SPEECH TO FULL MEETING OF BURY COUNCIL TONIGHT

Mr Mayor,The Liberal Democrat Group put this motion before Council tonight in an attempt to raise an issue in the borough that could ultimately have serious consequences for safety and crime detection in the area and therefore ultimately undermine the Bury Safe partnership. Greater Manchester Police are either heading for or in a crisis depending on your stand point. 

They are currently heading towards a £5m overspend on their current £560m budget and are in the middle of a radical shake up.Just before Christmas Chief Constable Peter Fahy and his deputy Simon Byrne imposed a 90 day action plan to improve performance. This includes:

• Getting more officers on the beat
• Cutting beaurocracy
• Targeting the worst performing divisions

Failure to succeed in improving GMP performance could lead to Home Office intervention.The affects of the budget overspend could lead to 450 jobs going, potentially 300 officers, although this is hoped to be mitigated by investment in new improved IT systems which is hoped will free up 200 officers from paperwork for frontline services.In addition 2 police stations (neither in Bury) are scheduled to be closed. On top of that there is real fear that GMP could even face a grant reduction which if not compensated by s significantly improved precept, and I doubt it would be, could lead to a £30m plus shortfall – the real disaster scenario. 

So what it will mean if these cuts are implemented is that in absolute terms there will be 100 less police officers and about 150 other positions in addition to two stations closing. Part of the problem faced by GMP is that have struggled to control spending on devolved division budgets. In addition they are now operating under a 3 year precept agreement which whilst it does carry significant benefits for financial management and accountability aligned to targets and performance management, significantly the big big downside is the difficulty in absorbing the financial implications of responding to high profile investigations and unforcasted events. 

Now before you think I’m knocking GMP let me be absolutely clear –  I am not. What I am outlining here is a situation identified and being responded to by Peter Fahy and GMP themselves.  

But whilst GMP are addressing these issues as best they can and with a determination to not only bring their spending under control but to use the opportunity to introduce improvements, they are being hampered, I believe unfairly, by the financial funding formula applied by the Home office.  Read the rest of this entry.

Yesterday George Osborne - the man who would be Chancellor of the Exchequer (despite no actual expertise in finance, not to mention Treasury finances), stood up in the British Museum and when he spoke the Tory manifesto pledges on the economy and budget deficit etc started to unravel before our very eyes. 

You may recall that the Conservatives had pledged massive cuts in their first 50 days of Government. For this they were roundly attacked because of the damage such mid-year cut backs would have on the finances of many public sector and voluntary organisations. 

Now they say they are not going to be nearly so brutal after all. But most worrying of all, they have decided that they are not going to tell us anything about the cuts. Yesterday George Osborne was repeatedly asked about the cuts - where, when, how much. Repeatedly he refused to answer.

It is frankly not credible to stand up and make vague and veiled promises about how they would handle the economy and budget deficit and then refuse to go into any detail. He might as well of stood up and said “Just trust me, I’m a Conservative politician”. It would be as detailed as the spinned double-talk of a speech yesterday and would have saved him and the media a lot of time.

The Tories are now in turmoil over the economy. They wanted to act tough with cuts and appear strong in their handling of the economy, prepared to take the tough decisions etc, But for whatever reason they are now recoiling from that position. There policy seems to vary depending on which Tory is speaking!

Only the Liberal Democrats have a coherent economic policy that is both credible from a treasury/economy point of view and importantly is designed to protect key public services.

The Liberal Democrats want to split up the banks so that taxpayers no longer have to underwrite reckless risk taking.

We will create a fairer tax system with an income tax cut which will make work pay for those on low incomes.

Through targeted cuts in spending we will be honest about how to reduce the deficit. And by setting up an infrastructure bank we will ensure that public infrastructure projects get the private funding they need to revolutionise our economy.  Now that is how you usher in an economy that is fit for the challenges ahead.

The Liberal Democrats have announced a major funding commitment to boost education in Bury. 

Nick Clegg has this week set out the Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment for a Pupil Premium that would invest around £11m of extra cash in Bury schools, raising the funding for disadvantaged pupils to private school levels. 

The money will be invested through the Pupil Premium pledge, part of a £2.5bn manifesto spending commitment. 

Vic D’Albert PPC for Bury South said: 

“It’s nothing short of a scandal that children in Bury continue to lose out under Labour. Some of the schools here receive significantly less money than the national average and something must be done. 

“Under our plans, Bury schools would get a further £10.78 m which they could use to cut class sizes and provide more individual support.” 

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:  

“With this unfairness in funding it’s no surprise there is such a gap in achievement between children from the poorest backgrounds and those families who are better off. 

“Only when we get education funding back on track will be able to give all our children the fair start they deserve.”

Bury Council has finally launched their formal consultation on the future of the Longfield Suite, Radcliffe Civic Suite and other threatened Bury Community centres.

Now is the time to act, whether you have signed the petition or not, if you care about the future of our local community centres then it is crucial that you complete a consultation form.

Forms are being circulated and are available in Council buildings and the Civic suites themselves. The consultation can also be completed online here .

Don’t forget to let Bury Council know what you think, don’t forget to tell all you contacts about the consultation.

Don’t leave the future of our community centres to someone else, act now!   

If there is one single area where Labour has persistently failed many people in this country it would be in its attempts to reduce poverty and the poverty gap in Britain. And within that their pledge to eradicate Child poverty is the most miserable failure of all. 

A report by the National Equality Panel published today has stated that the gap between rich and poor in Britain is now wider than 40 years ago.

The Panel found that “Deep-seated and systemic differences” remain between men and women and minority groups in pay and employment.

This is despite this Labour Government throwing millions of pounds of taxpayers money at the issue and numerous initiatives.

The trouble is they have done just that - thrown millions of pounds at the problem, almost scatter cushion like, without going to the fundamental issues that drive poverty and curse many born into poverty. And coupled with new labours conservative approach to personal taxation, especially in their first Blair Parliament from ‘97, they have undermined their own ambitions to deal with poverty.

It’s probably their biggest failure and worst legacy to many over the course of a generation, who despite promises now bear the brutal scars of poverty and all that flows from it.

I read with incredulity this weekend that according to Cllr Bibby, leader of Bury Council, that the only reason Bury Tories didn’t carry out proposals to make the Longfield Centre and other Civic venues more successful back in 2007 was because there was a “hung council” and they couldn’t get anything done!!!!

Lets be clear here for the sake of clarity, transparency and a bit of honesty - The Lib Dem group held the balance of power in 2007 and on no occasion did we hold up any plans for improving the lot of our civic suites, on no occasion did we block any plans for improving the civic suites.

Once again we find that when the leader of the council is caught out, found out or simply wrong, he finds someone else to blame and decides to go for distorting the facts rather than a straight answer.

Of course the real reason that proposals from the Best Value Review of Civic Suites in Bury were not carried out is because we now know that they had alternative ideas. It is likely that those alternative ideas were formulated out of that review. When the review didn’t say what they wanted to hear they merely shelved it.

