Unemployment in Bury falls
July 29th, 2010 by vicdalbertLatest figures released by the office for National Statistics shows Bury witnessed a big decrease in Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) Claimants from the previous month.
Claims were down 5.8% to 4,095. Bury had the highest decrease of JSA claimants (5.8%) in Greater Manchester with the combined Local Authorities total reaching 3.6%, slightly less than the UK average of 3.9%. Bury District has seen an annual decrease in JSA claimants, 10.9% combined over the past 12 months, with Moorside and Church wards of Bury seeing decreases of 23.4% and 20.7% respectively.
The total number of jobs provided by the Jobcentre Plus increased in June by 13.4% from 967 jobs to 1097. This represents an average of 27 jobs for every 100 JSA claimants. As a whole most wards saw drops in Job Centre (JCP) vacancies with 5 wards posting fewer vacancies than May. Tottington and Redvales witnessed 433% and 52.6% increases in JCP vacancies with Redvales total vacancies accumulating to 566 vacancies.
The male JSA claimant count fell by 6.0% to 2986 and the female claimant count decreased by 5.2% to 1109. Showing that male JSA claimants are staying on JSA for a shorter period and finding it easier to find jobs than female JSA claimants.
The long-term (over 6 months) JSA claimant count stood at 1,625 in Bury for June 2010, a decrease of 3.6% from May. LTU in the Ramsbottom ward dropped considerably (11.1%) implying the job vacancies created in this ward are being filled.
The youth (16 to 24 year olds) JSA claimant count stood at 1,320 in Bury for May 2010, a fall of 7.7% on the previous month. A 7.7% drop is considerably higher than both Greater Manchester and the United Kingdom. They dropped by 5.9% and 5.0% respectively. This is a considerable drop compared to May with a total claimant drop of 90. Bury has a high percentage of total youth JSA claimants against all claimants. (32.2%) Considerably higher than the
Vic D’Albert commented, “This is good news for Bury but there is clearly a long way to go and the Government must not become complacent on this crucial issue. In Bury’s case it may well be that the opening of the new Rock shopping centre will have had an impact - especially on youth unemployment. But we should be cautious because there is a real fear that there could be an adverse impact on the Millgate shopping centre and the old Rock area which could lead to a reduction in jobs there, possibly cancelling out some of this improvement.Nevertheless this is an improvement in local fortunes that should be welcomed.”
How many Take-aways do we need?
June 9th, 2010 by vicdalbertI am horrified to learn that yet another application has been submitted to Bury Council for a change of use from a retail premises to a hot food take-away.
Local residents will recognise the premises when I say it is on Bury Old Road, Whitefield at the junction with Cuckoo Lane.
I am rapidly reaching the conclusion that we are becoming saturated with take-aways. Prestwich now has dozens of them. Fans of take-aways will be delighted to learn that within the boundaries of Prestwich it is possible to sample the cuisine of numerous Indian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Italian, Kosher, English, Kebabs etc.
Now personally I like a take-away as much as the next person, but I fear it is really starting to affect the variety of local businesses and shops available to the public as well as changing the appearance of the area. (we’ll leave the affect of litter for now).
I am equally astounded that they can all survive in the area in such close proximity, we must all be spending a lot more time eating take-aways, with the inevitable consequences for the growing waistlines of local residents.
Perhaps the gateway signs welcoming travellers to Prestwich should now read “Prestwich -where you can get fed” or “Prestwich - twinned with Rusholme”.
I will be opposing this application. It isn’t needed, it will in my opinion damage the local economy further, amounts to an over-development of a particular retail sector in the area. Pertinently from a planning perspective it will cause further parking problems at a busy junction with increased potential for late night problems in a residential area.
If you would like to oppose you need to be fast as it is due to be considered by Planning next week. Email: J.Cummins@bury.gov.uk quoting the address: 2 Bury Old Road Whitefield and the application reference: 52510
Banks will be forced to lend - Vince says so!
June 4th, 2010 by vicdalbertSome commentators worried about Vince Cable. Some worried about how effective he would prove in Government, rather than chastising from the opposition benches. Others worried whether a Tory/Lib Dem coalition was too stomach churning a prospect for even someone of Vince Cables experience and fortitude to take.
But yesterday in his first major speech as Business Secretary he seemed to dispel the doubters and be relishing the ability to put Lib Dem policy into action.
So if I was on the board of a major British based bank at the moment, and especially one that has ha taxpayers money pumped into it, I’d be calling a special board meeting to review lending policy asap.
That is because yesterday Vince Cable effectively served notice on the banks, not from the opposition benches but now as a member of the Government, that if the banks don’t start lending more freely to business and especially small business, then the Government will take action to ensure they will.
And when you take Vince Cables coments yesterday and add them to the previous comments from the Chancellor and Chief Secretary to the Treasury about cutting the deficit etc, the clear thing that comes through is that this Coalition Government, if nothing else, has a strength of purpose to deal with the problems Britain faces.
In fact I would go further. Remarkably (for now at least), it seems to be more “joined up” than the previous Government in its coordinated approach. An approach that is refreshingly relatively spin free as well.
As such people like Vince Cable will hopefully flourish in his role, some have remarked that he should still be chancellor, well that may yet happen one day, but undoubtedly he, as a man of substance and experience, will be able to bring his firm but fair approach to anything he tackles.
So a warning shot has been despatched to the banks. I wouldn’t wait for the next volley if I was in their shoes.
Chamber of Commerce Hustings
April 28th, 2010 by vicdalbertLast night I attended a hustings event organised by the Chamber of Commerce alongside my Labour and Conservative counterparts.
What came across loud and clear was both the pressure small to medium sized enterprises currently find themselves under and the concern that the political parties had the right answers so far as business and the economy were concerned.
On the day when the Institute for Fiscal Studies criticised the 3 main parties for having large holes in their plans to cut the budget deficit etc, I said that political parties need to be honest with the electorate. It is no use any of the main parties trying to pretend in this crisis that we have exclusive solutions to the problem.
That’s why the Lib Dems would like the three main parties to get together after the election in a council for fiscal stability. We need a coherent, sustainable cross party response to this massive problem. Lets bring the Chancellor together with the shadow chancellors and the Governor of the Bank of England and others and iron out a strategy that can take the economy forward.
Incidently the IFS briefing clearly stated that the Liberal Democrats have gone further than any party in identifying the savings that will be needed to tackle the structural deficit. The Conservatives on the other hand have pledged to make the biggest cuts to spending since the Second World War without coming clean about where the axe will fall.
The IFS also shows both Labour and the Conservatives are hiding behind vague efficiency savings to avoid coming clean about their proposals.
We welcome the IFS’s overall assessment that the Liberal Democrat plans to raise the personal allowance to £10,000 is progressive, adds up and gives people an incentive to work.
This is in stark contrast to the assessment of Conservative tax plans, which the IFS have shown to be both regressive by rewarding the richest, as well as self contradictory. As the IFS have shown, the Conservatives would have to reverse half of their proposed £6bn National Insurance tax cut to meet their own targets on tax.
Possibly the shortest manifesto in history
April 21st, 2010 by vicdalbertOk with 15 days to go too Polling day it is now patently clear that the Conservatives proposals for Government would appear to centre on two recurring and recurring and recurring themes.
1. They will cut waste to halve the deficit
2. They will cancel an increase in National Insurances scheduled for 2011
So people are expected to return a majority Conservative Government on the basis that they will scrap mythically large amounts of apparent waste that’s everywhere waiting to be cut and they know now that in a years time, not now, not later this year, it won’t be necessary to keep the NI mincrease as it will damage the economy.
They should forget politics and get into fortune telling.
BUILDING A GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
April 19th, 2010 by vicdalbertThe Liberal Democrats today launched plans to create jobs that last by stimulating a green, sustainable economy. The plans include investing in wind energy, energy efficiency in public buildings and homes, and bringing empty homes back into use through renovation.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: “This week I will be focusing on the most important issue of all in this election: how we can build a new economy from the rubble of the old. Under Governments from the old parties, economic policy was made entirely subservient to the needs of just one square mile - the city of London.
“Our vision of a new economy aims to provide growth that lasts for all 100,000 square miles of the UK. We have detailed plans to make our economy environmentally, financially and socially sustainable. Today I will set out further details of our costed plan for an immediate green job creation package, taking over £3bn of savings to invest in housing transport and green energy.
“This will provide an immediate jobs boost and help create the green infrastructure we need for a low carbon economy. On Tuesday and Wednesday I will unveil further proposals on restructuring our financial system and on boosting social mobility in the new economy.”
Vic D’Albert, Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Bury South added, “Time has moved on but the approach and attitude of the two old parties has remained rooted in the past. The recession shouldn’t be the death knell for environmentally friendly policies it should be the spring board. A spring board for massive growth in the green economy, providing a boost to jobs and the economy when it most needs it.”
