doorstep, in every phone call, in every leaflet. Let it be this one.

We will deliver fair taxes Under a Liberal Democrat government, people will not pay a single penny of tax on the first £10,000 they earn. Millions of people will find themselves with an extra £700 in their pocket, and up to four million low earners and pensioners will pay no income tax at all. The beginning of real change in Britain.

After the expenses scandal, people are crying out, rightly, for something different at Westminster. Labour and the Conservatives have betrayed them.  They offered warm rhetoric about change when the scandal was at its height. And then did nothing. They will defend the status quo to the last breath.

Only the Liberal Democrats will clean up Westminster, reform expenses, end big donations and elect the Lords. Only the Liberal Democrats will give people the right to sack MPs who are found guilty of serious wrongdoing.  And only the Liberal Democrats will secure, once and for all, fair votes for everyone.

That means radical electoral reform, argued for from first principles. Not just some minor tinkering, put forward by a dying Labour government as a last, desperate attempt to save its skin.

We must do away with safe seats. Did you know, nearly half of Britain’s constituencies have elected the same party in every election since I was born? These are seats where you could put a red or blue rosette on the back end of a donkey and it would still win. Only when every MP has to do a decent job and win the trust of the people they represent will we ever clean up politics for good. It will be the beginning of real change in Britain.

Imagine a Liberal Democrat Cabinet

Imagine a Liberal Democrat cabinet. Maybe the odd heated meeting. But imagine Liberal Democrats at work.

Dr Vince Cable, of course, in his office at the Treasury. Ushering in fairer taxes.

Cutting the banks down to size. Tearing up the Treasury red tape that strangles local government. And that’s all between breakfast and lunch before he rattles off another book for the day.

I tell you, when it comes to bankers’ bonuses, I can’t think of anyone better to send into the negotiating room. You think Vince would listen to those reckless bankers demanding their millions? He’d say what we all believe: There will be no bonuses for failure, not today, not tomorrow, not ever again.

Then there’d be David Laws at the schools department, hunting down all those boxes and boxes of bureaucratic rules and paperwork that get in teachers’ way, and throwing them out. I mean, recycling them. And if the civil servants say the pupil premium is too complicated. They can’t work out how to invest the extra money to the benefit of the most deprived children. You know David will do the maths himself.

Chris Huhne at the Home Office. Restoring the civil liberties so shamefully discarded by this Labour Government on his first day with a Freedom Bill. Cancelling ID cards to help fund 10,000 more police on the streets. You know Chris won’t be put off by technocrats saying it can’t be done. He’ll produce volumes of statistics showing he’s right and look sternly over his glasses until they cave in.

Norman Lamb reinventing our NHS for modern times, giving communities and patients a real say. Professor Steve Webb getting to work at the crack of dawn to improve pensions for women. Sarah Teather and Norman Baker, building Britain’s infrastructure – the homes we need and the public transport we deserve. Julia Goldsworthy, devolving so much power to local communities she finds she can halve the size of her department.

And, Simon Hughes, taking charge of environment and energy policy. This is a man who’s faced death threats to bring a killer to justice. Who’s been involved in every environmental campaign you can think of since the 1980s. He isn’t going to listen to vested interests who say “it’s too difficult”. He’d set our course for the zero carbon future we need. The beginning of real change in Britain.

The Beginning of Real Change for Britain

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our age, no doubt about it. But it’s also, very much, a challenge of our age. Like so many of the problems governments have to deal with. From financial regulation to terrorism and internet crime.

It crosses borders.

You can’t stop the weather at the cliffs of Dover. That’s why the big deals, the ones that matter, are struck at international forums – like Copenhagen this December. A summit that must, must agree an international plan of action to keep global warming not just below 2 degrees, but below 1.7 degrees. Because that’s what the best science tells us is now needed to prevent catastrophic climate change.

Who do you want representing Britain at a crucial summit like that? Labour? They have let us down internationally. It wasn’t just Iraq. It was their disregard for European colleagues, refusing to attend summits, grandstanding about how superior they were. It was their disregard for international law. Their backroom deals with Saudi Arabia over BAE, with Libya over Lockerbie, with America over torture.  Labour has undermined Britain in the world.

But what’s the alternative? William Hague? David Cameron and William Hague think the nineteenth century state still makes sense in a twenty-first century world. They simply do not understand that in an age of globalisation power must be exercised by nations together, not squandered by nations going it alone.