Once again what is patently clear is that you really can’t trust the Conservatives, and certainly not with our public services and certainly not our valuable community centres!

Perhaps Cllr Bibby will have the common decency to admit that nobody but his Conservative Group blocked the implementation of proposals for the civic suites, I won’t hold my breath.

Prestwich Area Partnership met last night and in so doing we welcomed the new Partnership manager - Rose De’, who has replaced Carran O’Grady.

Some readers will recall that virtually everyone from all sides of the political spectrum and none were opposed to this move by Bury Council. But a couple of officers along with the Councils Tory leadership thought it was a good idea and the majority view was therefore ignored, leaving us with a shameful decision that has undoubtedly damaged the Area Partnerships in Bury.

After welcoming Rose I paid tribute to Carran’s work over the past 8 years and then proposed the following motion which was passed overwhelmingly:

“Prestwich Area Partnership deplores the recent unwarranted interference in the management of Prestwich Area Partnership and believe the unnecessary rotation of Area Partnership Managers at this time will undermine the effectiveness of the Partnership at a crucial time.We insist that any future changes be introduced only after full and proper consultation with the Area Partnership.”

I hope that this motion now draws a line under this shambolic mishandling of area partnership affairs. I have to confess though that I am now highly sceptical of this Tory administrations committments to the Local Area Partnerships innitiative.

That was followed by a statement on gritting services during the recent heavy snow fall and cold snap. This was delivered by Guy Berry, the Councils management board representative on the Prestwich Area Partnership. I had requested someone from Highways, preferably actually involved in the Gritting service - this request was denied by Bury Council. In any case the report was useful, confirming as it did the streets that are scheduled for gritting and outlining the policy and how it was compromised by the excessive snow, excessive cold and shortage of grit/salt.

Later in the meeting we received an enlightening report from Rev. Steven Williams, Priest in charge at St.Gabriels, Bishops Road about the work of Churches Together in Prestwich. We also had a crime update from Inspector Ryecroft who highlighted an incrfease in anti-social behaviour in the area.

Finally we approved grants to the Clough Centenary Committee, the Creative Living Centre and Polefield Tenants & Residents Association.

All in all an excellent meeting, albeit poorly attended by the public. Next meeting 6.30, March 18th, Church Lane Community Centre.

At last nights meeting of Polefield Tenants and Residents Association we had the usual collection of council officers, Police, residents and me!

As is usually the case the business was upbeat with plenty of positive developments.

Key business was the planning of the estates next fun day for the young people on the estate. This has now been arranged for the week of half term on wednesday, February 17th from 12 noon and will cover activities on the patch of land at the junction of Polefield Circle/Polefield Hall Rd and also on St.Josephs fields at the rear of Prestwich Heys.

On the morning of the 17th skips a couple of skips are to be delivered to the estate and volunteers are needed to help clean up the estate.

But it’s not just about young people.The Association has learned that an application for some funds to provide some “winter warmer” kits to elderly on the estate has been successful. As a result elderly residents will be receiving a bag of goodies to help them keep safe and warm this winter. These should be distributed in early February.

This 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 Council have arranged a Budget consultation event to be held at the Peel Room, Bury Town Hall on February 2nd, starting at 7pm.

The event will outline the budget position facing the Council , to be finalised by a full meeting of Bury Council on February 24th (7pm).

As part of the exercise officers will outline the options facing the council and provide an opportunity for residents to comment on possible council tax rises, spending priorities and savings options.

Last night I attended Bury’s Environment, Economy & Transport Scrutiny Commission. Unsurprisingly the recent weather and Bury’s handling of the gritting of our roads (or not) dominated much of the meeting.

I raised concerns that the Council appeared to have difficulties trying to cope with bad weather when it was affecting the whole Borough simultaneously and that their gritting strategy seemed to reflect this, this was denied by officers.

I mentioned that we had been informed that due to the weather being so bad in Ramsbottom and surounding area that extra attention had to be given to that area in order to maintain main roads open. I suggested that this seemed to lead to less gritting in certain areas of Prestwich and Whitefield which received unusually large snowfalls. 

I also asked why the Longfield Precinct hadn’t been properly gritted, and officers appeared puzzled and said that it should have been, I have asked for this to be investigated.

Finally following another councillors concerns about keeping schools open, I suggested that Schools in difficult (non-gritting) locations should perhaps be supplied with their own gritting bin to help them keep their areas and frontage clear and safe. This seemed to be taken on board by officers.

With Government instructions to reduce gritting by 40% to conserve salt stocks , we better hope we don’t have any more bad weather for a while - preferably next winter!

Meanwhile Bury Council have recently produced a Gritting policy which explains the hows and why’s of where Bury Grits where it does. It’s currently a draft policy only as it is being consulted on, so if you have any comments to make please let the Council know asap.

You can read the draft policy here: burymbc-draft-gritting-policy.pdf

If you have Prestwich specific issues you want to raise, by all means let your local councillors know, or attend next weeks Prestwich Area Partnership meeting at Sedgley Park School at 6.30pm - the item will be on the agenda. 

As I drove to work today, passing a billboard with David Cameron staring down at me trying to look all ernest and serious, the election campaign ahead became even clearer to me.

You listen to Cameron and Brown and all you seem to get is a bidding war as to how much they would cut public services in order to deal with the budget deficit. They both pledge to “protect” the NHS. Although it would seem the Tories now don’t mean all the NHS, just certain bits.

It’s as if they are trying to prove they are tougher than each other and in the mad scramble to chop services they are forgetting that we need radical change to improve many of our public services and crucially the great British Public need to know where those cuts will fall. What services will they be left with after the great cull!

That’s why we need the real change only the Lib Dems can offer not the fake change Tories or No change Labour. There has been much damage to many of our services with countless tinkering, interfering and gimmicks over the past 13 years and blatantly we can’t afford a Conservative Government when Labour have left Britain with wider poverty gaps than ever. The Economy is in a delicate position and we need sustainable economic policies not soundbites for the city.

Real change for Britain has never been more needed, Only the Lib Dems can offer the changes we need at a cost that we can afford. It’s about creating a fairer Britain for all.

Unable to get to work today I have spent part of the day being mesmerised by the excessive snowfall and part of the day removing christmas decorations and the christmas tree.

However away from the enchanting garden of white I now have I know there is travel bedlam and I would urge everyone who can possibly stay at home to do so.

I would also urge people to call on any frail elderly or vulnerable neighbours you may have, just to check they are Ok for basic provisions and have heating and are generally looking after themselves. Many will be worrying about the cost of the their heating with temperatures set to plummet further tonight, plenty of warm drinks and warm clothes will also ensure they do not run the risk of succumbing to the cold.

Bury Council was forced once more to close non-emergency services early again today due to the weather conditions, meanwhile the NHS are urging people to only contact them in life threatening emergencies. If advice is needed please call NHS direct on 0845 46 47.