You can read more about these policies here .
Or your can download this section of our manifesto here: libdem_2010_job.pdf
CHANGE THAT WORKS FOR YOU
April 15th, 2010 by vicdalbertTHE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT MANIFESTO
This is a manifesto you can trust. We have stripped our priorities back to the essential, fundamental changes that Britain needs to make it fair:
- Fair taxes that put money back in your pocket
- A fair chance for every child
- A fair future, creating jobs by making
Britain greener - And a fair deal by cleaning up politics
These are deliverable, practical plans to make your life better, and they are right there on the front cover of our manifesto. Instead of rhetoric and razzmatazz, we are saying what we will do and how we will pay for it.
Elections should be a competition of ideas, not marketing budgets. They may have the bigger budgets but we have the bigger ideas.And you can trust us to deliver because unlike the other parties, we have spelt out, line by line in the manifesto how every single policy is paid for, and how we will reduce the deficit.
We have set out £15bn of details spending cuts and just £5bn a year of new spending, meaning £10bn for the deficit every year. We are the first party to put detailed spending plans into a manifesto.
Four key pledges
- Fair taxes: We will ensure no-one pays income tax on the first £10,000 they earn. Most taxpayers will get a tax cut of £700 a year. We’ll pay for it by closing loopholes that unfairly benefit the rich, a new tax on mansions worth over £2m, a crack down on tax avoidance and higher aviation duty.
- A fair start for all our children: We will get every child the individual attention they need by cutting class sizes. We will spend an extra £2.5bn on schools, targeted at children who need the most help. The average primary school could cut class sizes to 20. An average secondary school could see classes of just 16.
- A fair future: a rebalanced, green economy: We will break up the banks and rebalance the economy away from unsustainable financial speculation. We will be honest about where savings must be made in government spending to balance the books and protect our children’s future. And we will create new jobs with a £3.1bn green stimulus and job creation plan in our first year in office, fully funded by cut backs elsewhere.
- A fair deal from politicians: We will introduce a fair voting system. We will ensure corrupt MPs can be sacked by their constituents and stop non-doms from donating to parties or sitting in Parliament. We will take power from Westminster and give it to communities, with local power over police and the NHS, and introduce a freedom bill to protect and restore civil liberties.
We also have the following commitments:
- Protect front line NHS services. We will help the NHS work better with the money it has and protect front line services by re-investing the savings we find back into healthcare
- Recruit 3,000 more police officers to keep our streets safe and scrapping ID cards
- Scrap student tuition fees to reduce the burden of student debt immediately and eliminate fee debt altogether over 6 years
- A pay rise for our brave service men and women together with cut backs of bureaucrats and top brass officers in the Ministry of Defence
- Uprate the basic state pension in line with earnings immediately so that pensioners do not fall further behind when the economy starts to grow again
YOU CAN READ NICK CLEGGS MANIFESTO LAUNCH SPEECH HERE
YOU CAN READ OR DOWNLOAD A COPY OF OUR MANIFESTO HERE: libdem_manifesto_2010.pdf
ALTERNATIVELY YOU CAN VIEW OUR MANIFESTO IN FULL OR SECTIONS ON OUR WEBSITE HERE
LIB DEM PLANS TO TACKLE BANKER BONUSES
April 13th, 2010 by vicdalbertThe Liberal Democrats today set out radical new proposals to clamp down on bankers’ bonuses.
The five point plan will ensure the bonus system can never again encourage banks to behave in the way that led to the banking crisis.
Under the Liberal Democrats, excessive cash bonuses will come to an end, there will be no bonuses for board members and there will be no rewards for failure.
Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: “I want to see fundamental reform to Britain’s banks. Only by transforming the banking industry from top to toe can we start to build a new economy. I make no apologies for the fact this will mean big changes in the City of London. I want to see a change as fundamental as the Big Bang of the 1980s, for the better, not the worse.”
The Liberal Democrats will ensure that the bonus system can never again encourage banks to behave in the way that led to the banking crisis.
Vic D’Albert, Lib Dem Parliamentary candidate for Bury South said, “I welcome this election pledge. There are aspects of the culture of bonuses that are nothing short of scandalous. I always understood that bonuses should be paid for achieving success and targets, there seems that a culture of expectation has grown irrespective of how dire the banks finances may be. This has to end.”
Ultimately the Lib Dems propose to break up the banks and make a more competitive banking industry and bring an end to the excess profits of the investment banking system and with it the massive bonus payouts. However, the Liberal Democrats also have a five point plan to tackle bankers’ bonuses quickly. This is:
1. No cash bonuses – We will require all bonuses in excess of £2,500 to be paid in shares. These shares will only be redeemable after five years; it will be written into the right of entitlement of these shares that they will revert to the company if they are pledged or used as security prior to the date of their redemption.
2. No bonuses at board level – We will ensure there are no bonuses at the board level of banks. This is not to say that board directors should not be well paid, but that they should have the long term interests of a company at heart - bonus payments do not encourage this.
3. No rewards for failure – We will extend the Financial Services Act to ensure that no regulated institution which has made a loss can pay discretionary bonuses.
4. Total transparency – We will require the publication of the names of all bank staff that have salaries and bonuses that are greater than the Prime Minster’s salary (which is just under £200,000). In addition we will require the FSA to publish its assessment of all regulated firms remuneration policy.
5. Holding directors to account – We will extend the powers of the FSA to ensure that the directors of banks are personally fined if their institution breaks the current code of practice for remuneration.
As equal citizens isn’t it right to expect a fair deal?
April 7th, 2010 by vicdalbertNick Clegg: “It is a very exciting opportunity for everyone in Britain who wants fairness and real change, who wants something different.
“This isn’t the old politics of a two-horse race between Labour and the Conservative Party. The real choice is between the old politics of Labour and Conservatives and something different, something new and that is what we offer.”
“This is a huge, huge election. It is certainly the beginning of the end for Brown, that’s for sure.
Vic D’Albert, Lib Dem Candidate for Bury South added, “As equal citizens in a modern society isn’t it right that we should all expect a fair deal from the state as a fundamental expectation in return for our duties and responsibilities to that state and our communities?
“As I started knocking on doors last night time and again residents told me that they were sick of the way things are, sick of the tired old politics, sick of post code lotteries, sick of the unfairness that now infects all aspects of our society and Government.
“I told them only the Liberal Democrats are putting fairness at the heart of our manifesto committments, fairness that means fundamental change.”
Our manifesto has four key themes:
LIB DEMS BACK GREEN STIMULUS PACKAGE
March 15th, 2010 by vicdalbertI was delighted that the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference yesterday backed plans to rebalance the economy and create thousands of new green jobs.
The plans will play a vital part in a fair recovery that locks in investment and ensures a path of low-carbon growth.I am particularly delighted that this green economic stimulus package will be a core part of the Liberal Democrat election manifesto.
It is important that Sutainable energy,Climate change and green policies remain at the heart of policy as the need for a radical green public policy agenda will become more pressing with time and we should see the current difficult times as an opportunity for green jobs and investment in our economy and a sustainable future and not an obstacle.Core policies will include:
- Immediate investment to expand our green energy infrastructure
- Bringing hundreds of thousands of empty homes back into use
- Insulating schools and other public buildings
- An ‘eco-cashback’ scheme to reward people who make energy efficiency improvements in their homes
- A National Infrastructure Bank to promote long-term investment in sustainable public transport and renewable energy
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary Simon Hughes said:
“The Liberal Democrats have set out a blueprint for a fair economy that’s fit to last. A green stimulus package will help boost investment in clean energy, reduce fuel bills and create thousands of new jobs.
“Labour and the Tories can’t be trusted to deliver the green growth we need. Only the Liberal Democrats have bold and credible plans to rebalance the economy and put Britain at the forefront of this vital transition.”
Tories playing dangerous games with the economy
March 8th, 2010 by vicdalbertAn 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.
Bury Conservatives are just too predictable
March 4th, 2010 by vicdalbertThe 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.
COUNCIL TAX UP 3.75% WITH AIRBRUSHED TORY BUDGET
February 25th, 2010 by vicdalbert
Last nights 2010/11 budget setting meeting of Bury Council saw the Conservative administration increase Council Tax in Bury by an inflation busting 3.75%.
The Conservatives had previously voted down opposition amendments including Lib Dem budget proposals for a greener, safer Bury.
Controversially, it was revealed that Bury Conservatives had hidden amongst the budget reports savings of £750,000 which included £100,000 of cuts to the Civic Halls budget and £100,000 of cuts to the Council’s Community Safety Team.