William Hague gives speeches about the enduring importance of the English speaking world. When everyone knows the new power centres are China, India and Brazil. A Cameron-Hague foreign policy would be the most insular and self defeating in modern times. How much influence would they have in Berlin, in Paris, in Brussels?  Not a gram. Or even an ounce. And because they wouldn’t stand tall in Europe, they would count for little in Washington too.

But there is a third option. Imagine Liberal Democrats around the negotiating table.

Ed Davey, our outstanding shadow foreign secretary. Drawing on the wisdom of Shirley Williams. Paddy Ashdown. Ming Campbell. We would secure Britain a stronger role in the world. By putting us at the heart of the European Union and committing us to abide fully by international law.

The beginning of real change for Britain.

Go with Your Instincts: Vote Liberal Democrat

You know, before I went into politics I managed development aid projects in Central Asia. I led negotiating teams on international trade deals with China and Russia.  I worked on new rules to help create the largest single market in the world, here in Europe. I’ve seen how different things could be if Britain would only play its cards right.

I know there are people who agree with a lot of what we’ve got to say. But who still don’t vote Liberal Democrat. You don’t think we’re contenders. I urge you to think again.

If you don’t agree with our policies. If you don’t want big change in Britain. Then don’t vote for us. But if you like what you hear. If you share our vision for a different kind of future. Then go with your instincts; vote Liberal Democrat.

Elections are decided by your cross on the ballot paper. Power is not any party’s to be inherited. Power is yours to give to whoever you choose.

So don’t turn away, don’t stay at home, don’t vote Conservative just because you think it’s the only option. This is Britain. We don’t settle for second best because we think it’s inevitable. We don’t compromise on our beliefs because people might not agree with us. We stand up for our values with our heads held high.

So when you enter that polling booth, choose the future you really want.

Make no mistake: the Liberal Democrats will do things differently in Britain. But if you want real change in Britain, you have to take a stand. If you want what we propose, you have to vote for it.

If you want tax cuts for ordinary people, paid for by closing loopholes for the very rich. If you want the right to sack your MP if they’re proved corrupt. If you want children to start out at school in classes of just 15. Then vote for it.

If you want our prisons to work, so there’s less crime. If you want a lasting job in a new, green economy. If you want Britain to stand tall again in the world. Then vote for it. This is a vital moment in the history of our country. And you have the power to shape it.

Labour is lost. They haven’t the ideas, energy or vision to start again. If you voted for them in the past, you have a choice. You can give away your vote to a fringe party. You can stay at home in despair. Or you can join with the Liberal Democrats and make the difference.

If you supported Labour in 1997 because you wanted fairness. You wanted young people to flourish. You wanted political reform. You wanted the environment protected. Or you simply believed in a better future. Turn to the Liberal Democrats.  We carry the torch of progress now.

The choice at the next election is fake change from the Conservatives. Or real change from the Liberal Democrats. At a time like this.

A time of real crisis. Britain cannot afford to be taken in by David Cameron’s illusion of change. Britain needs leadership from a party with real passion, and it’s the Liberal Democrats.

There is hope for a different future, a different way of doing things in Britain, if we are brave enough to make a fresh start. So let today be the first day of the future of British politics. It may be only the beginning. But it is the beginning. The beginning of real change in Britain.

If you want things to be different, really different, choose the party that is different.

Choose the Liberal Democrats.

Lib Dems in Bury have revealed how that Conservative-run Bury Council is set to take 75 years to repairs roads that need repairing at its current rate of expenditure - so we’ll be done by 2084!

In last night’s Full Council meeting, I asked the Council how many roads fail the Best Value Intervention level where repairs are needed - “BVPI224b”. This is the criteria which currently generates a report for each Local Area Partnership in Bury from which we can “choose” an average of ONE road a year to be repaired.

Amazingly, the answer was 426 roads with secitons below the Best Value Intervention Level - at current rates of around one per area in Bury (six for the whole of Bury) - thats 75 years before our streets get fixed!

The streets which failed the intervention level test included such famous streets as Gigg Lane and The Rock in Bury - streets in our area included Fairfax Road, Heys Road and Cuckoo Lane.

Last year the Liberal Democrat group proposed a massive 50% increase in the road repair budget - but we were voted down by Conservative councillors.

09.02.09

Nick Clegg has today launched a new Liberal Democrat pledge to put service personnel and their welfare at the heart of our defence policy.

Nick said: “Many soldiers fighting on the front line are on salaries lower than those of trainee police and fire fighters. 13,000 members of the armed forces take home less than £17,000 each year. Under Labour, our lions are being paid peanuts.