Bury Councils emergency out of hours service is also available for emergencies regarding council services on 0161 253 6606.

If at all possible don’t go out. If you have to please check the travel situation and weather forecast before hand.

Due to the atrocious weather conditions, the waste and recycling collections have had to be suspended for the remainder of today (Tuesday). A decision on collections for Wednesday and Thursday will be made in the morning.

Bury Council has informed local councillors that reluctantly, they have been forced to take this decision to protect the health and welfare of collection teams, who are finding it impossible to navigate through some of the borough’s streets.

The Statement from Bury Council goes on, “We understand any frustration that residents may have, but the weather has left us with no choice. We will endeavour to clear the backlog as soon as the conditions allow.Our gritting teams, however, will continue to grit the roads.”

In the meantime residents are asked to reduce and recycle their waste as much as they possibly can.  Plastic bottles, metal cans, glass bottles and jars can all go in the blue recycling bin. Paper, cardboard boxes and packaging can be recycled in the green recycling bag.  If cardboard won’t fit in the green bag, it should be flattened and left in a neat pile under the green bag.  Plastic carrier bags can be used instead of the green bag.  For details of household waste recycling centres and local recycling centres go to www.bury.gov.uk/recyclingcentres

Also, again due to the worsening weather conditions, Bury Council has decided to close adminstrative buildings with effect from 1pm today (Tuesday Dec 22). This includes Bury town hall, council offices, leisure centres, and libraries, which will re-open on Tuesday, December 29.

Staff supplying emergency services will be working as normal.

Local Councillors have received an update on the Gritting and Refuse collection service as they continue to battle against the snow and ice etc.

The Councils Head of Waste Management has confirmed that Gritters were out all weekend and 535 tonnes of salt were spread on Sat and Sun alone.

Today all Street Cleaning staff are employed on gritting duties including in town centres and refilling of grit bins. All 5 gritting vehicles are also out at the moment (as of 9.30am).

Refuse/recycling collections were severely disrupted on Friday in the Ramsbottom/Tottington area due to snow and ice. The Council have vehicles in the area today mopping up missed grey bins as best they can, but if anything conditions will be worse than they were on Friday.

Brown bin collections are effectively suspended today with contents of bins frozen solid in any case.

It was debatable as to whether the Refuse collection service should have been suspended or not on grounds of H&S.  A decision was taken not to suspend the service, however all collection crews went out late and combined with the road conditions it will inevitably mean that not all of today’s work will be completed.

Councillors have been assured by Bury Council that they are doing their very best to get all collections made before Christmas in very difficult circumstances.

I know colleagues have received a number of phone calls complaining about a lack of gritting in some areas or on some streets and I can assure residents that we will be seeking answers to these queries/complaints in due course.

Sadly with 3 meeting all scheduled between 5 and 7pm last night I probably didn’t contribute as much as I would like last night, arriving late and leaving early from the first two!

ALLOTMENTS

It has been a grwoing for some time that the Council could with encouraging more “grow your own” veg etc and as part of this there is the feeling that we could do with more allotments in the area. Despite there being 559 at present there is a waiting list of up to 400, some of whome have probably been waiting years.

The big problem is that they generate very little money for the Council, but costs a great deal more and need significant improvements yet. And the Council don’t have the spare resources at present - hardly a priority compared to front line life enhancing services.

Nevertheless with the right political will I am sure more could be done to try and identify further resources internally or externally. After all they improve health, save money and essentially provide for a more sustainable local environment.

The Climate Change Working Group who received a report about the current situation with allotments in the Borough will be looking further at this issue.

PARK & PLAY AREAS

At the latest meeting of Polefield Tenants and Residents Association I was delighted to hear about progress towards creating a park/natural play area on St.Josephs fields near Sandgate Road.

We were presented with draft plans that were pretty exciting and involved altering the layout of the land and re-landscaping to create a more attractive area with shubery and trees and undulating ground, interspersed with wooden play equipment and play area.

These plans followed a consultation exercise with students at Parrenthorn and other local schools. A full public consultation exercise is set to follow in February. However I am convinced that these improvements would provide a nuch better local nature and play facility.

As is usual with this Government the devil is in the detail. With the pleadges to protect services and the fairly minimal increases in taxation combined to a pledge to half the country’s borrowing, if anything was clear it was that the sums didn’t quite add up.

Now thanks to the Institute of Fiscal Studies we have expert examination that confirms what many feared , that “unprotected” services will face cuts of £36 Billion over the next 3 years. To put this into context the Armed Forces budget is £38 Bn.

Whilst that is a worry to put it mildly, what is also worrying is that we now learn that Gordon Brown overruled Alastair Darling and the Treasury on the proposed strategy. The Treasury wanted to make deeper cuts sooner - which the opposition generally believe is necessary. But Gordon Brown with an eye on the coming election clearly felt the medicine would be too severe and stepped in - but at what cost to the economy and peoples livelihoods?

Interestingly Brown is on record as a great admirer of Margaret Thatcher. Older readers will recall that Thatcher regularly usurped her Chancellors - remember Lamont, Howe and Lawson? Has Brown modelled himself on Thatcher? If so with £36 Billion of cuts coming our way the suffering will be long and hard.

Last night I sat down to watch a couple of my favourite TV programmes. Spooks, A fictional MI5 drama was all about the fact that if the Government couldn’t sieze assets of around £2 bn from an unscrupulous bank, then the country would be bankrupt and unable to pay public sector workers.

This scenario then seemed to morph into the news where I was confronted with Alastair Darling the Chancellor informing the country that we were in a worse mess than he had thought but he had a plan that involved bingo and boilers!

I have to tell you “Spooks” was more believable. Alastair Darling looked like a rejected pilot episode of “Yes Minister”.

I doubt there is anyone left in this country who does not know the nations finances are in a mess, that tough action is needed. Yet we saw a Chancellor trying desperately to offer nuggets of comfort, little tasty morsels to see us through a miserable winter.

He promised to protect Health and Education from cuts and offered increases in some benefits for next year - but what about the following years, after the General Election?

Read the rest of this entry.

Manchester City Council have announced that the application from Goals
Soccer Centres to build a commercial soccer centre in Heaton Park will
now NOT be considered at the Planning Committee on 17 December 2009. 

This is the second time that the proposals have failed to make it to Planning
Committee - earlier concerns meant the application was not considered in
September.
 
Local campaigners, whilst welcoming the delay, say the “fight must go on” to
stop this part of the park being ruined. The application is still expected to come
before Committee in the new year. 
 
Vic D’Albert, Parliamentary candidate for Bury South and local councillor said,
“I welcome this further delay and urge Manchester City Council even at this late
stage to reflect on the negative impact that this development would have on 
Heaton Park and the surrounding community. The legacy to future generations
should be trees and open parkland not concrete and cages.”
 
