Last nights meeting of Bury MBC’s Environment, Economy and Transport Scrutiny Committee received a long awaited presentation about the state of council owned garage colonies.

For some years now there has been growing concern about the state of many of these garages. Many have been badly vandalised or are a focal point for anti-social behaviour as more and more remain empty.

Last nights presentation did seem to bear this out as it was confirmed that half the councils 77 garage sites were a “drain on resources” to varying extents.

As part of the review to be undertaken the Council now plans to consult widely on how best to deal with the worst condition sites.

It has been suggested that there could be alternative uses such as:

• Housing
• Allotments
• Play Areas
• other communal/garden areas etc

In addition it may be appropriate for some to be renovated.

I strongly supported the idea that ward councillors be involved in the consultation and that the local area partnerships should have a say as they have a specific remit to represent the views of residents in the area.

It was agreed that a report and presentation be brought to a future area partnership meeting.

Commenting on the report by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers which reveals that only 23% of the money allocated to help carers was used in this way, Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary, Norman Lamb said:

“The Government has completely neglected the vital work that carers do and this report is further evidence of the scale of the problem.

“Labour’s cuts are already biting across the NHS and their failure to cut back on waste means that it is the most vulnerable who are losing out. 

“This report highlights the need for a guarantee to respite care which only the Liberal Democrats are committed to.”

Vic D’Albert, Parliamentary candidate for Bury South added, “It just shows how low on their priorities list this Government places carers. These funds should have been ring fenced if Labour were really serious about providing respite care.

“Once again many of the 9000 plus carers in Bury have lost out under this Government.

“It’s about time the role of carers, the valuable work they do and the daily pressures and stresses they face were properly recognised with real commitment. Once again it would seem that only the Lib Dems can offer the commitment they deserve.

An increasingly desperate Conservative Party are increasingly playing dangerous games with the economy by stoking up fear about hung parliaments.

They are now plying a strategy of fear, stirring up anxieties amongst their friends in the city, damaging the pound, causing share to plummet and hurting British business.

Rather than outlining detailed policies for taking the country forward they are enthusiastically highlighting their views as to what will happen if you don’t vote Tory. Its tantamount to political blackmail. Vote Tory or we will wipe out your savings and plunge the economy back into deep recession.

It’s cynical and irresponsiible, it’s negative and it’s damaging the economy before a vote has been cast.

The fact remains while Labour bury their heads in the sand, and the Tories stoke up fear and anxiety, only the Lib Dems have credible coherent plans for dealing with the budget deficit and taking the economy forward.

Commenting on Scottish and Southern Energy’s decision to cut gas bills by an average of 4%, Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Simon Hughes said:“Token price cuts in March won’t fool customers already hit by bumper bills.Wholesale prices have plummeted but customers have hardly seen any benefit. 

“The Liberal Democrats will change the rules so that fuel bills reflect fuel costs and consumers are not ripped off again and again.” 

Vic D’Albert, Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Bury South added,“Whilst these reductions are welcome, they are overdue. It’s time the energy companies were held to account. For too long they have been profiteering on the wild fluctuations in wholesale energy markets. Meanwhile people are struggling to stay warm and live in fear of the bill.”

“Energy bills need to be tied closer to the real costs to the companies, when prices go down it should trigger immediate reductions to domestic energy tariffs. And with regard to tariffs people need greater support and advice to ensure they are on the best tariff deals with greater incentive for green energy. 

“There are too many tariffs and special offers.We need streamlining across the industry with the emphasis on the best deal for the consumer not the shareholders!”

The Bury Conservative response to their embarrassing climbdown over the proposed reconfiguration of the popular Longfield Suite is as predictable as night following day.

Bearing in mind that they planned a re-configuration that involved potentially demolishing and rebuilding the Longfield Suite, my Conservative opponent now accuses the Lib Dems and others of “scaremongering”.

She goes onto say that she gave her assurances at public meetings that it would not close. In fact what she rather vaguely assured residents at the meetings I organised was that we would have a community facility in Prestwich, which is hardly the same as a multi purpose entertainment and conference venue with a sprung dance floor! At that meeting it was pointed out that we already had a community facility - it’s called the public toilet.

You can be assured that in the coming weeks it will be made clear from the Conservatives that somehow wasting four or months of officer time on a Task and Finish group to explore options over our civic venues was a good use of officer time. That somehow the experience has been beneficial to all.

Well I can assure the leader of the Council and his colleagues that the worried civic hall staff don’t feel the same, the businesses on the precinct that thrive off the many visitors from out of town that visit the Longfield Centre, don’t feel the same and the users and business users that rely on the centre certainly don’t feel the same. Not to mention those that planned to make bookings and have since gone elsewhere as a result of the uncertainty

The whole sorry episode was a wasteful, shameful exercise in mismanagement and manipulation that thankfully backfired - at least for now.

We should not forget that the new council financial year will start soon with a £100,000 Tory cut to the Civic venues budgets and the report to executive into this whole issue may yet provide some interesting reading between the lines.