Our servicemen are being sent to fight in treacherous conditions in Afghanistan while living close to the poverty line. It is time to stop short-changing our troops.

That is why if elected, the Liberal Democrats would ensure that no service personnel receive less basic pay than someone starting out in the Police or fire brigade.

If you believe our troops should receive better pay, then help us spread the word. Please make sure all your friends know about our new policy, especially those with family members serving in the Armed Forces.

To back the campaign and help spread the word, see my website: NickClegg.com/ArmedForcesPay

Nobody can put a price on the sacrifices our troops make on our behalf - but we can start rewarding them properly”

It was reported yesterday that Mr Lewis, Minister with responsibility for Libya, wrote a letter to Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill just two weeks before the decision to free the bomber, saying that he hoped that MacAskill “would consider the Libyan application” to free al-Megrahi. According to reports the Scottish government saw this as an attempt to influence their decision.

Like a lot of other people, I was shocked by the scenes in Libya giving the Lockerbie bomber a hero’s welcome home. Although al-Megrahi has only a few months to live, I was very disturbed to hear that our own MP may have interfered with the decision made by the Scottish Justice Secretary which granted him his freedom.

The decision to free the only man convicted of Britain’s deadliest peacetime act of terrorism has prompted suspicion across the world. I’d like to believe that it was made for the right reasons, and so I urge Ivan Lewis to explain his actions at once. He represents the people of Bury South, and we have a right to know what role our MP has played in this controversial decision, and indeed why he was involved at all. This is a Scottish matter and I would be very worried if any Minister, let alone our own MP, was interfering in this way

Whilst the issue was controversial in itself and only went through on the casting vote of the chair, what is in many ways more controversial is the manner in which this decision has come about and the delusion that the Council scrutiny committees actually scrutinise to any degree.

Last nights meeting took over 2.5 hours to scrutinise the future accomodation needs and facilities required by the elderly in a 10 year plan culminating in the hoped for build of two care villages by 2020.  Were projected costings scrutinised? No. Were detailed analysis of the various options scrutinised? No. Have the implications for those with learning disability been fully scrutinised (as it will affect their facilities)? No.

Effectively what was actually being scrutinised (and I do use the word loosely now) was a vision from officers of what they would like to see developed over the next 10 years for elderly accomodation provision. Visions are fine but they are the beginning of a process, not the end.

Bury’s scrutiny of council decisions amounts to little more than a rough evaluation or assessment of the decision. How on earth can you scrutinise life changing decisions of the council in a couple of hours, especially when ranged in front of you are a bank of senior officers in support of the decision and no support for councillors trying to scrutinise.

The “scrutiny” system is a disgrace, doesn’t work, and a pointless waste of time.It will lead to policy mistakes and that means people may suffer. Surely even the ruling Tory group don’t want to see that. 

by Vic D’Albert

Starting with the Clough Event and ending on Prestwich Carnival day, no fewer than 55 events were held over 35 days.

Feedback from local people and businesses is vital if the team is to plan an even better and bigger event next year.

The aims of the LovePrestwich Festival were: to bring people into Prestwich to support local businesses; to bring Prestwich’s diverse communities together; to provide an opportunity for local people to showcase their talents; to raise funds for local charities and community projects; and to create success stories associated with Prestwich.

Organiser David Curtis said: “I went to many events during the 35 days and received so much praise about the festival - so much so that I’ve been working on holding another Farmers Market on Sunday August 23 and on a Sunday at the end of November as part of the Christmas lights switch-on. We want to make the 2010 event better so please let us know what you thought of it all.”

Councillor Vic D’Albert, chair of Prestwich Local Area Partnership, said: “I was delighted to be involved with this, our first festival, and between us we got to as many events as we possibly could, although on some nights there were several events going on.

“What people thought about LovePrestwich Festival is really important if we want to stage it again. You may have attended an event or many events and have tips for future events, you may be a charity that was able to raise funds at events, or you might be a local trader who saw increased custom.”

Feedback forms are available from Prestwich Library, or online - from www.iloveprestwich.com - soon. Alternatively, email c.o’grady@bury.gov.uk and request a form.

It is hoped to have another Farmers Market in November to coincide with a Christmas Lights “switch on”

Alongside the market activities incldue:
- giant free raffle
- children’s ride
- face painter
- squeaky the clown
- bag piper

The map shows promotes walking, cylcing and jogging in Prestwich, with suggested cycling routes from Rhodes to the bottom of the Clough, public footpaths, ideas for health walks and heritage walks.

The map can be picked up from the Library, or you can download a copy here.