“Don’t sell Greater Manchester short, abandon these proposals and start a real
dialogue on how best to ensure Heaton Park is sustainable and preserved for
the benefit of all, this generation and those that follow.”

The National Autistic Society is running a FREE Information Sharing Drop-In giving you the chance to meet a range of providers who offer support and services to people with autism and their families.

The Information Sharing Drop-In will also offer FREE training sessions on Sensory Issues by the National Autistic Society HELP! Team as well as information on the changes in Social care.

Date: Wednesday 9^th December

Time: 10am – 6.30pm

Location: The MET, Market Street, Bury BL9 0BW

Everyone is welcome! Just come along to have a chat and find out more. For further information, please contact Sara on 07766248915

For further information about Bury Adult Care Services? Then visit: www.bury.gov.uk/adults

Hundreds of local residents and represents of all three main parties on Bury Council turned out at lunchtime today to form a human chain around the Longfield Suite.

The event was billed as an opportunity for residents to show their support for the Longfield Suite and they certainly made it clear that they opposed Bury Councils plans to “reconfigure” the Suite. A move which could see the end of the much prized dance floor.

Vic D’Albert said, “If ever we needed to show that local people care and that local people want Bury Conservatives to change their mind about these plans then today they sent a very clear message to the Council leaders that Prestwich won’t put up with threatened damaging changes to the Longfield Suite.”

“Once more I would say to Cllr Bibby, Leader of the Council, to call a halt to these proposals, confirm that the dance floor will stay and involve local people in improving the Longfield Suite for all.” 

Bury Conservatives conceded defeat again this week in their latest attempt at “cut first consult later”. They agreed not to cut the Councils Youth Services and instead merge it with the connexions service which provides help and support for 13-19 year olds.

OK admittedly not so much defeat as an ignominious retreat, but leaving many unswered questions that could still adversely affect the service.

For those not in the know at the last Council budget the Conservatives voted through a massive cut in finances for the service, then agreed that the issue should be consulted on following protests.

Then recently the Council scrutinised the decision and options and decided that keeping the service was the best option, leaving something like a £200,000 hole in the Council budget hence the merger proposal. Not so much a U-turn as a handbrake spin.

But this isn’t the first time this has happened. Three times this year the Conservatives have made decisions first and wondered about the implications later.

Read the rest of this entry.

The Social Work Task Force report published yesterday, provides a long overdue and much needed insight into the profession, but why has it taken so long?

These changes should have been made following the tragic death of Victoria Climbie’ nearly 10 years ago.

And, whilst very welcome the big question mark surrounds funds available. Cash strapped local authorities are already struggling to pay the kind of salaries to attract social workers and they will undoubtedly need to know that extra resources will be made available to provide the professional development, training, support and salary packages that need to be provided if the Government is serious about developing the profession and retaining experienced social workers.

So we will have to see how serious the Government takes this issue. Lip Service or crucial service? We will see. Whatever happens the fact remains that social workers do a difficult job in often difficult circumstances under extreme pressure and stress.

They deserve and we should expect that should have their situation and the professions future development taken seriously. We don’t need any more Baby P’s.

Last night I attended the first campaign meeting of the Save Our Suite Campaign group formed to fight Bury Councils proposals that threaten the future of the Longfield Suite.

At last nights meeting we essentially agreed what needs to be done to take the campaign forward and volunteers agreed to carry out certain tasks on behalf of the group.

The first key event is the LINK event to form a humain chain around the Longfield Suite to let Bury Council know exactly how local people feel about the Longfield Suite.

The Link is on sunday, December 6th at 12.30pm.

Now a campaign group has been established further activities are being planned which we hope local people will join in with. It is essential as many local people as possible get involved to fight for our community centre, otherwise Bury Conservatives will damage it forever.

Last night the probable timetable set by Bury Conservatives to decide on the fate of the civic venues was also outlined which takes us up til next March at earliest. The Save Our Suite Campaign group pledged to fight the proposals all the way - Join us and make sure Prestwich keeps its community centre.

Keep an eye on postings here and in the local press. For more information visit the web site at www.saveoursuite.com . Also join the facebook Save the Longfield Suite page and tell everyone you know to back the campaign.

Today was one of those incredible days when everything seemed to going on at the same time and almost overlapping into a strange amalgam of politics and community events that occasionally present themselves.

The day started off with me making the first of 3 visits to the Longfield Precinct to drop off a table for the Save Heaton Park campaigners to use for the petition etc. After I had helped them setup I had a chat with the nearby Save the Longfield Suite campaigners - sited the otherside of the Longfield Suite entrance! Then I had a wander round the farmers market to see how things were shaping up.

I had agreed to do a shift collecting signatures for the Save Heaton Park campaign from 1 to 2 pm - and so I found myself back there then with fellow campaigner Brian. I have to say the response was tremendous - at times we were nearly swamped and often there was a queue of people keen to sign. It was extremely heartening to see such support from the local community.

Meanwhile I was delighted to see that the Longfield Suite campaigners were equally busy. With these two high profile campaigns going on it’s beginning to feel like Prestwich under siege!

After my stint with assorted petitioners it was great to spend some time at the farmers market with my better half. some excellent stuff available and more stalls than previously. Finally I returned at 3 to collect my “campaign” table and watch the arrival of our celebrity “becky” from Corrie for the Christmas lights switch on.

All in all  a great days campaigning to protect local community “assets” and to see such a successful farmers market and lights switch-on. I guess Christmas starts here.

Bury Council is facing a funding crisis for Disabled Facilities Grants according to local Lib Dems. Figures obtained by Vic D’Albert, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Bury South reveal that over £1,500,000 of grants are either waiting for approval or approved and not yet paid.

“This is a serious issue with serious consequences for those waiting for these important grants” Said Vic D’Albert, adding, “These grants are essential to enable people with severe disabilities to adapt their properties to enable them to live as independent and full a life as possible. Often these involve proving basic ground floor facilities. These figures show that Bury is heading for a financial crisis with these grants, and are stalling over payments more and more in an effort to keep payments down. If the Council does not address this issue sooner rather than later we will see an escalation in the number of disabled people suffering longer and longer as a result.”

The Council had a budget for the year of just over £1.1m but already have applications totalling £1.53 not paid on top of £418,713 already paid this year. On top of these outstanding applications there are a further 34 cases that have now been marked as medium or low priority.

This backlog of grants follows on from the recent high profile local case of Mr Westwood of Whitefield, a double amputee and constituent of Vic D’Albert, who had to wait over 10 months for his grant. In another instance a mother with a 5 year old autistic child approached Vic D’Albert after being told by a council officer that “the council couldn’t afford to do the work yet – could they find the £29000 necessary and the council pay them back later”.