We lambasted the Tories for these proposals as they are currently subject to ”task and finish” groups that are yet to report and in the case of the Civic Halls a public consultation is still ongoing.
I told the leader of the Council that this drives a coach and horses through any pretence that the current public consultation is genuine. The Executive have clearly already decided and will no doubt have told the Task and Finish Group what to put in their report, they may have even written it for them, It’s a disgrace.
Last night we saw Bury Conservatives take over where David Cameron left the airbrush. We were presented with an airbrushed budget, hiding all the unpleasant, nasty cuts, the warts and blemishes on the face of this Conservative administration.
What they didn’t hide they masked as efficiency savings and improvements, but it couldn’t hide the fact that there were yet more cuts to local services and a higher price to pay.
The Liberal Democrats proposed a Council Tax rise of less than 3% for all of Bury. Both the Conservatives and Labour proposed higher levels. The agreed rise in Bury is amongst the highest in Greater Manchester.
Lib Dems also proposed measures which would have improved local roads, put more police on local streets, and made Bury a greener place.
My colleague Cllr Richard Baum presented the Lib Dem budget proposals. You can read his speech to Council here .Lib Dem budget proposals included:
- DOUBLING the amount of money for local road repairs
- SCRAPPING the controversial Fairfax Road parking charges set to be introduced by the Conservatives
- Giving every part of Bury EXTRA POLICE
- REVERSING Conservative cuts to parks, playgrounds and the countryside service
ECONOMY TOO FRAGILE FOR SPENDING CUTS
February 19th, 2010 by vicdalbertThe news that the UK’s public finances deteriorated further in January coupled with the 30% plus drop in retail sales show how fragile the economy still is.
This is also worrying news for the state of the public finances. Our weak economy, with increased bankrupcies and insolvencies will undoubtedly be having a dramatic impact on tax receipts.
If nothing else these figures underline the importance of having a credible plan to tackle the deficit and stimulate growth and jobs to strengthen future tax receipts.
The current fragile situation combined with the announced support of 60 leading economists today add increased weight to the Lib Dem view that simply slashing spending now regardless of the economic circumstances would not only a be a fruitless labour but a damaging one.
If we cut too soon, the economy will be pushed back into recession, lowering tax revenues even further and negating the effect of the cuts.
Only the Liberal Democrats have a clear and concise plan for dealing with the deficit and for promoting the long-term growth and security of our economy.”
LABOUR HAS FAILED YOUNG UNEMPLOYED
February 17th, 2010 by vicdalbertLatest Government figures show that we are still well and truly in the mire.
Worryingly the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance soared by 23,500 last month to reach the highest level since Labour came to power in 1997.The claimant count increased to 1.64 million in January, the worst figure since April 1997.
Meanwhile long-term unemployment, covering those out of work for more than a year, increased by 37,000 in the quarter to December to 663,000, also the highest figure since 1997.
The number of people classed as economically inactive reached a record high of 8.08 million, more than 21% of the working age population. The figure covers students, people looking after a sick relative, or those who have given up looking for work, with records dating back to 1971.
Despite all this unemployment in the latest quarter actually fell slightly by 3,000 to 2.46 million, giving a jobless rate of 7.8%, unchanged from the previous three months.
Unemployment among 18- to 24-year-olds fell by 13,000 in the last three months of 2009 to 725,000, while for 16 to 24-year-olds the total dropped by 13,000 to 923,000.
This Government has failed to respond effectively and expediently to provide adequate support for those worst hit by this recession – and Labour’s ongoing failure to support the young unemployed is storing up numerous problems for the future from that generation.
6 out of 10 Businesses rejected by Banks
February 16th, 2010 by vicdalbertThe Institute of Directors has revealed that during 2009/10 a staggering 60% of businesses were refused finance by their banks and a to make matters worse 20% of business are to some extent financing their business with credit cards.
This really does lift the lid on Bank lending claims. Clearly there is massive gap between what the banks are prepared to tell us and the harsh reality of trying to run a business in recession hit Britain.
The double edged sword here is that businesses are then turning to expensive credit card finance to stay afloat when reasonable bank finance should be more readily available and so the Banks are making even greater profits from their credit cards at the expense of struggling businesses. Now that’s a disgrace.
It’s time the Government renewed pressure on the Banks and especially the nationalised ones to ensure finance is available to help ease Britains businesses through the recession and thus help the country out of recession, with guaranteed finance committments.
Its our banks provided more ready finance for cash strapped industry rather than excessive bonuses for cash happy bankers.
PARKING CHARGES WILL DAMAGE PRESTWICH
February 6th, 2010 by vicdalbertHot on the heals of their meddling with the Prestwich area partnership and threats to Prestwich’s Longfield Suite community Centre, Bury Conservatives are now planning to introduce parking charges at the Fairfax Road car park.
The proposal has been introduced into their proposed council budget for 2010/11 and is budgeted to provide income of £35,000.
But the proposal is yet another example of Bury riding rough shod over Prestwich the town and its residents, no proper consultation, no consideration of the local situation and not even the courtesy of a an email to local councillors.
What’s more it cements the growing opinion that Bury’s Conservative administration doesn’t give a jot about the opinion of local townships like Prestwich and will do what it wants irrespective of local opinion.
But even worse, this proposal is either utterly negligent of plain spiteful. With the recovery of Prestwich Town centre in the balance, with some new businesses, some still struggling businesses and regeneration/development of the precinct not even started the conservatives have either not thought about the damage that parking charges could do to a fragile local economy (negligent) or it is a determined strategy to undermine recovery of the Prestwich economy because of its Lib Dem led local Area Partnership.
Time will tell whether it’s negligence or spite. What is certain is that this proposal will damage local businesses and the prospect for local recovery. I can assure readers that Lib Dem councillors will fight it all the way
FARMERS MARKET THIS SUNDAY
January 18th, 2010 by vicdalbertThis sunday the Longfield precinct in Prestwich will be holding another of our now popular farmers markets, with a host of quality produce from across the North West.
The event runs from 9.30 to 3.30 - but be warned stalls have sold out previously so get there early.
As ever there is something for all the family with a free raffle, Childrens ride, Squeaky the clown and a Town crier.
BURY NEEDS TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES DURING REGENERATION
December 18th, 2009 by vicdalbert
As Prestwich Town Centre regeneration plans are firmed up over the coming year Bury Council must not lose sight of the fact that one of the strengths of the local economy is the small local independent traders, some of whom have operated from the Longfield Precinct for many years.
I believe it is reasonable to expect Bury Council to place relocation and support packages high on the agenda in negotiations with the landlords/developers, Hollins Murray Group (HMG).
Successful businesses know only too well the benefits of planning ahead, and at present many of the small businesses in the centre of Prestwich feel that they are in a state of limbo, uncertain of when development will take place and what support they will get towards relocation. They need plenty of notice and we need to ensure as much as possible that they don’t suffer too much as a result.
It would be devastating to lose local businesses as a result of regenerating the town centre to make it more attractive for new businesses!
I have already raised this issue with the Council and I will be pursuing the matter in the new year. We’ve got to back our local businesses.
Is it racist to expect “good english”
November 24th, 2009 by vicdalbertA local business I know has a vacancy for an Office Junior. They thought they would use the Job Centre service to advertise the position and rang up to give them the details.
All was going smoothly until the employer stated that amongst the skills required would be “good basic english and maths skills”.
The person at the Job Centre was unsure about this and so went away to consult with his supervisor. On his return he told the employer that he couldn’t ask for “good basic english” it had to be “good communication skills”. The implication being that it would somehow be offensive or racist to request english skills.
Political correctness gone mad. Personally I have come across (sadly) many white english people that can barely string a sentence together and certainly don’t have the most basic grasp of english and many foreigners and black or asian heritage Brits with excellent english skills.
Perhaps we can look forward to English Language at schools being replaced by “communication skills”.
Love Prestwich Plans approved
September 15th, 2009 by vicdalbertThe long awaited regeneration of Prestwich village moved a step closer tonight when Bury Councils Planning Control Committee approved an outline planning application.
The initial outline application basically designates areas for use and provides a general overview of the proposals. This application will now be followed in the coming months with detailed applications relating to specific site developments.
I am pleased that the application was unanimously approved. St.Mary’s Ward Councillor Mary D’Albert sought clarification on the size of the proposed supermarket and assurances that the Longfield Suite will be unaffected and the new libary will be at least as big as the existing one.
St.Mary’s Lib Dem Councillor Donal O’Hanlon could not vote because he has a vested interest in the development as Chair of the Town Centre Regeneration Working Group that has monitored and pressed forward these proposals on behalf of the Area Partnership. He did however suggest a number of conditions of which one regarding contractors and subcontractors parking was adopted.