Hundreds of local people staged a “Save Heaton Park” rally on Sunday in protest at plans to create a large commercial sports centre on part of the park.

Over 150 local residents were joined by six local Councillors to make clear their opposition to the proposed Goals Soccer Centre which is planned to be built near the St Margaret’s Road entrance to Heaton Park. The message was clear: Save Heaton Park!

Cllr Tim Pickstone, the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Holyrood ward, addressed the crowd. He said “More sports facilities are great, but this is in completely the wrong place. The park has been here for the people of north Manchester and Prestwich for over 100 years. It’s open parkland where people can play football, have a picnic, walk the dog or play in the sun. All of this will be lost forever if it is a £40 an hour soccer centre.”

St Margaret’s Road resident Paul Toner, who helped organise Sunday’s rally, said “None of us are opposed to sports facilities, but the impact of this development on the local area would be terrible - parking, traffic, illuminated pitches.”

The scheme will be decided on by Manchester City Council, who own Heaton Park despite it being bordered by Bury land on three sides. Local residents were urged to send in letters and emails of objection to Manchester City Council before the deadline for comment on 20th July.

A full copy of the plans is available here (note this is quite a large file).

Campaigners are being asked to join a new Facebook Group to show their support.

Planners at Bury Council have given approval for state of the art new facilities at Prestwich Arts College, marking the end of a long campaign for improvements to the successful local school.

The Council’s Planning Control Committee voted on Tuesday 16th June to grant planning permission for a new dining room and arts auditorium for the school, which was threatened with closure back in 2005. Commenting on the news, local Lib Dem Councillor Tim Pickstone said “This is great news, not just for the school but for the whole community. Prestwich Arts College is the only high school in Bury without a dining room, and this news is long overdue. We’ve been lobbying the Council for years, and I’m glad they’ve finally seen sense and given Prestwich young people what they need.

Commenting on the new arts auditorium, Cllr Pickstone, who is also a governor of the school, said “This will be a first class facility for a top quality school. But more than that, it will be used as a community facility, bringing better arts provision for the whole of Prestwich. I’m delighted it’s been given the go-ahead.”

The new facilities will be built in the near future. Cllr Pickstone said “We need to listen to the concerns of local residents on Heys Road, Glebelands Road and other nearby streets to ensure that the plans do not adversely affect local residents. When we get the process right, Prestwich Arts College and the whole area will have splendid new facilities.

At the last count I didn’t have that many Family and friends so a big thank you to everyone who has help to reach this target

Hurrah! 

Nick Clegg has taken a strong stand on cleaning up Parliament and leading the call for a complete overhaul of our political system. Last week at Prime Minister’s Question Time he challenged Gordon Brown to reform our electoral systems. Now even Brown’s own ministers are echoing Nick’s call.

Nick is making the case to:
- Give people the right to sack MPs
- Stop all big party political donations
- Elect the House of Lords
- Make the voting system fair - so that governments can’t just get all that power and all that money with only a minority of you voting for them
- Put an end to self serving politics and put you back in charge
- But Nick can’t do it all on his own. He needs our help.

Now Tuesday and Manchester evening news on-line has information on our Bury South MP Ivan Lewis and how much mortgage he claimed on-his £300,000 flat in London, before I start this is completely legit and what you are suppose to do, but the feeling amongst most people is that funding MPs on mortgage expenses is not right as the MP earns a profit off the property and the living allowance should be non-profit. Anyway the way property prices are in London a £300k flat-is like a cardboard box located under Tower bridge - if everyone gets that image of our local MPs living space then we will not get hung up on the amount of money.

Also just for amusement Ivan Lewis failed to pay a gas bill (not a Mobile phone bill) he actually got threatened with court action. Again roll on the general election when the public of Bury south-can vote in Vic D’Albert a man with all the credentials  required-to be Bury Souths MP.

]]> http://stevewright.mycouncillor.org.uk/2009/05/17/nick-clegg-election-broadcast/feed/ http://stevewright.mycouncillor.org.uk/2009/05/17/oasis-comes-to-prestwich/ http://stevewright.mycouncillor.org.uk/2009/05/17/oasis-comes-to-prestwich/#comments Sun, 17 May 2009 15:36:02 +0000 Steve Wright http://stevewright.mycouncillor.org.uk/2009/05/17/oasis-comes-to-prestwich/ « Lib Dem’s Manifesto for Europe

Local Issues, News

Oasis in Heaton Park 4, 6 and 7 June 2009

05.16.09

Many residents have expressed concern over the Oasis concerts which are taking place in Heaton Park on Thursday 4th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June 2009. (There is no concert on the Friday).