I’ve just heard the sad news about the death of former labour leader Michael Foot aged 96.

I was just getting interested in politics when he was at his peak, and my memories are sadly mixed and coloured by the media portrayal of him at the time.

The key thing that has always stuck with me was his passion for his socialist beliefs and no one could ever have doubted that he gave 100% and more for the Labour cause.

On the flip side I also recall him being pilloried in the media for attending a Remembrance Sunday parade wearing what described as a donkey jacket. I always felt he got a raw deal from a media that was following the country at the time in leaning right politically.

I think he became Labour leader at the worst possible time and with the factions then within Labour he never stood a chance.

However when you hear his power of oratory it make you realise how poor some of our major politicians are these days by comparison. His words oozed passion, committment, belief and sincerity.

Prestwich’s popular Longfield Suite community centre has been reprieved by Bury Council.

A statement issued today by Bury Council has confirmed that:
“This be retained in its current format, but an effective business plan be put in place to improve marketing, awareness, usage and income. The group considers that it can build on and promote its reputation as a venue for dance activities, which have proved popular and which help to ensure that local residents have access to health and well being activities. Around 72% of Longfield Suite users who responded in the survey said they used the suite for dancing events.”

Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Vic D’Albert who was at the forefront of the campaign, commented,

“This is great news for Prestwich and sends a strong signal to Bury Conservatives that people are proud of their local community faciities.The strength of feeling for the Longfield Suite was clear for all to see from the start, all except Bury’s Conservative administration who once again thought they new best.

“I now urge Bury Council to work with Prestwich councillors, Prestwich Area Partnership and local people to find a long term solution and put together a sustainable business plan for the centre.
“Furthermore I would make a plea to this Conservative administration to stop trying to sidestep the democratic process and dialogue with Councillors. Months of campaigning and wasted officer time and resources could have been saved. We told Bury Council at the start what their precious “Task and Finish Group” have admitted today.

“And I have to question the judgement of the leader of the Council. Back in November he was brave enough to attend a public meeting I had arranged. At that meeting 300 local people told him to stop this nonsense, if only he was brave enough to listen to local people and admit their mistake then.

“I must also congratulate the 1000’s of people that signed the petition, the 1300 who completed the Council survey and all those local people and Longfield centre users that fought so hard to keep the facilities as they are. Truly a great example of local people power in action.

“Finally I am dissapointed that todays announcement still leaves the future of Radcliffe Civic Hall in doubt. I would call on Bury Council to work with Radcliffe councillors and local residents and users to look at a positive way forward for this important local asset. As the end of the day, if we lose these facilities we aren’t going to get them back any time soon, so we need to make the most out of them and ensure they have sound business and marketing plans at the heart of their management.”

The worst thing about this whole affair about Lord Ashcroft and his £millions of donations to the Conservative party are that it reopens the whole sleazy murky business about politics being corrupt, underhand and lacking transparency and for that matter honesty that started with the expenses scandal.

It is particularly damaging to a Conservative leader thats been desperately trying to appear squeeky clean and suggesting his party is the same.

Now I know his tax status as a Lord is perfectly legal for now, and I know other parties have had non-dom donations. But this has been going on for 10 years, and the Conservatives have refused to come clean. And I’m sorry it’s no good Cameron saying he wouldn’t tell us. If they truly didn’t know at the start , well they should have known before they gave him a peerage to thank him for the millions donated to the party.

That aspect in itself is sleazy and I would suggest in the current era of distrust of politicians, would not go down well with joe public. It’s the fact that someone can to all extent and purposes buy a seat in the House of Lords. If that isn’t the case, then that’s how it looks and you would have a hard job explaining differently to the man in the street.

Then there is the undue influence that a single men with such wealth can wield with a political party. Ashcroft has bank rolled the Conservative party for years and has personally targeted his millions towards certain Conservative targets/ certain candidates.

One man is potentially affecting the outcome of dozens of marginal seats up and down the land, trying to buy a general election win for the Conservatives and that is interference in democracy on the grandest scale and and just plain wrong.

The latest Homewatch newsletter details recent criminal activity in the area which somewhat bizarrely includes a number of incidents of theft of Mezuzah.

Mezuzahs are the prayer scrolls in small cases that are placed on doorways in Jewish homes and are of significant religious value. Some may also be antique. Unless just antique Mezuzahs are being taken the only other assumption that can be made is that it is a race hate crime designed at least to upset the householders.

In addition to mezuzahs the Police report that there has been a spate of electrical equipment theft.

The newsletter also highlights the recent targets for burglaries and car crime in the area and provides useful advice and contact details.

You can read or download the newsletter here: homewatch-24-feb-2010.pdf

2nd - Polefield Tenants & Residents Association

5th - Presentation of Save Our Suite Petition to the Mayor of Bury

9th - Economy, Environment & Transport Scrutiny Committee - Bury Town Hall

17th - Full meeting of Bury Council, 7pm Bury Town Hall

18th - Prestwich Area Partnership, 6.30pm, Church Lane Community Centre.