So onwards and upwards. Developers will hopefully be working on key aspects/detailed applications now and there may well be detailed consultation with Town planners on the details.
It is also hoped that these detailed applications remain true to the Love Prestwich Strategy document which has been so well received and the the Area Partnership and Town Centre Regeneration Working Group remain an active consultee of the developers.
Watch this space - or to be more specific the Longfield Precinct space!
Farmers Market
August 23rd, 2009 by vicdalbertAlong with my better half I attended the Farmers market at the longfield precinct today.
Even bigger and better than last time it once again seems to have been a great success. It really does add value to the precinct in so much as it brings quality produce to our precinct to provide an added attraction for local residents who hopefully will take advantage and visit other local shops and pubs/restaurants.
As always my eyes were bigger than my stomach and we overspent - but it’s all good stuff. The good news is that I understand that it is scheduled to come back at the end of November. Hopefully it will remain a regular attraction now.
Local Development Framework
August 18th, 2009 by vicdalbertLast night I chaired the Council’s Local Development Framework Sub group (of the Economy, Environment and Transport Scrutiny Commission). Believe me it’s more interesting than it sounds!
Ostensibly the group has been set up to oversee the progress of the Council’s production of a Local Development Framework (LDF) and to scrutinise the consultation process and ensure all bases are covered etc.
The LDF is a votal planning document that will inform future development and conservation across the whole of Bury for the period up to 2026. For instance it will highlight where development will be permitted, whether that development can be for employment purposes or housing for instance. It will identify green belt and green “facilities”.
So all in all its a crucial piece of work that will have a far reaching affect on he future of Bury. Last night was only our second meeting so some way to go yet. But good progress is being made.
The meetings are open to the public - next meeting September 14th, 6pm Bury Town Hall.
Bank Still on the rocks
August 4th, 2009 by vicdalbertWith Northern Rock’s announcement of £724 million losses for the first half of the year it looks like it’s going to remain owned by the taxpayer for some time yet.
In fact I think for stability it may well be prudent for the Government to make clear their intentions to hold on to this business for the significant future or at least until certain criteria are reached.
It’s quite clear that Northern Rock was all but terminally damaged by the lending/banking crash and that at present any attempt to sell it off would merely appease asset strippers and speculators and prove an expensive write off for British tax payers.
I just hope the Government are proactive in working with the bank to ensure restructuring and revamping of their financial products is in such a way as to be in the best interests of the taxpayer in the long term. After all it is important to sell off these nationalised assets but not at any price.
action not words needed for small businesses in tough times
July 31st, 2009 by vicdalbertFollowing on from the news that 12,000 high street businesses have closed their doors this year, I remain alarmed at how little is actually happening on the ground to help struggling small businesses through the worst recession for decades.
If you strip back the warm rhetoric from the Government we are left with the facts that banks are not lending as they should - they have admitted to building up reserves rather than lending, and the Government just keeps moaning about it in the media. Not good enough.
As if that isn’t bad enough we have a local Council that sees the building of a new shopping centre and cranes towering over Bury as a sign that Bury is booming. Cllr Bibby if you bring your gaze down from the lofty cranes you will see boarded up shops, shops To Let etc all over Bury. The trouble is when the shopping centre is redeveloped will there be any local independent businesses left to be part of it or will it be the usual collection of national chain stores you can find anywhere?
The Government must apply more pressure to get banks lending and at local level we need Councils to stop “living the dream” and get real with the plight of struggling local businesses and do what they can to ensure they get whatever support we can offer them. After all small businesses are the lifeblood of towns like Bury and Bury Conservatives must not forget that.
Farmers market back by popular demand!
July 28th, 2009 by vicdalbertBack by popular demand! - Sunday 23rd August 9.30am - 2.30pm
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
Unemployment up again as young workers hit hard
July 23rd, 2009 by vicdalbertUnemployment in Bury has risen to 4589.
While the lastest figures represent a slight increase from May to June of 0.7%, they show that unemployment in Bury has doubled over the past year. There are now 78314 unemployed (on job seekers allowance) across Greater Manchester. The rate of unemployment in Bury matches the national average at 4.1%.
1 IN 3 UNDER 25
As if that isn’t alarming enough the amount of young unemployed (16-24’s) now stands at 1595 a staggering 34.8% of the total Bury unemployed. Or to put it another way 1 in 3 Bury unemployed are under 25. Bury now has the highest proportion of young unemployed across Greater Manchester. Overall there are 25115 young unemployed in the region.
LONG TERM UNEMPLOYED UP 113.9% IN A YEAR
Meanwhile those that have been out of work for over 6 months has now reached 1080 in Bury, representing 23.5% of the total unemployed, up 13.7% since last month and a staggering 113.9% in a year.
Sadly the number of vacancies doesn’t lift the gloom with a total of 531 vacancies posted in June- down 11% on last month and down 41% compared to the same time last year.
While incredibly some commentators are suggesting that we are starting to see a the light at the end of the tunnel due to the slowing increase of unemployment, personally I remain sceptical for now. After all now is the time we start to see a lot of seasonal jobs traditionally easing unemployment figures for the summer. If that is actually represented in these figures then things are even worse than we fear.
With businesses still struggling to get funding from banks (despite Mr Browns insistence) and a mass of university leavers hitting the jobs market any time soon, we need positive assertive measures now to stimulate the economy further.
Labour are almost paralysed with dithering and despair and effectively making a bad situation worse, when we desperately need a Government that can take decisive action and initiatives.
Inland revenue turmoil will cause businesses to fail
July 21st, 2009 by vicdalbertHer Majesty’s Revenues and Customs is currently trying to install a new software system. As a result it has led to massive delays in processing tax returns etc.
Now whilst this may be great news for those that are ultimately due to pay tax over as a result, many of those that are due tax refunds are struggling to cope.
One local business I know is currently owed £20,000 by the Revenue. Small businesses in the middle of a recession need that kind of money. Another Bury business I know is also owed thousands - tax paid via the revenues Construction Industry scheme for sub contracted staff - not repaid byclients - refundable from IR.
The Government must ensure that HM Revenue and Customs get a grip of the situation and sorts this mess out soon, before the inevitable happens and businesses go to the wall as a result. That would be criminal negligence so far as I am concerned with the impact that small business failures have on local communities and the families involved.
If there is no immediate prospect of getting through the backlog and making these vital tax refunds then they should make imterim payments to cover (say) 80% of the expected repayment. That’s assuming they can still write cheques!
Conservative plans flawed and muddled
July 20th, 2009 by vicdalbertThe Conservatives have announced their plans for reform of financial regulations and the regulatory system in the wake of the global financial meltdown.
The headline suggestion is that by scrapping the Financial Services authority and passing those powers to he Bank of England would somehow improve the system.
Sadly the Tories once again fail to address the front line problem and that is the power of big financial institutions and the greed mentality that led to over exposure and excess risk taking in an unstainable financial market place.
They do not address the fact that once banks start doing well again they will start acquiring other businesses and growing their financial portfolios once more.
That is why we need to address this empire buildingand limit the expansion of banks developing across all financial sectors, but essentially risking financial stability by moving into high risk areas. And that is why Vince Cable and the Lib Dems are right when they say we should be taking a lead amoving to break up the nationalised banks into appropriate small units that can focus solely on specific banking sectors ie retail (high st) banking seperate from merchant banking, investments etc.
What stopping the Tories from supporting this practical sensible approach? Perhaps they are too close to these institutions, too reliant on them for financial support. Perhaps too many vested interests.
LOVE PRESTWICH FESTIVAL - FINAL WEEKEND
June 19th, 2009 by vicdalbert
It’s started with a storm at Prestwich Clough and should end in glorious sunshine at Prestwich Carnival. After 35 days, 55 events, 1,000’s of visitors to events, money raised for charity Prestwich Festival puts its feet up and says goodbye for 2009 with a final weekend of fun.
The final push starts tonight with a Friday Night Social - Shangri La at 8pm at, Carlton Club, Bury Old Road featuring live music and a stand up comedian. And of course this will be followed by the customary bumper weekend of family entertainment at the Prestwich Carnival.
On Saturday 20 June a Football Tournament organized by FC United of Manchester will take place from 9am until 4pm at St. Mary’s Park.
In addition the Friends of Butterstile School will be holding their traditional fund day from 12.00 noon at Butterstile Primary School. As part of the fun all the children from the school will have the chance to enter a series of competitions to celebrate Prestwich, the four categories are photographs, poems, paintings or portraits. I understand Cllr Donal O’Hanlon is in the stocks for the wet sponge throwing. Now that’s an attraction not to be missed!
And finally on Sunday 21 June Prestwich Carnival Grand Parade kicks off at 1pm. The Parade arrives in the park at 2.30pm with six arenas showcasing local talent.