As your councillors we have raised a great number of concerns to the event organisers and to Bury Council which is part of the event management group.

Whilst I’m sure we all wish the concerts to be a great success, we do have to live here as well! The Local Area Partnership in Prestwich has had two presentations on the plans, and what measures have been put in place to manage traffic, parking, litter, noise and local residents needs.

However the question on everyones lips is what has Peter Redstone done to upset the executive? It’s well known that those people in least favour in the conservative party are  at the furthest point and this is what has happened to Peter and also come to mentioned it Michelle Wiseman. Why has Bob Bibby cursed them and put them in the naughty boy and naughty girl seats?

Answers on a postcard please.

Liberal Democrat list is headed up by our existing Member of the European Parliament Chris Davies MEP. Chris is a great friend to our area and has been to Prestwich on many occasions. Here’s his campaign website.

Meanwhile Prestwich residents are being encouraged by Bury Council to “vote early” or vote by post” with the following message:

Prestwich residents are being encouraged to vote early, or use a postal vote, in the forthcoming European elections.

The poll is held on Thursday June 4, the same day as the first of three Oasis gigs in Heaton Park.

The concert means that two main roads bordering the park – Sheepfoot Lane and Bury Old Road (south of Heywood Street) - will be closed to traffic at 9.30pm, half an hour before polling stations close. This means that some residents who leave it to the last minute to vote will not be able to drive close to their station.

Elections officers in Bury say that one way to avoid any potential problems would be to use a postal vote – the closing date to apply for one is May 19 at 5pm. Alternatively, some people might choose to go the polls a bit earlier. The polling stations open at 7am. For a postal vote, or to make sure you are on the electoral roll, contact Bury’s elections office on 0161 253 5224 or email electionservices@bury.gov.uk

You can apply online to vote by post - this site fills in your form, but you do need to print it off to sign and send off to the Council

Its also a bit of a gravy train being an MEP if its about the money.

Chris Davies our local Mep has posted his expenses and earnings on his website www.chrisdaviesmep.org.uk   its very interesting and explains everything about what how and what can be claimed for and of course it seems a lot of money. However it enables Chris to fufill his duties to the North west and I challenge anybody to find a creaming off the top.

steve

Vic D’Albert, Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Bury South said, “This scheme should be scrapped now. The fact that the Government are intent on pressing ahead with this discredited scheme just shows they are in complete denial about the cost, the value and the flaws of this scheme.

“At a time when Government finances are in a mess, during the biggest recession since the 1930’s the last thing we should be doing is spending an extra £5 billion on ID cards. If this Labour Government is so concerned about security why not plough that money into more Police or a proper border police to fight illegal Immigration and trafficking?

“The cost of introducing ID cards would amount to £83 for every man, woman and child in the country. Arguably it would be better spent by just sending everyone a cheque!  

“My advice to anyone in Manchester would be to boycott this scheme, it’s not needed, it’s a waste of money, and it won’t stop crime or terrorism. But it will eat billions of pounds of our tax-payers money and enable the Government to store and possibly lose more data on you and your family.

“In this time of deep recession and rising unemployment £5 billion pounds could be better spent on supporting the economy, struggling small businesses and hard pressed low income families.

The Government really should be concentrating on the need to get a grip of our public finances and stop indulging in expensive flawed follies such as ID cards.

The rules were fairly simple eat as many puddings in an hour without being sick – the person who eats the most is the winner.

I am on a regular basis mistaken for a young Paul Newman and this reminded me of the egg eating scene from Cool Hand Luke.

The competition was won by Martin with a new world record of eleven puddings. Modestly I managed second place with a grand total of nine and have been invited back for next year.

Since the last posting we have had all the problems with MP expenses yes far too much and also I find it very annoying when the MPs say ” I have done nothing illegal” as if that makes it okay, Now listen very carefully Mr Browns cabinet and anyone else who wants to hide behind that excuse. If when you are out driving and you hear sirens behind you from either a Fire Engine or an Ambulance its not illegal to remain in the middle of the road and not let them pass - however most normal people (exec browns cabinet) will pullover asap and let them pass.

Sedgley Lib Dem Councillor, Steve Wright is urging Bury Council to use its sponsorship of Bury Football Club to provide publicity for local charities and good causes.

Under the £30,000 deal Bury Council has its logo emblazoned across the team shirts and receives other publicity. However at a recent full meeting of Bury Council, Cllr Steve Wright argued for the Council to forgo publiscising the Council in favour of a local charity. 