“I find it intolerable that in an effort to meet the budget that has been set at the beginning of the year, that Bury Council is effectively stalling on providing much needed adaptations. We are not talking luxuries here, these are essentials and needed immediately not in 10 months or a years time. I expect Bury Council to respond to this crisis with a detailed strategy as to how they plan to deal with this problem in a way that meets the demands of disabled residents.“

“It’s stressful, hurtful and frankly insulting for people to be treated this way. Bury Council needs to get a grip of the situation immediately.”

The scandal of 180,000. dementia sufferers being prescribed anti-psychotic drugs - leading to behaviour changes in many and even death, is bad enough, but sadly I think the problem is a much wider problem.

We need (as a country - society) to decide how we want to be treated both in old age and when unable to properly look after ourselves such as in this case. We need to once and for all decide how we are going to provide the hidden health service - our carers, with the support and advice they need and deserve.We need to fundamentally address a few issues as a society, we need a national debate on these issues which can ultimately inform Government as to what we should expect.I remember when the elderly were often referred to as Senior Citizens - that phase doesn’t seem to be used often enough these days. But to my mind that’s what they are.

In a week when we have commemorated the passing of a generation that gave so much for our freedom and quality of life, isn’t it time we properly recognised that we owe them a certain quality of life in their final years. And isn’t it time we guaranteed a certain quality of life for severely disabled or those generally in need of constant care?

It’s time this issue was placed firmly on the agenda before it slips beneath the cloud of spending cuts and the un-holy political auction between parties fighting to out-cut each other.

Read the rest of this entry.

Tonights Prestwich Area Partnership was dominated by news that the Area Partnership Manager is to be moved to a different area.

Bury Council Management have decided that Area Partnership Managers will be rotated around the Borough every two years to help them develop their personal skills.

It was clear tonight that their was considerable upset and anger at the news. I made a short statement on behalf of Prestwich Councillors that I nor my fellow councillors have ever been consulted on this decision.

I further confirmed that we believe that to rotate managers would be detrimental to the efficiency of the area initiative and the delivery of local goals and objectives.

Finally I confirmed that all Prestwich councillors are opposed to the decision and I finished by calling on Bury Council to reverse this decision to rotate managers.

Councillors from all 3 Bury political parties have been opposed to this, 5 out of 6  Area Partnership Chairs are opposed to it, many local partners and community members are opposed to it, the area partnership managers are opposed to it.

In fact most people seem to be against it. Two people however DO support it, Cllr Yvonne Creswell and the Assistant Chief Executive. In fact at a recent meeting of the Area Partnership Chairs, Cllr Creswell confirmed that this is an officer decision.

So the question has to be put; Who is in charge at Bury Council? Do Bury Conservatives support this, or are they being kept in the dark and being told to support it? I know several conservative councillors that don’t support the decision to move partnership managers, but they seem to feel unable to change anything, despite the fact that they are in charge?

Read the rest of this entry. Read the rest of this entry.

As a thank you for putting up with major disruption caused by replacing city centre tracks, upgrading of two of the busiest city centre stops and installation of the first sets of new ticket machines Metrolink passengers are to get two days free travel. 

The free days planned are this coming Saturday and Thursday 19th November.The city centre section was closed in April and services returned on 2 November. 

Vic D’Albert commented, “This is an excellent way of repaying commuters loyalty and recognising the disruption they have faced since April. I hope residents will now flock back to the service and make the most of the free travel by leaving the car at home and taking the tram and perhaps kick starting their festive shopping!”

Major overhauls of the St Peter’s Square and Piccadilly Gardens stops – two of the most heavily used on the network – have been completed.The St Peter’s Square stop has been widened and the platform heights modified to allow level boarding for all passengers.The Piccadilly Gardens stop has also been widened and new canopies have been installed to provide better shelter for even more people. 

New state-of-the-art ticket machines that take bank notes and credit and debit card payments, have also been installed on the two revamped stops. They will be rolled out across the Metrolink network by spring next year.

Passengers who have a season ticket which covers the days valid for free travel can claim a refund by writing to Customer Service Secretary, GMPTE, Freepost MR7 116,Manchester, M1 9QL, by 7 January 2010 with their name, address and telephone number. They will also need to provide a photocopy of their Metrolink Travel Club membership card as well as a photocopy of their season ticket if it is still valid, or the original ticket if it has expired. 

Well over 200 local residents packed into the Longfield Suite in Prestwich last night and sent a clear message to Bury Council that they want to keep the Longfield Suite.

At a previous meeting residents had demanded that the Leader of the Council, Cllr Bob Bibby attend to face concerned residents, and he attended for an hour with Mike Kelly, Bury Council’s Deputy Chief Executive.

Following introductions from meeting organiser, Cllr Vic D’Albert and a statement from Cllr Bibby questions were taken from the floor.

Vic D’Albert commented, “I think it’s fair to say Cllr Bibby received a real grilling on proposals for the future of the Longfield Suite as residents demanded explanations and more details about the so-called reconfiguration planned. Sadly Cllr Bibby was generally unable to respond positively to any great satisfaction of those present.”

“What pleased me most about last nights meeting was not just the turnout, which for a miserable bonfire night evening, was excellent, but the broad representation of Prestwich residents that were present.”

“I hope Cllr Bibby has now taken notice of the strength of feeling from local people on this issue and I would urge him to show he has listened by scrapping the “Task & Finish” officer group he has established and to instead work with local people and councillors in an open and transparent way to look at how the Longfield Suite can be improved in every way to become a more sustainable and even more attractive community centre.”  

“It’s a great shame Cllr Bibby had to leave the public meeting to attend a Conservative meeting as many more people had questions to put to the Council leader. However we hope he has listened to those he did hear, and we now expect action. Meanwhile I would just thank all who attended last night and those who have volunteered to help with the campaign - it’s just a shame we needed to do it in the first place.”

Last night I attended a meeting of the Area Chairs Group - a meeting of the 6 chairs of local area partnerships along with the deputy leader of the Council and 3 council officers.

The meeting came just weeks after Area Partnership Managers were told that in future they will be moved around every 2 years and the Whitefield/Unsworth and Prestwich managers were to be swapped shortly.

This news angered Partnership Chairs because we rely heavily on the contacts and relationships our managers develop over a period of time. Many councillors feel that to move them every two years will just undermine the performance of local partnerships and weaken relationships with the wider community.

In addition what made things worse was that Area Partnership Chairs or other councillors have never been consulted on whether we support this change in policy and there has been no real justification given for swapping two managers now and in general the only justification given was to develop the area partnership managers.

But there has to be a hidden agenda here. It would seem Bury Conservatives or Bury Council management (not sure which yet) have decided to draw in the role of the partnerships and exercise greater control over their activities. It is clear to me that they fear the growing demands for local initiative and local working that the partnerships are bringing - and the demands that will bring on centralised Council departments that could be faced with diverse demands and pressures across the 6 townships. So expect more central influence and control over your local areas in the future. 

Read the rest of this entry. Read the rest of this entry.

Today it has been announced that in order to satisfy competition rules Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB are to be split  - my immediate thought was great bring back Williams & Glyns, and the Trustees Savings Bank!