Meanwhile back in the real world…
June 3rd, 2009 by vicdalbertBURY UNEMPLOYMENT DOUBLES IN A YEAR!
Latest figures show that unemployment in Bury almost doubled over the year to April 09.
Job Seekers Allowance claimants shot up to 4558 in Bury up 1.8% from March and up 97% over the past year. Overall 4% of the working population are claiming JSA.
However, this still compares favourably with the Greater Manchester average. Across Greater Manchester 77908 were claiming JSA , up 2.4% on March and up 80% over the past year. Overall 4.8% were claiming JSA.
Worryingly the long term jobless figures are now on the increase. Bury now has 950 residents (claimants) out of work - up 12.4% in a month and 94% in a year. Long term jobless accounts for 20.8% of the jobless in Bury. In other words 1 in 5 have now been out of work for 6 months or more!
This is where this paralysed Labour Government is really failing people. While Brown fails to deal with the economic crisis and dithers over Government/Parliamentary reform, back on our towns and communities people are increasingly suffering the fallout and trauma of job cuts and businesses crashing.
29/5/09 That was the week that….
May 31st, 2009 by vicdalbertThis was the week that…
· Allegations into the misuse of MPs’ expenses continued – one MP claimed for his ‘servants’ quarters’ [more]
· Labour and Tory MPs decided to stand down over their expenses claims [more]
· Former Labour Deputy Leader Roy Hattersley called for ministers who avoided paying tax to be sacked [more]
· Nick Clegg, writing for the Guardian, set out his proposals for electoral and constitutional reform [more]
· A number of Cabinet ministers and former ministers called for electoral reform [more]; [more]
· The Treasury’s economic forecasts were doubted by a survey that it commissioned [more]
· The BNP faced the prospect of an inquiry into their funding [more]
· David Cameron was criticised for failing to wear a seatbelt in his latest party political broadcast [more]
Over the last week we learnt that…
· The government’s mortgage rescue scheme has only helped two households in four months [more]
· Despite government attempts, social mobility in the UK is still falling under Labour [more]
· Mortgage lending has hit a new low [more]
· The taxpayer has funded a former Tory spin doctor to the tune of £66,000 through Tory MPs’ expenses [more]
· Conservative proposals could force a British exit from the EU, claims a group of senior lawyers [more]
· Tory and UKIP MEPs are the worst UK MEPs for voting for EU transparency and reform [more]
Over the last week the Liberal Democrats…
· Launched the campaign for fundamental political reform [more] and http://www.takebackpower.org/
· Challenged UKIP MEPs to publish their expenses claims as Lib Dem MEPs have [more]
· Renewed calls for extra police officers to tackle the credit crunch crime wave [more]
· Highlighted concerns arising from the nationalising of banks [more]
· Cast doubt on train punctuality figures [more]
· Demanded the publication of MI5 agents’ guidelines [more]
· Called for the FSA to launch an allegation into financial irregularities at HBOS [more]
22/5/05 That was the week that…..
May 23rd, 2009 by vicdalbertThis was the week that…
· The Speaker of the House of Commons bowed to pressure and stood down [more]
· The government finally backed down and granted Gurkhas and their families the right to settle in the UK [more]
· Two Labour Lords became the first peers to be suspended from the House of Lords since 1642 [more]
· The government’s car scrappage scheme got off to a chaotic start [more]
· A Tory MP blamed the outcry over MPs expenses on public ‘jealousy’ [more]
· The UK’s reputation suffered on credit markets as the outlook for government debt was downgraded [more]
· A business leader attacked the government’s ‘economic vandalism’ [more]
· Labour sunk to an all-time-low in opinion polls [more]
· A group of Lib Dem MPs were named ‘heroes of the week’ [more]
Over the last week we learnt that…
· Car production fell 55% in April [more]
· Household spending has fallen at the fastest rate since 1980 this year [more]
· Mortgage lending fell again in April, this time by 9% [more]
· The government has paid out £15bn too much in tax credits since 2003 [more]
· Spending on NHS management consultants has trebled in the last two years [more]
· The UK economy has slid further into deflation [more]
· Prison violence is increasing [more]
· Government buildings, including the Department for Energy and Climate Change are not meeting green standards [more]
· Jo Swinson, Lib Dem MP, has made the most parliamentary contributions of any Scottish MP [more]
Over the last week the Liberal Democrats…
· Challenged the government to make the difficult decisions needed to cut the budget deficit [more]
· Called for a complete transformation in the way politics is conducted [more]
· Revealed that 24,000 people die prematurely every year in Britain due to air pollution [more]
· Showed how the government managed to block the creation of 10,000 new jobs [more]
· Held the government to account for failing to tackle Britain’s alcohol problems [more]
· Uncovered a huge rise in sexually transmitted diseases among under 16s [more]
· Warned that the UK is facing a junior doctors crisis [more]
· Federal Executive published its response to the revelations of misuse of MPs expenses [more]
· Lord Rennard announced he would be stepping down in September for health and family reasons after six years as Chief Executive of the party [more]
15/5/09 That was the week that…
May 17th, 2009 by vicdalbertThis was the week that…
· Parliament was rocked by revelations about the misuse of MPs expenses [more]
· One of David Cameron’s closest aides was forced to quit over his ‘unacceptable’ expenses claims [more]
· Labour suspended a former minister from the parliamentary party [more] and accepted the resignation of the Justice Minister over the expenses scandal [more]
· Two Labour peers faced suspension from the House of Lords after being found guilty of intending to accept money to amend legislation [more]
· An opinion poll showed that Labour support has fallen to a record low [more]
· A poll of Euro-election voting intentions showed a three-way tie for second place, with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and UKIP all on 19% [more]
· European leaders criticised Cameron’s decision to move his party to the fringes of European politics [more]
· Nick Clegg’s public approval rating continued to rise [more]
· An expert on crime reduction said Labour had failed in its pledge to be ‘tough on the causes of crime’ [more]
· On Burnley Council, Labour and Tory councillors teamed up with 4 BNP councillors to try to unseat the Lib Dem council leader [more]
Over the last week we learnt that…
· The number of unemployed jumped 244,000 in the first three months of the year [more]
· BT announced that it is to cut 15,000 jobs, mostly in the UK [more]
· 100 primary schools are closing every year as demand for places looks set to grow [more]
· Alistair Darling’s economic forecasts are over-optimistic, according to the Bank of England [more]
· Teenage crime has soared 60% under New Labour [more]
· The government has cut funding by 25% for five key environmental initiatives [more]
· Only 13% of terrorism arrests lead to convictions [more]
· Gordon Brown is “brutal” and has “anything but” a moral compass according to a former aide [more]
Over the last week the Liberal Democrats…
· Launched their European Election campaign under the slogan ‘Stronger Together Poorer Apart’ [more]
· Wrote to party leaders urging them to fully accept the recommendations of the investigation into MPs’ expenses [more]
· Called for intercept evidence to be made admissible in court in terrorism cases [more]
· Welcomed proposals for a mandatory code on alcohol sales [more]
· Revealed the environmental impact of the government’s major road schemes [more]
· Uncovered the fact that over 15,000 farmers earn less than the minimum wage [more]
· Argued for a shift in focus in crime policy - from punishment to crime prevention [more]
· Pushed for an investigation into allegations against the police at the G20 protests [more]
25/4/09 That was the week that was…
April 25th, 2009 by vicdalbertThis was the week that…
· The Budget was unveiled to severe criticism, revealing the dire state of the nation’s finances [more]
· Labour broke their election manifesto promise by raising the top rate of income tax to 50% [more]
· The Education Minister and the General Secretary of the Labour Party were drawn into the email smears scandal [more]; [more]
· The Education Minister faced further criticism for allegedly ‘sexing up’ evidence given to an inquiry [more]
· Francis Maude became the latest Conservative politician to become embroiled in an expenses scandal [more]
· A former Labour MP resigned from the party, citing the culture of spin as her reason [more]
· The Lib Dems new tax proposals were well received by influential political figures [more]
· Unison, a Labour supporting union, attacked the government over their “childish venom” [more]
· Allegations of ballot-box tampering threw the selection of a Labour parliamentary candidate into further controversy [more]
· A leading think-tank said that the government’s income tax rises could lose the Treasury money [more]
Over the last week we learnt that…
· Unemployment has hit a new high of 2.1m [more]
· The national debt has crept over 50% of GDP [more]
· Deflation has arrived in Britain for the first time in 50 years [more]
· The IMF are far less optimistic about the economy than Alistair Darling [more]
· 1 in 10 households are struggling to pay their council tax this year [more]
· The care system is “catastrophic” for vulnerable children a report concludes [more]
· The number of burglaries has risen for the second quarter in a row [more]
· UK youth are some of the unhappiest in Europe [more]
Over the last week the Liberal Democrats…
· Launched tax proposals including a pledge to cut income tax £700 for low and middle income earners [more]
· Attacked the Budget as “a political supermarket sweep of random promises” [more]
· Reacted to the Budget’s proposals for housing [more], broadband networks [more], car scrappage [more], energy [more] pensions [more], child poverty [more] and college funding [more]
· Gained council seats from Labour, the Conservatives and an Independent in a spectacular week of council by-election results north and south of the border [more]; [more]
· Nick Clegg rejected Gordon Brown’s proposals for reforming the system of MPs expenses [more]
· Warned that the UK was facing a “credit crunch crime wave” [more]
· Demanded that David Miliband corrects the Parliamentary record over torture allegations [more]
· Led a debate calling on the government to provide greater support to armed forces veterans [more]
· Criticised banks for charging exorbitant credit card interest rates [more]
· Called for greater support for the children of nuclear test veterans [more]
LIB DEM IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO THE 2009 BUDGET
April 22nd, 2009 by vicdalbert
Responding to Alistair Darling’s Budget, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:
“Today we got a pick and mix Budget of recycled announcements from a government skilled in raising people’s hopes but incompetent at actually delivering help.