Cllr Wright said, “There is no need to advertise Bury MBC in Bury! It would be much better if the council could offer the space to someone else, for instance a local charity or possibly an organisation such as the Lancashire fusilier museum.”

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Bob Bibby, declined to accept Cllr Steve Wrights suggestion responding that “Its our advertising space and we will use it.”

“I was disappointed by Cllr Bibby’s blunt response and would ask that he reconsiders. Many local charities are struggling due to the recession and yet Bury could provide added publicity to important local charities at no extra cost”.

The call follows the revelation that over 120 residents, businesses or Council employees have been subject to surveillance by Bury Council since 2002.

Powers are available to authorities under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 but the House of Lords recently condemned the growing use of these powers to “undermine the publics right to privacy”, citing “the pervasive and routine electronic surveillance and collection and processing of personal information”.

Vic D’Albert said, “At the end of the day it may be the case that the use of these powers by Bury Council may have been justified. The trouble is councillors are not briefed and it is unclear who has the power to authorise surveillance and under what justification. These are very intrusive powers that infringe on our civil liberties. They should only be used as a last resort and under strict guidance.”

Figures passed to the Lib Dem candidate for Bury South, show that since 2002 at least 67 members of the public, 45 employees and 12 businesses were “spied” on under the RIPA powers.

“With the absence of any apparent transparency or Councillor monitoring it is unclear if this is the tip of the iceberg or the sum total, it is unclear how many instances led to a prosecution and it would be interesting to know how much this whole operation costs! One thing is clear however and that is there is an absence of independent scrutiny and approval.

“There are many questions that need answering and until we have answers Bury Council should halt any further surveillance. This whole area needs to be investigated and scrutinised through the democratic process to ensure surveillance is appropriate and proportionate, is justified from all aspects and is independently approved.  

Bury Liberal Democrats are calling for a commitment from Bury Council to clamp down on graffiti across the borough.

The Lib Dems have launched a “6 to fix graffiti” campaign and are challenging the Conservative-run Council to take a zero-tolerance approach to the problem.

Vic D’Albert, Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Bury South commented, “Bury Council has failed to tackle the problem of graffiti. We have to show our support for local people who are the victims of this crime, and our commitment to our community which shouldn’t have to put up with vandalism like this.”

“Despite graffiti being an issue for several months now, all the Tories at the Town Hall have done so far is issue Area Partnerships a few graffiti cleaning kits. While that’s a start it’s a wholly inadequate response to the problem. They are telling us we should clean the mess ourselves, but it’s the Council that should be tackling the problem. The Conservatives running Bury Council talk about writing a policy, but it’s taking months and it’s not getting rid of any graffiti.”

“It’s time Bury Conservatives showed some leadership on this issue and worked alongside local police, residents groups and others to tackle the problem head on. It’s spoiling our town”

Lib Dems have identified 6 points they would like to see developed to fix the problem of graffiti.

1.      Local people – encouraged to challenge graffiti, report graffiti 

2.      Bury Council – to commit  to clean up graffiti quickly

3.      Local Businesses – pledge to clean up graffiti on their property 

4.      Police – to catch the offenders and punish them including getting them to clean their own mess up

5.      Schools & Youth Service– to educate and challenge pupil perceptions and opinions

6.      Utitility Companies – to work with Bury Council and commit to cleaning sites swiftly.

“We believe we have been patient with Bury Council, but now we need action not more warm words from Bury Conservatives. Let’s see some commitment to our communities, A coordinated effort and zero tolerance.”

Lib Dems in Prestwich have been campaigning for a flat rate bus fare for children in full time education.This will enable some of the most vulnerable in society to afford decent public transport.

Local Councillor Vic D’Albert said: “The Government is forcing concessionary fares up yet again to an unacceptable level. We should be providing public transport at affordable prices for children and young people at school and college.”

“Not only would this be great news for local children and young people, but it’s great news for the environment with car journeys jamming up our roads”

We’re calling on the Government to fund 50p bus travel for ALL children under 16 and those in full time education up to 18 years old.’

‘I/We, the undersigned call on the Government to fund 50p bus travel for ALL children under 16 and those in full time education up to 18 years old.’

Monday was our liberal group meeting alot was discussed but unfortunately not for publication, however I think I made a big mistake. In an attempt to point out how good the group was at updating our websites I said that every time I look at Mycouncillor.org there is always someone from Sedgley mentionned I did mean to say Prestwich its no wonder I was getting daggers from around the table anyway upwards and onwards.