However, whilst it may not be to difficult to appreciate the need to split these banks up, it will be difficult for Joe Public to swallow the extra £30Billion needed for the exercise.

At a time when most people are feeling the economic squeeze and political parties are falling over each other to promise greater public spending cuts, another handout to these failed institutions will I suspect be nigh on impossible to explain let alone justify.

I am also growing increasingly concerned that the great British public will end up with the dodgy end of the stick with this whole affair. Lets face it it’s Ok to split banks up and sell off branches etc, but any new business created or business hived off will have to be from the more profitable sections of these 2 banking giants to be an attractive proposition. So what will be left, and will that mean a longer term investment and further bail-outs from the UK Government? 

This Labour Government needs to tread very carefully here. They are playing with the future of the British economy with these financial initiatives. But maybe they’re thinking they won’t be there to pick up the pieces after next May.

I want to inform you of a major change to the Housing and Council Tax Benefit rules.

From today child benefit payments will not be included as income for Housing and Council Tax Benefit purposes.  As well as increasing the entitlement of those who already receive HB and CTB, there will be a substantial increase in the number of people who may become eligible as a result of the change.

Families who have claimed Housing and Council Tax Benefit and were not entitled in the past may now be able to receive financial help towards their rent and Council Tax bill. 

Are you or someone you know one of these families? 

Bury Councils Mobile Advice Centre will be at the following locations on the following days between 10am and 3pm to help promote this change:

Monday, November 2: Mosses Community Centre, Edward Street, Bury.

Tuesday,November 3:Chesham Fold Road off Bell Lane, Bury.

Wednesday, November 4: Daisyfield Estate,Powell Street, Bury.

Thursday, November 5: Tesco, Prestwich.

Friday, November 6:Kay Gardens, Bury

Contact the The Benefits Service, Bury Council,Whittaker St, Radcliffe, for more information on 0161 253 5008 or email housingbenefits@bury.gov.uk

The latest clever wheaze (so they think) from Bury Conservatives is to set up “Task and Finish ” groups to deal with sensitive issues. These can be dealt with in the peace and quite of an office buried somewhere in the Town Hall out of the glare of prying public and for that matter local councillors.

Recently they set one up to look at options for the Council Security service and prior to that the result of the initial stages of the Civic Suites review was to establish a Task and Finish group to investigate the matter futher.

TASK & FINISH - HOW IT WORKS

Bury Conservatives have decided that the way to identify savings in council services is to carry out a number of Service Improvement reviews. These are carried out by officers. The officers produce a report which is then presented to a Scrutiny Committee (which does contain Councillors!). The report to Scrutiny will contain a number of options for consideration and the recommendation that a Task and Finish group be established to investigate further and report on it’s findings to the Council Executive (which is totally controlled by the Conservatives).

By dealing with issues this way they are hoping to minimise contact with Councillors - especially opposition councillors until the last possible moment. when no doubt a detailed officer report will produce overwhelming evidence in favour of the Councils preferred option. Effectively by-passing as much of the democratic process as possible.

Recently myself and other opposition Councillors proclaimed that Scrutiny is dead in Bury. Well, local Conservatives have just buried it!

This lunchtime I joined Save the Longfield Suite campaigners and spent two hours collecting signatures for the petition outside M&S in Prestwich.

I think I managed to fill over 5 pages of signatures and the response was terrific, with people eager to sign and pledge their support for retaining the Longfield Suite with it’s large sprung dancefloor.

The campaign is going from strength to strength and clearly campaigners are resolved to keep fighting until Bury Conservatives recognise the community value of the civic suites current facilities and back down over these plans. 

DON’T FORGET THE NEXT PUBLIC MEETING: Thursday November 5th, 7pm at the Longfield Suite. Your opportunity to put your questions and concerns directly to the leader of the Council, Cllr Bob Bibby.

Cllr Bob Bibby, Conservative leader of Bury Council has agreed to face prestwich residents over the Longfield Suite proposals.

At the last public meeting residents demanded that Council leaders face them to explain the proposals and listen to their case for keeping the Longfield Suite as it is.

As a result I have now organised a further public meeting on:

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH at THE LONGFIELD SUITE, from 7.00 pm

Council Executive member, Cllr Beverley Sullivan has agreed to Join Cllr Bibby to hear residents concerns.

If you have a question you would like putting, but can’t make the meeting please email me on vic@burylibdems.net.

In the meantime if you would like to sign the petition it can be downloaded here: sos_petition.pdf 

Just print off, sign and return either to myself or one of my Prestwich Council colleagues. 

Please find details of half term activities for next week in Prestwich for details of other events outside Prestwich during half term and all year round  you can visit Bury Council’s What’s On guide at  http://www.bury.gov.uk/Events/default.htm 

May I take this opportunity to ask if you are the parents/guardians  responsible for children who may Trick or Treat to ask them to take proper care when they knock on a door, if it is not answered, to walk away.  Many residents are vulnerable and do not wish to answer doors in the evening.

BUTTERSTILE SCHOOL

Dance Talent — Free October Half Term Workshop for children aged 4-11. Book ASAPSamantha IngramChildren’s Centre AdministratorButterstile 0161 253 7900

HEATON PARK SCHOOL

Free Sports Camp 10 am till 12 Mon-Fri, For further info call 253 7076

PRESTWICH CRICKET TENNIS & BOWLING CLUB

A Fun Event with a tennis theme will be held from 10.30 am to 12.00 noon on Wednesday 28th October 2009 aimed at children under 10 (although older children would be welcome). Entry fee £1 per child.12.30 pm - 3.00 pm, a tennis camp (coaching) where the charge will be £12 per person or £10 per person for members of the same family.Ring Keith on 0161 773 1677 for further details.  

SEDGLEY CHILDRENS CENTRE

Sedgley Children’s Centre would like to invite you to a Pink Community Café on Friday 30th October 10am - 1pm to raise money for Breast Cancer.For further information Tel: 253 7476

VENWOOD ROAD BALLZONE  Ballzone Sports Camp – Mon-Fri,1pm till 3.30.pmFor further info call 253 7076

AREA PARTNERSHIP PROGRESS UNDER THREAT 

Bury Council has unilaterally decided it is to move Area Partnership Managers around from Area to Area in what councillors have been told is to help improve skills and best practice etc across the Borough.

The move has brought condemnation from councillors across the party divide and especially from Area Partnership Chairs.

As the Chair of Prestwich Area Partnership it might interest readers to know that Area Partnership Chairs were not consulted, Area Partnership managers were not properly consulted. AND, when we made clear our strong opposition those views were ignored. Then a couple of weeks after the event on October 14th we received a letter from a senior council officer confirming the situation and if anything just adding insult to injury.

The Area initiative relies heavily on the managers - these are the only staff the local townships have. They work in the community, build up community relationships, develop contacts and work extremely hard to respond to local issues, take forward Partnership initiatives and address the local agenda.