“This Budget is a political supermarket sweep of random promises, without even a hint of a plan or any likelihood the promises will be put into practice.
“The biggest disappointment in this Budget is its failure to sort out Britain’s unfair tax system. To put money into people’s pockets to help them make it through this recession.
“Britain’s taxes are too heavy on those who can least afford it. And too easy to avoid for those who know how.
“The 50p rate will further encourage the very wealthy to avoid tax unless we tackle the unfair loopholes they exploit.
“The Liberal Democrats would get practical help to people who are struggling and cut the vast majority of people’s Income Tax bills by £700, paid for by taking aggressive action to clamp down on all the loopholes and exemptions that benefit the richest people and biggest businesses.
“We would take big choices about what government should and shouldn’t do.
“With a shocking deficit this year of £175bn we need a national debate about what the state can and cannot afford in the future.
“That is the responsible way - the honest way - to reduce spending in the years ahead and avoid painful higher taxes.
“But Labour is out of ideas and out of steam.
“Today they have condemned us to years of unemployment and a decade of debt.
“The country deserves something different.”
Read a summary of the party’s Economic Recovery Plan at www.LibDems.org.uk/RecoveryPlan
You should be able to read Nick Clegg’s Budget response in the House of Commons at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmdebate/home.htm from around 5pm today
Key points of 2009 Budget
TAX
• Income tax for those earning more than £150,000 to rise to 50% from April 2010• Tax relief on pensions to be reduced for people on more than £150,000 a year from April 2011
UK ECONOMY
• Economy forecast to shrink 3.5% in 2009
• Growth expected to pick up in 2010, expanding by 1.25%.
• Economy to grow by 3.5% annually from 2011
• Public borrowing to increase to £175bn this year
• Borrowing levels to rise by £173bn, £140bn, £118bn and £97bn in years after
• Consumer price inflation to fall to 1% by end of year.
• Capital investment to continue at historically high levels until 2012
JOBS AND TRAINING
• Government support for economy to protect 500,000 jobs
• All long-term unemployed under 25s to be offered job or training
• £1.7bn additional resources for Job Centre network
• £250m funding to help people get work experience in growth industries
• Funding to create 54,000 new places in sixth form education
HOUSING
• Scheme to guarantee mortgage backed securities to boost lending
• Stamp duty holiday for homes up to £175,000 to be extended to end of year
• Extra £80m for shared equity mortgage scheme
• £500m to kickstart stalled housing projects - including £100m for local authorities to build energy efficient homes
• £50m to upgrade housing for the armed forces
ENVIRONMENT
• Britain commits to cut carbon emissions by 34% by 2020
• An extra £1bn to help combat climate change by supporting low-carbon industries
• £525m for offshore wind projects over the next two years
• £435m support for energy efficiency schemes for homes, firms and public buildings
• £405m to encourage low-carbon energy and advanced green manufacturing
CAR SCRAPPAGE SCHEME
• From next month until March 2010 motorists to get £2,000 discount on new cars if they trade in cars older than 10 years
GOVERNMENT SAVINGS
• Tax loopholes and schemes identified which could provide £1bn of extra revenue over the next three years if closed
• An extra £9bn in efficiency savings is planned
• Public spending to be cut from 1.1% next year to 0.7% in 2011-2012
BENEFITS
• Child tax credit to rise by £20 by 2010
• Child trust funds for disabled children to rise by £100 a year, £200 a year for severely disabled children
SAVINGS
• Annual limit for tax-free ISAs to rise to more than £10,000 for over-50s this year and for everyone else next year
PENSIONERS
• Grandparents of working age who care for their grandchildren will see that work count towards their entitlement for the basic state pension
• Winter fuel allowance to be maintained at higher level - £250 for over 60s and £400 for over-80s - for another year
• The basic state pension will be increased by at least 2.5%, regardless of inflation
CIGARETTES, ALCOHOL AND FUEL
• Alcohol taxes to go up 2% from midnight - one estimate is that it would put 5p on the average pint of beer
• Tax on tobacco to go up by 2% from 6pm
• Fuel duty to rise by 2p per litre from September, then by 1p a litre above indexation each April for the next four years
HELP FOR BUSINESS
• Help for loss-making companies extended - they will be able to reclaim more taxes paid in the last three years until November 2010
• Businesses’ main capital allowance rate doubled to 40%
• New £750m strategic investment fund to help emerging technologies and regionally important sectors
(source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8011882.stm)
THE Gambling chancellor dances on the grave of prudence
April 22nd, 2009 by vicdalbertSo today we finally saw the death of dear old prudence, once held so dear as a treasury principle by Gordon Brown. The chancellor weighed in and with his second budget gambled the future prosperity and economic fortunes on a roll of the dice and a spin of the wheel.
The big big gamble is that he tells us the economy will start to improve (grow) by the end of the year and much of what he is putting in place is designed to reap the rewards of growth from 2010/11 - so precious little support for those struggling in the hear and now.
The second gamble is that he is trying to maintain spending at reasonable levels through massive record level borrowing, both in the hope of a speedy turn round in the economy but also in the hope of turning round Labours fortunes especially at the next General election.
Well I suppose now we own most of the banks we should be able to borrow plenty, but the sums just don’t add up. He has tried to please environmentalists - perhaps successfuly re:wind farms, not so with car scrappage scheme, and no Green tax switch. No easing of the tax burden with personal taxation and precious little else.
He has spun the wheel, but he can’t tell where it will stop. However it will cost us dearly when it does. It became clear today that this Labour Government is as bankrupt on ideas to get out of this mess as they are financially. But they are prepared to gamble everything on getting re-elected . Whoever gets elected next May/June - the first budget in a new parliament would be very interesting indeed.
Budget Build up - Hopes, fears or cop out?
April 22nd, 2009 by vicdalbertAs we approach budget time a few thoughts.
It is generally accepted that this years budget will be the toughest for a generations, from all angles, the Governments,The economy and for the ordinary person in the street - directly or indirectly or both.
My hopes for this budget will be that he re-invigorates personal spending, frees up disposable income and thus eases the pressure on those struggling to meet bills and mortgages etc. That means personal tax cuts.
Despite what some think now is also the time to introduce greater environmental taxation. remember the Lib Dem green tax switch plans - there has never been a better time for that.
And business is struggling, especially small business, so lets reduce the burden on them and help small businesses keep their heads above the water.
My fears are that the Government will be blinded by the need for a General Election next June and may even be thinking of a snap election before that, so may well seek to offer ludicrous bribe giveaways to enhance their prospects. Enhance their chances, but further damage the economy. Short term political gain against damage to long term recovery prospects.
What will they go for? Well clearly in part the answers will reveal how desperate this Labour Government is and also how bankrupt the Treasury is ? Will they get stuck into the problems the country faces in this crisis or will it be a cop out? All will be revealed soon.
Bury Unemployment reaches 4248 - up 15% in a month
April 21st, 2009 by vicdalbertUnemployment in Bury has risen again thi month to 4248 o Job Seekers Allowance, a rise of 15.5% from January to February 09. Even more alarming is the fact that unemploymentin Bury has now risen a staggering 78.9% over the past year ie since February 2008.
Young people seeking work are also suffering. Among the 16-24 year olds, 1476 are unemployed in Bury. That’s a rise of 18.6% in the month January to February 2009 and 63.9% over the past year.