Tuesday it was my sub group Participation of young people we are getting close to some recomendations and the mood was very positive. Although I had to step in at one point. One of the officers on the sub group said how pleased she was that the young people had recently organised a demonstration about the proposed changes to the youth service. At this point Cllr Ahmed (Tory) started to defend the executive and how mis guide the youth were. Now Cllr Ahmed is six months a councillor also on the sub group is Cllr Davison (Lib) and Cllr Byrne (Lab) both these gents have a good twenty years experience at the Town Hall and royal Pointed out his errors about the youth service. I Decided to give them all a couple of minutes to get it out of their systems. Then I had to step in and point out that we had to get back on track with the sub group.

Wednesday saw the council budget meeting another mockery to the democratic system. The headline fibure is 4.79% increase to the council tax. The debate was started by questions from the public. There were 7 questions in total from members of the youth cabinet, althought Cllr Ashworth had prepared answers it still highlighted the incompetance of this council. In one breath she mentionned there would be a full consultation which the youth acbinet could participate in, the very next question she said the youth cabinet will be involved in the decision to choose a new provider - proving that the decision has already been made.

The questions were followed by a Tirade from Cllr Redstone who was moving the Budget for 2009,2010-2011,2012. The majority of his speech was a party political broadcast for the conservatives in  Bury. The little bit he gave to the budget was Turning off the street lights at certain times in certain places, reducing the book fund and changing swimming pool opening hours.

Thursday was a call in meeting for Children and yong peoples scrutiny this was about the closure sorry federation or amalgamation oh I don’t know of Radcliffe Riverside and The Derby high. The Basics are surplus places in schools in Bury - answer close a school, conservatives favourite choice Radcliffe Riverside 1st and only problem they think is a promise of a state of the art school in radcliffe  easy move The Derby there.

Hence at the meeting on thursday lots of angry Radcliffe riverside parents and The Derby parents but as usual it doesn’t matter the conservatives made sure there was enough cllr on the panel to vote down any proposal the panel might suggest- as you can see the democratic process in full operation -

steve     

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Bury South, Vic D’Albert has told Bury Council they “need to get a grip of the situation affecting Radcliffe Riverside and The Derby High Schools as they risk letting down both schools”.

Problems with the planned re-building of Radcliffe Riverside on the old East Lancashire Paper Mill site has rumbled on for months and recently new plans that envisaged utilising The Derby High School site were mooted. Then following the Councils decision being approved The Derby School Governors rejected the proposals.

Vic D’Albert said, “This whole saga has veered from concern to anguish to anger amongst those affected. And now if Bury Council don’t deal with this issue properly they risk losing millions of pounds of investment in local High Schools.”

Under the Governments’ Building Schools for the future programme, Bury Council can tap into millions of pounds of grants for rebuilding and refurbishing local schools. Bury Council planned to tap into these funds for the rebuild of Radcliffe Riverside and refurbishment of other schools. However the Government makes it conditional that the Local Authority addresses issues of spare capacity (as a result of falling rolls) and they need assurances that all affected schools support the proposals.

“The recent turn of events which has seen Radcliffe Riverside unhappy at plans and The Derby High reject the proposals, now means these proposals and the much needed funds are at best in serious jeopardy. Bury Council needs to get a grip of the situation for the benefit of all concerned. They need to bring people together, consult properly with all stakeholders and deal with this issue. If all concerned need to be locked up together in the town hall until the matter is resolved then so be it. This situation cannot be allowed to continue drifting with the arguments being raged through the local media.

If Bury’s Conservative administration fail to deal with this properly they will adversely affect the future education of thousands of high schools students.”

• Cllr Ruth Wilkinson and Cllr David Rundle
  Steve Wright
  Cantelowes Lib Dems
  Vic DAlbert
  John Loxley
  Susan van de Ven
  Dave Smithson
  Brian Millard
  Bill Hoult
  Veronica Goddard
  David Woodhead
  Frank Little
  Allan Knox
  Derek Deedman
  Liberal Democrat Group Office
  Information from www.mycouncillor.org.uk

Monday a minor miracle happened on Monday it was Licensing and safety a meeting I do really enjoy apart from the fact it often turns out to be a lot of people liking the sound of there own voices and 10.00/10.30 are normal finishing times with still agenda items to be considered. However 9.15 was the finishing time with all people coming before the panel being allowed to have their full say. I can’t believe it but yes it really did happen

Tuesday was a one to one with my daughters tutor at college; she seems to be doing very well and is looking to go onto the next level. While we were waiting to go in there was this poor lady who some had blocked in she had to visit every room asking if any owned a fiat punto, If you have ever been to Bury college you will know how many rooms they have and you can imagine how wound up this women was when she found the culprit.