At a stroke Bury Council has put at risk the effectiveness of the whole innitiative. Whilst previously I was concerned about the Councils committment to local involvement and local decision making, I now know they are committed to maintaining the status quo - power and control from the centre.

It’s frankly an insult to the hard work that the Area Partnership Managers have put in over the past few years and a blow to the hopes of delivering real improvement on the ground and real community engagement and cohesion from Ramsbottom to Prestwich, from Radcliffe to East Bury.

Diverse communities, diverse requirements and strong local voices that demand local solutions.

I suspect a hidden agenda behind these proposals, in the meantime all I know is we are expected to put up with yet another bad decision from Bury Council. 

Following last nights Public meeting organised by local Lib Dems following concerns about the future of the Longfield Suite, Bury Councils Executive Committee has agreed to a special meeting in Prestwich.

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

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

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

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

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

Read the rest of this entry. Read the rest of this entry. Read the rest of this entry.

Prestwich Local Area Partnership is supporting a range of Christmas festivities in the town with a grant of £1,500.

Throughout the run up to Christmas local residents and visitors will be able to visit a Christmas farmers market at Longfield Shopping Centre on Sunday 22 November.  The grant is also being used to support the Community Lights Switch On later that day as the finale to the day, as well as a community carol service at St Mary’s Church on the evening of Monday 21 December.

Continuing the Christmas theme, Church Lane Community Centre was awarded £3,000 from the Local Area Partnership to help fund equipment, such as tables, chairs and kitchen equipment for its newly refurbished building. This will allow the community centre to host a special reception during the community carol service.

And finally Downham Tenants and Residents Association will be helping elderly and disabled residents with their gardening as a £800 grant from the LAP has funded a sit-on lawn mower.

Councillor Vic D’Albert, Chair of Preswich LAP, said: “As we approach the Christmas period it is great to know that there will be a range of events taking place. This year the LAP has awarded £30,000 towards supporting local groups in Prestwich to support a variety of projects and this has helped make a real difference to our local community.”

PLANNING APPLICATION 

A Planning application has been lodged by Care UK for the siting of a mobile Health Clinic at Tesco’s for a period of seven years.

Details would be appear sketchy at present but presumably it will be one of those mobile testing clinics - where you can get your blood pressure checked out or perhaps have more serious matters checked/tested for problems. All potentially very good but immediately questions spring to mind.

Firstly why isn’t this happening at the walk in centre (or its much hoped for LIFT centre replacement)?

I thought the NHS was hard up. So why are they paying a private company to dump a mobile clinic at Tesco’s for 7 years and staff it?

It also seems a bit bizarre - have your heart checked out, while your better half rumages through the fruit and veg!

And I assume Tesco’s are getting a pretty good slice of the action also. Let’s face it they’re not exactly know for their benevolence to the local community. So perhaps someone will let us know who is paying what to whom in this novel initiative?
 

Clearly Cameron’s speech to the Conservative conference yesterday was full of fine , warm, words for those suffering at the front line of the worst depression  for decades. However if you have lost your job , struggling to feed a family, maintain your dignity and confidence in the future and keep a roof over your head , would those words make a difference to you?

The thing is we’re not talking about some wonderful economic theory, or building aircraft carriers, or policies to address endangered species.  We’re talking about peoples lives, here, now, and how they can be helped to recover and thrive.

That is where yesterdays fine words fail to meet the reality of the people he was clearly trying to reach. Because when you scratch the surface it’s the same old Conservative Party. They say they want to help the poor, so they plan to cut benefits. They say they want to help struggling families, so they plan to cut public services.

To paraphrase a famous quote, the author of which I have temporarily forgotten (to my shame). “Why is it that when they want to encourage the rich to work harder they pay them more, and to encourage the poor to work harder they pay them less?”

Cameron and Osbourne are right. If they win the next election there will be a lot of pain to endure, and they will be inflicting it without pain killers. Same old Tories. Squeezing the public services to pay for tax cuts for the fortunate.

So the Conservative Party is gradually coming clean. And it is clear already that as part of their “pain for all” plans phase one is taking a scorched earth policy to public spending.

With a freeze on public sector pay, delayed pensions, restricted pay limits and a 10% cut to public services this is a scorched earth policy designed for more than control of public spending in mind.

The more I here from Cameron, Osborne and co. the more I believe this weeks announcements are part of a concerted attempt to scare the British public into accepting the most demanding and fierce medicine they can throw at us. The big question is this. If the Tories are planning this scale of attack on our public services and spending, what do they intend to do with the savings? Something tells me when the public purse has recovered, we won’t be seeing re-investment in those same public services, and then they may just delay restoring the pension/earnings link or even put back retirement age further. And we shouldn’t forget that they have already pledged cuts to inheritance tax to make life easier for the rich as well.

Phase two should be very interesting - there is no doubt we need to cut public spending and we do need people to face up to some stark choices. However what we should be doing is not taking a chain saw to our public services but discussing which services should be protected and which need improving and which need support. What should our priorities be. I suspect the Conservatives know what they’re priorities are - so how about telling us. Now. Or is it all a case of slash and burn?

David Cameron’s announcement on the eve of the Tory Conference, that  Tory Government would review all those on Incapacity benefit with a view to getting many of them in to work or on £25 per week less in benefits (switching to Job Seekers), is a cheap shot at best in an attempt to woo the right wing of his own party and of course the right wing press.

At a time of deep recession when unemployment isn’t expected to start dropping any time soon, targeting those on incapacity benefit, forcing them onto the end of a growing jobs queue really isn’t going to solve the problem. In many parts of the country it is now common for up to 100 applicants for a job. How helpful will it be to add people who have been on incapacity benefit for possibly years , too that jobs market?

Everyone knows that the benefit system needs reform, it’s been Lib Dem policy for as long as I can remember. All main parties want reform and all main parties are committed to reviewing spending.

But this is really just another case of Tory posturing coupled with spending cuts. But cuts for cuts sake is irresponsible and will harm vulnerable people. We have to reconcile any proposed cuts too what our spending priorities need to be over the coming decade.

We need to protect the vulnerable, to protect vital front line services and to maintain key public services. Sadly the nature of Cameron’s announcement just reaffirms Tory cruel intentions and shows a reverting to type in the quest for media coverage and spending cuts.

On tuesday night, Ocober 6th, I will be hosting my latest “MEET VIC” event. An opportunity to come and say hello, and tell me what you think about our Government and what the issues are that really matter to you.

Feel free to raise any issues or ask me about Lib dem policies, or bring local problems to my attention. I will do my best to help in any way I can.

And the added bonus (if you are so inclined) is you can have a drink as well if you like.

It’s from 6 to 7pm at the Frigate Pub, Thatch Leach Lane, Whitefield. I hope to see you then.

According to leaked reports to the Bury Times, Bury Conservatives are threatening to close the Longfield Suite and Radcliffe Civic Hall.