Other Unemployment headlines:
- The total number of jobseeker’s allowance claimants stood at 72,783 (4.5% of the working age population, above the national rate of 3.9%). January’s figures represent a ninth straight month-on-month rise in the claimant count, a 12.5% increase (8,100 claimants) on January, and a 69.6% increase (29,878 claimants) on February 2008. However, yet again, the increase in JSA claimants in GM over the last month has been less than the
UK increase (13.8%). - Long-term unemployment (those claiming JSA for over 6 months) increased by 36.6% over the year - a greater rate than nationally (30.7%) or regionally (30.6%).
- The youth unemployment count (those aged 16-24) increased by 64.1% over the year (9,405 claimants), but this was at a lower rate than the
UK (67.9%). - The number of reported vacancies has increased significantly this month, to 17,533 - a 187.0% increase on the month, yet a decrease of 35.3% on the year. Vacancies have increased significantly across most occupations and sectors.
The figures are detailed in the monthly ”Unemployment Monitor” which can be read in detail here unemployment-monitor-march-2009.pdf
Prestwich Retail Capacity Study
April 17th, 2009 by vicdalbertIn order to take forward the “Love Prestwich” Village Centre strategy, a further retail capacity study has been undertaken to ensure that the key recommendations of the Love Prestwich Village Strategy are based on the most up-to-date possible assessment of the capacity and need for new retail development within Prestwich.
This new evidence, the Prestwich Town Centre Retail Capacity Assessment, has now been prepared by Drivers Jonas and can be viewed by following the link below:
Download Prestwich Town Centre Retail Capacity Assessment document (1mb 127 page pdf)
Visit the Prestwich Regeneration page (see menu left) for a summary and more information.
So the Tory answer is smaller banks
April 9th, 2009 by vicdalbertSo there we have it. The answer to the banking crisis before us today is smaller banks. Well according to the Conservative-would-be-chancellor, George Osborne.
How could we have missed it. While Governments and economists have been tearing their greying locks of hair out, wondering about regulation, capping salaries, bonuses et al, the answer was just to make them smaller.
One teeny weeny flaw in the idea George. How would a plethora of much smaller banks find the resources to provide the services and financial services people demand, and oh yes , come the next recession (and there will be one) how do they survive.
Smaller banks is fine so far as it is not essential to be big. But business size should not be limited by the state - thats state intervention gone mad - and extremely bizarre coming from a Conservative. Just think of all those apoplectic tory supporting share holders out there!
The answer is to kick out a bonus culture not tied to financial success and the greed immersed boardroom that goes with it. Then to make banks more accountable to the Bank of England (at least) and their shareholders as well with the introduction of better, tighter regulation.
The fact of the matter is that the Conservatives haven’t a clue what to do, to be fair its new territory for all of us, but George and Dave, please spare us the silly gimmicks and half baked initiatives.
Vince Cable and the Liberal Democrats have been warning about this for years, offering answers, solutions and hope. At all times derided or ignored by Labour and the Conservatives.
Labour has failed, Conservatives offer nothing. Its time to choose a better future.
3/4/09 That was the week that was….
April 5th, 2009 by vicdalbertThis was the week that…
· World leaders met in London and agreed to pump $1 trillion into the world economy [more]
· A report showed that only 0.6% of the Government’s fiscal stimulus will be spent on green measures [more]
· At least 4,000 jobs were lost in the UK across a range of sectors [more]
· The UN named and shamed the UK over its response to the Somali refugee crisis [more]
· The Home Secretary was criticised for charging the taxpayer for her husband’s adult films [more]
· An inquiry began into a millionaire’s donations to the Tory party [more]
· 21 NHS trusts failed to meet new hygiene standards [more]
· Lord Myners came under pressure to resign after he was accused of misleading Parliament [more]
· A Select Committee called for the National Curriculum to be slimmed down – a Lib Dem policy [more]
· The scandal into MPs expenses showed no sign of disappearing [more]; [more]
Over the last week we learnt that…
· Unemployment will hit 3 million within two years [more]
· The national DNA database has grown 40% in two years and now has more than 5 million people on it [more]
· There are 10% fewer hospital beds today than there were three years ago [more]
· The Government’s adult literacy drive is failing and wasting billions according to a government adviser [more]
· According to most measures, house prices continued to fall in March [more]; [more]
· Boris Johnson proposes to cut his environmental team in half [more]
· 160,000 kids left primary school without basic English and Maths competency [more]
· Older people do not have fair access to mental health services in most mental health trusts [more]
· The Europe Minister hasn’t read the Lisbon Treaty [more]
· Conservative run Bournemouth Council are employing a transport manager who lives in Edinburgh – and paying £200,000 a year for his travel expenses [more]
Over the last week the Liberal Democrats…
· Challenged Gordon Brown to turn the G20 agreement into real help for British people [more]
· Led a debate challenging the Government in the House of Lords over tax havens [more]
· Unveiled research showing that 80% of hospitals do not pass on knife crime information to the police [more]
· Led a debate calling for a step up in nuclear non-proliferation action in the House of Lords [more]
· Proposed a bill to end discrimination in the line of succession to the throne [more]
· Highlighted shocking figures showing that prison assaults took place every half an hour in 2008 [more]
· Called for the same guarantees of access for mental health care as for other health services [more]
27/3 This was the week that was….
March 29th, 2009 by vicdalbertThis was the week that…
· HSBC became the latest company to make cuts – 1,200 jobs are to go [more]
· Business leaders queued up to warn that Britain cannot afford another fiscal stimulus [more]; [more]
· The government confirmed there will be an Iraq War inquiry, but suggested it will be held in private [more]
· A UK bond auction failed to find enough buyers for the first time since 2002 [more]
· The split between the Prime Minister and the Treasury began to widen [more]
· The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner launched an inquiry into a minister’s expenses [more]
· A Sunday newspaper revealed the affair of a Labour MP and close friend of Gordon Brown [more]
· The Conservative Party Chairman came unstuck justifying his expense claims [more]
· Ken Clarke admitted he wasn’t sure if controversial Conservative tax reforms could be afforded [more]
· Vince Cable was the only politician named in a ‘fantasy boardroom’ [more]
Over the last week we learnt that…
· GDP suffered its biggest quarterly fall since 1980 in the last quarter of 2008 [more]
· The government will borrow £351bn in the next two years – more than in the 306 years up to Labour’s election victory in 1997 [more]
· Retail sales almost stalled in February, coming in well below expectations [more]
· 15% of shops will be vacant by the end of 2009 [more]
· Poor leadership at the Foreign Office has created a culture where “mediocrity flourishes” [more]
· £3bn of overpaid tax credits have been written off as unrecoverable [more]
· As many as one quarter of government databases may be illegal [more]
· The Department of Transport misled environmental groups over Heathrow expansion [more]
· Unemployment is good for your health – according to one government minister [more]
Over the last week the Liberal Democrats…
· Launched their G20 development plan [more]
· Successfully amended the Coroners and Justice Bill after forcing a government u-turn [more]
· Tabled an Early Day Motion calling for the second home allowance to be abolished for London MPs [more]
· Called on the Government to replace the VAT cut with investment into public transport and home insulation to create new jobs [more]
· Revealed that anti-terror legislation is routinely used by local councils against minor offenders [more]
· Wrote to the Chancellor over Sir Fred Goodwin’s pension payments [more]
· Highlighted shocking statistics about Britain’s knife crime culture [more]
OASIS, PRECINCT UPDATE AND PRESTWICH FESTIVAL
March 24th, 2009 by vicdalbertResidents are urged to attend the next meeting of Prestwich Local Area Partnership when three massive issues will be on the agenda.
Prestwich Festival, the summer’s Oasis concerts, and the latest plans to regenerate the town centre will be discussed.
The LAP meeting is on Thursday March 26 at Sedgley Park Primary School in Prestwich, starting at 6.30pm. There is a chance to meet and great local councillors, the police, housing officers from 6.15pm onwards.
-
Love Prestwich co-ordinator David Curtis will outline plans for the five-week festival, which runs from May 17 to June 21, and how local people can take part and help out.
- Rock legends Oasis are playing Heaton
Park on June 4, 6 and 7. Concert officials and promoters will be at the LAP to detail arrangements for the shows and plans to minimise disruption to residents. - Topping the bill are developers Hollins Murray Group, who will unveil their proposals to redevelop the Longfield shopping centre. These have been drawn up in direct response to residents’ comments on their original vision. The plans will be on display in Prestwich Library on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (March 24 to 26).
Councillor Vic D’Albert, chair of Prestwich Local Area Partnership, said: “What can I say – these are three massive issues for Prestwich residents.“Prestwich Festival is about bringing our community together and celebrating the best we have to offer, so please come along and listen to what’s planned.
“The Oasis concert is a massive operation and this is a great opportunity for residents to seek reassurances about safety, security and traffic.