Thursday was full governors at

On Friday I was given the news that the Tory party in Bury can’t even get the simple things done right, Cllr Gunther forgot to mention she was a governor at Radcliffe Riverside when voting on the future of the school now that is basic stuff.

Local Liberal Democrats are demanding action for the borough’s young people - not massive cuts in provision. Group Leader Cllr Tim Pickstone said:

“Nobody should deny that the current youth service is exactly what we need. We’d support a “root and branch” review of what the Council and its partners do for young people, and how its best to provide it - but not pre-judge that review by announcing the cut in advance!” 

“Young people deserve a better deal from local services in this area. We’re calling for this five point action plan for youth services in Bury”:

- a review now, led by young people, about what young people need and want from the Council and other service providers; 

- build in a permanent voice for young people on how local services for young people are run

- find ways of the Council, the NHS, police and local charities and community groups can work together better to ensure better provision for young people, including looking at new ways that the Council can work with others to deliver its services for young people

- use our local schools better in the evening, weekends and holiday time as a resources for local communities, including young people

- investigate partnerships and other innovative solutions to the chronic lack of indoor leisure, sports and community facilities in the Borough- 

Feels a little like we must be living in a fantasy world that it’s even necessary to have to sign a petition to stop them doing it. They lose £28bn - get £20bn of tax payers money and then pay £1bn in bonuses!!! You couldn’t make it up.  £3.6bn of the £37bn we paid in cash is going in bonuses in the next 6 weeks. An increase of 1p on income tax raises about £3.7bn. So by not paying it we could arguably have had a 1p cut in income tax. Now let me see what would we all prefer - to make sure the bankers all get their bonuses or to give us 1p in the pound back on income tax.

“No Ifs No Buts-  Give up the Bonus, RBS”

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/giveupthebonus?e

Local Councillors have reacted with anger after another spate of graffiti in Prestwich, and are calling on the Council to take immediate action to clean up the mess.

Cllr Vic D’Albert, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Holyrood ward and Chair of Prestwich Local Area Partnership said “I am disgusted that vandals continue to bring misery to local people by daubing our streets with graffiti. And I am equally angry with the Council’s woefully inadequate response. This has been going on for too long now, and it’s about time action was taken. The Local Area Partnership and the Police are already using very tight resources to try to manage this problem, but the Council need to take action now to help us and clean up the streets”

Liberal Democrats at Bury Town Hall have been campaigning for action for months. At a Council meeting in February they staged a demonstration displaying photographs of graffiti which has blighted Prestwich for months. The Council have offered graffiti kits for residents and businesses, but have so far directed no extra resource to clear up a problem which is getting worse.

Lib Dem spokesperson for Environmental Service Cllr Ann Garner said “The graffiti is on everything from streets signs to walls, and from utility buildings to business property. Graffiti kits are not a suitable solution except in limited circumstances. The Council have the power to insist that utility companies clean up graffiti on their property, and need to direct real efforts into cleaning it from their own property. I am proud of what Prestwich has to offer, and it is being ruined by graffiti which goes uncleaned for months.”

Cllr D’Albert concluded “We need to work together on this. Prestwich Councillors are doing their bit by leading the community fight. The Police did their bit by catching offenders, and we are supporting them to try to catch the latest offenders. But the Council are letting us down. They need to take action to clean up Prestwich now. “

A massive £13 billion has also been spent on an NHS records system which doesn’t work.

How our money is wasted

* £13 billion on an NHS record system that is a complete failure
* £130 million on refurbishing Ministry of Justice offices
* £81 million on a Department of Transport economy drive that was supposed to save £57 million
* £29 million on accommodation for asylum seekers that was never built
* £265.8 million the amount the government spent on advertising, marketing and public relations in 2007/8, an increase of £197.2 million since 1997-98
* £200 million wasted over the past five years on IT projects that were never completed
* £7 million on chauffeur driven cars for ministers in one year
* £28.78 million in rent for unoccupied houses for soldiers and their families
* £330 million overspent by government departments on their premises
* £4.2 million by the Government’s Qualifications & Curriculum Authority on hotel rooms in an 18 month period
* £50,000 on a party to which only 20 guests were invited
* £2,000 each on image and public speaking training for Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Culture Secretary Andy Burnham