“Finally, the Longfield redevelopment plans are long-awaited and much needed and I hope that local residents feel that their views are listened to and have been responded to. All I can say is, be at this meeting!”
LOVEPRESTWICH FESTIVAL
Starts at Prestwich Clough Sunday 17 May till Sunday 21 June at Prestwich Carnival. To Keep up to date with LOVEPRESTWICH visit www.iloveprestwich.com
20/3/09 This was the week that was…
March 21st, 2009 by vicdalbertThis was the week that…
· Unemployment passed the 2m mark for the first time in 12 years [more]
· The IMF predicted that the recession in Britain will be the worst in the developed world [more]
· Evidence grew of the Government’s complicity in torture [more]
· NHS target culture was blamed for up to 1,200 people dying unnecessarily at a Staffordshire hospital [more]
· The NHS was criticised for spending millions on unproven schemes [more]
· The Immigration minister announced plans for a detention centre outside Calais – although no one in France had heard of the plan [more]
· After Lib Dem pressure, the government backed down on plans to share data between departments [more]
· Senior Labour figures lined up to criticise the PM and make him accept blame [more] ; [more]
· The Government Chief Whip accused his own backbenchers of “idleness” [more]
Over the last week we learnt that…
· Car production fell by almost 60% in January [more]
· Each adult in Britain is an average of £40,000 worse off because of the recession [more]
· Gordon Brown was warned over Britain’s weak regulatory regime in 2004 – and did nothing [more]
· 2m people will be on the waiting list for social housing by 2011 [more]
· The UK will borrow more money than any other major economy next year [more]
· Britain is giving less help to the country’s poor in the recession than other G8 nations [more]
· Youth crime has soared over the last 10 years under Labour [more]
· The Government’s new Department for Energy and Climate Change is in chaos [more]
· Housing prisoners in police stations has proved more expensive than the Ritz per night [more]
· The Government has spent £780,000 on flowers in four years [more]
Over the last week the Liberal Democrats…
· Condemned the Government over their management of the Northern Rock crisis [more]
· Exposed a £2bn black hole in the government’s unemployment benefits estimates
· Challenged the Prime Minister over the Government’s “frenzied” target culture [more]
· Attended the launch of a cross-party campaign for a ‘Post Bank’ (a long-standing Lib Dem policy) [more]
· Revealed shocking statistics about alcohol related youth hospital admissions [more]
· Heaped pressure onto the Government to open a public inquiry into the invasion of Iraq [more]
· Called for a green road out of recession and criticised the Government’s neglect of the environment [more]
Barclays & Northern Rock: Mismanagement and the ugly face of capitalism
March 20th, 2009 by vicdalbertSo now we learn that Northern Rock provided millions of punds worth of high risk loans AFTER being bailed out by the taxpayer and as if that wasn’t bad enough we are gradually finding out that Barclays was laundering £billions in overseas investments and accounts in a bid to avoid paying tax.
The more we find out about the murky world of banking the more its clear that if one good thing comes out this whole crisis then surely tighter regulation and controls over our financial institutions will be it.
However its a sorry day indeed when we see the High Court upholding a gagging order by Barclays to hide details of its murky dealings overseas. And by the way this is a bank that’s negotiating with the Government to borrow millions of hard earned tax payers money.
Yes, that’s right you heard right. They are prepared to take legal action to stop you finding out what they are doing with it , but would like some more please. I know what my answer would be. I may be an accountant but my response wouldn’t include any financial jargon!
The more we find out the more I feel we need to properly nationalise the collapsed banks and start talking tough to the likes of Barclays. I dread to think what more scandals there are lurking.
Its like lancing a boil with the smallest pin you can find!
13/3/09 THIS WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS..
March 14th, 2009 by vicdalbertTHIS WAS THE WEEK THAT…
· House sales fell to their lowest level in at least 31 years [more]
· The recession in the UK continued to gather pace [more]
· A United Nations report declared that the UK had breached human rights [more]
· Government divisions over the need to apologise for the economic crisis continued to grow [more]
· A former cabinet minister publicly attacked Gordon Brown on Labour’s lack of ‘narrative’ [more]
· Labour MPs rounded on the PM at Prime Minister’s Questions [more]
· A business leader said that the government was focusing on ‘red herrings’ [more]
· Government ministers failed to comprehensively reveal their financial interests [more]
· A Tory MEP described climate change as a ‘media driven frenzy’ [more]
· A Labour mayor resigned after his arrest over corruption charges [more]
OVER THE LAST WEEK WE LEARNT THAT….
· Continued systematic failings in the social services are leaving vulnerable children at risk [more]
· Almost one playing field a day was sold in 2008 despite government commitments to reverse this trend [more]
· Many elderly people are looked after by untrained staff in unclean care homes [more]
· One in six children did not get into their first choice secondary school [more]
· New Royal Navy destroyers will be delivered £1.5bn over budget and two years late [more]
· The private sector pension deficit is at a record £219bn – and is still growing [more]
· One in four of the world’s CCTV cameras are in Britain [more]
· Gordon Brown is the country’s most boring public speaker! [more]
OVER THE LAST WEEK THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS…
· Revealed that over 1000 serving police officers have criminal convictions [more]
· Said government economic proposals were “shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted” [more]
· Visited Google to discuss internet privacy issues [more]
· Called for dirty care homes to be closed down [more]
· Demanded a public inquiry following revelations of heavy-handed policing at a protest last year [more]
· Called for a tougher government response to reduce knife crime [more]
· Exposed a huge decrease in the amount of domestically produced food consumed in the UK [more]
· Attacked the government’s insubstantial approach to tackling domestic violence [more]
· Accused the Home Office of being “illegal, immoral, and ineffective” for keeping the DNA of a baby on record [more]
W/e 10/3/09 - That was the week that was….
March 10th, 2009 by vicdalbertThis was the week that…
· UK and world markets sank to new lows [more]
· Repossessions and losses soared at the nationalised bank Northern Rock [more]
· The Bank of England created £75bn to boost the economy in an unprecedented step [more]
· Gordon Brown’s speech to Congress received a mixed reception [more]
· 20% of pupils failed to get into their first choice schools [more]
· Government ministers finally admitted to mistakes over the economy [more]
· A double Victoria Cross holder condemned the government’s treatment of veterans [more]
· The government made a u-turn and adopted Lib Dem policy on voter registration [more]
· Discontent over Brown’s leadership continued to grow [more] but his deputy did herself no favours [more]
Over the last week we learnt that…
· Labour has spent £7bn on an army of consultants [more]
· The government misled the public over opposition to Heathrow’s third runway [more]
· A top Tory became the latest opposition MP to break parliamentary rules [more]
· Government incompetence and waste has put UK soldiers at risk [more]
· David Miliband spent £7,000 on ‘presentation’ lessons [more]
· A breakthrough depression treatment launched two years ago is still not available in most of the country [more]
· A Labour-dominated committee of MPs launched a stinging attack on the DCLG’s competence [more]
· It could take a decade for the country to fully recover from the economic crisis [more]
· 12,000 kids could be left without primary school places in London alone [more]
· One third of young people have carried a weapon in the last year [more]
Over the last week the Liberal Democrats…
· Boycotted the government’s new unrepresentative Regional Select Committees [more]
· Warned the government that it had run out of options to tackle the economic crisis [more]
· Fought to cap individual party donations to £50,000 [more]
· Voted against the continuation of control orders legislation [more]
· Revealed that 45,000 pensioners were forced to sell their homes to pay for care homes [more]
· Called on the Chancellor to stop propping up Labour’s failed PFI projects [more]
· Pointed out that less than 3% of the government’s fiscal stimulus is going on green measures [more]
Should Brown apologise?
March 10th, 2009 by vicdalbertThere has been increasing coverage in the national media as to whether Gordon Brown should apologise for his part in the Global financial meltdown aka credit crunch that now engulfs most of the planet.
I’m not sure whether an apology is appropriate or indeed whether it would serve any point. Clearly I don’t think he is directly responsible for the global financial crisis. I think that is largely brought about by the globalisation of financial institutions and world wide corporations coupled with greed, corruption and failure to self regulate amongst other things.
However, where Gordon Brown is directly responsible is for the damage done to this country’s financial institutions and economy as a result of his policies and that of this Labour Government when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.
You may recall he was going to end boom and bust - well he certainly seems to have ended boom (for the forseeable future), and he was the self named “prudent” chancellor. Yet under his prudent watch he allowed the markets and financial sector to run wild, to speculate wildly and to overreach without proper regulation. To lend under obsurdly lax terms in a desperate drive for business and to ultimately cause misery to millions of home owners and businesses.
An apology for damage to the British economy perhaps? Surely a public enquiry would be more appropriate - I won’t hold my breath, we’re still waiting for a public enquiry into the Iraq war!