The proposals come following a review of Civic Halls by a Council working group which could lead to the closure of Radcliffe Civic Hall and sweeping changes to the Longfield Suite or even closure - depending on final recommendations.

The Longfield suite with its famous sprung dance floor, is the only one of the Councils Civic halls to make money but what is even more astounding is that the “review” comes after the Love Prestwich Strategy was adopted by Bury Council.

That strategy re-affirmed the views of residents following broad and detailed consultation that the suite should stay and the dance floor should stay - but acknowledged that refurbishment was required and some adaptations to make the facility more flexible in meeting 21st century community needs.

This is nothing more than a disgraceful attempt to save money - not for frontline life and death services - but to enable Bury Conservatives to modernise the ailing and loss making Elizabethen Suite - and guess where that is - that’s right, Bury Town Centre!

I’d like to put it to Cllr Bibby, leader of the Conservative Group at Bury that we should instead consider closing the Elizabethan Suite instead. We could then plough the savings into improving Radcliffe Civic suite and the Longfield Civic suite. How say you?

Last night I attended the  first Street Lighting Working Group meeting at the Town Hall.

The working group arose out of the Tories “turn them off - no turn them back on again” U-turn on a budgeted 1 in 3 street light turn off. I was one of those that opposed the original proposal because I believe the issue needs addressing properly both from a financial perspective but also to address environment issues. Our Street lights emit about 13% of the Council’s Co2 emissions.

Last nights first meeting was a briefing on the issues, the state of our street lights, the technology available in replacement lights and options available for improving street lights in the borough.

We were told we had about 18,500 street lamps and that 1 in 5 of our street lamps (that’s 4000) was over 40 years old - when they have a life expectancy of 25-30 years!  We also learned that we are currently spending the whole of the available street light maintenance budget on replacing unsafe, broken or fallen down street lamps.

In effect we are replacing about 150 lamps a year when we currently have over 4000 that need replacing now. When you add to that the urgency required to get our CO2 emissions down, you will see why the working group were supportive of looking into various options to find the capital to replace street lamps and bring others up to standards now required.

Earlier this month we discovered that it would take to 2084 to repair all of our roads last night we learned that it would take to 2035 to replace our decrepit (over 40 years old) street lamps.

It really does bring home to you how much of our infrastructure has been neglected under successive Conservative and Labour Governments. 

I was delighted to be able to take a tour of St.Michael’s RC Primary School in Whitefield today.

I had asked for an opportunity to go round the school in order that I may get to know the school a bit better. I was recently appointed to the school as a school Governor on behalf of the Local Education Authority. As I explained to Norman Duffin, the head teacher, I like to try and understand the school and be able to picture staff and the various parts of the building - I think that helps when I attend Governing Body meetings.

I was extremely impressed with the school, there seems to be a great atmosphere - a very happy school, and classrooms are bright and airy with tremendous displays on the walls.

Norman took the opportunity to outline some of the planned improvements for the school, which are quite exciting and will only enhance and improve the learning environment.

 I really enjoyed the opportunity and look forwad to forthcoming Governors meetings.

Conservative Chairman , Eric Pickles has today said it’s time for Lib Dem voters to come home to the Tory party and told senior Lib Dem, Chris Huhne he is “playing hard to get”.

If we are really so close to the Tories why don’t they join the Lib Dems. In fact if any Conservatives want to drop me a line I’ll happily pop round and sign them up.

Of course Mr Pickles is in wind up mode and is just trying to undermine Lib Dem fortunes. The fact remains we are miles apart on many key issues. For instance while David Cameron proposes sweeping cuts to the salad counter at the House of Commons the Lib Dems are looking at savage cuts to Government expenditure in an attempt to find ways of safeguarding crucial front line services. 

While David Cameron goes on jollys to the North Pole to show us his green credentials the Lib Dems have been putting together real policies to deal with much needed cuts to Co2 etc including scrapping nuclear power and developing alternative sustainable energy.

While Cameron has huffed and puffed about the state of our democracy only the Lib Dems have proposed real reforms that include fair votes for our people.

Then there is civil liberties - more rhetoric about rolling back the state from Cameron, proposed legislation to scrap hundreds of illiberal laws from the Lib Dems.

Pickles, Cameron and co. are no liberals, but they are opportunists that are determined not to let ideology and real policies get in the way of a grab for power next year. And we have all seen what that approach has done to New Labour since ‘97   

Last nights EET meeting thankfully improved after the “coffee machine” disaster.

PARKING IN BURY

A annual report was presented about Parking services which outlined the number of penalty notices issued and other parking issues.

The report highlighted that the number of people parking in the town centre had reduced over the past year, that revenue from meters and notices will be less than budgeted and 6703 penalty notices were issued. My collegaue,Cllr Donal O’Hanlon raised a very interesting point that 24% or nearly 1 in 4 notices issued were eventually cancelled. In other words we (the Council) were paying people to cancel notices rather than being less heavy handed, reasonable or accurate in the first instance.

I requested that a wide ranging visitor survey be undertaken to focus on parking issues and identify any further issues. This was in response to a limited survey of 1000 motorists that appealed against notices.

STREET LIGHTING

Some avid readers of local current affairs will remember that the Conservative authority , first announced that they wanted to turn off street lights, then had an executive panic attack and decided to change their minds. This angered member of the Environment scrutiny commission who were aware of the need to improve street lighting both in terms of efficiency bu reducing CO2 emissions. Lighting accounts for 13% of the Borough total.

Last night we agreed to set up a working group to look at street lighting issues with a view to applying for a public finance initiative to improve our street lights.

HOUSING GRANTS

A paper was presented to the commission proposing changes to the grants available for residents to carry out housing improvements or adaptations. Much of these changes were non contentious - for instance amending the Minor repairs and Improvements Grants to take account of sustainability issues and decent homes standards.

However what bothered me intensely was changes to the Disabled Facilities Grants. Currently it is mandatory that the council finance up to £30,000 of adaptations, how they now propose that any further “top-ups” required will be only available in exceptional circumstances. Officers admitted that this was due to budgetary pressures - The council has a budget of around £1.2m which included £617,000 from the Government.

I am concerned that this is a start on squeezing local authority grants and support generally - and it greatly concerns me that this is once again financially driven - officers admitted that it is likely residents would have to wait longer or may be turned down for additional essential work.

Plans for Heaton Park School’s Childrens Centre have been approved by Bury Council’s Planning Committee.

At last nights meeting the committee unanimously approved the plans for the new centre on Cuckoo Lane.

This will prove a tremendous asset for both the school but especially the local community. The School will be undergoing refurbishment soon and the Childrens Centre work is expected to be wrapped up in that development/refurbishment work.

When completed it will almost be the finishing touch to the transformation of Heaton Park Primary school that in addition to a nursery , will also be getting a recently approved nursery play area.

These facilities are most welcome in this area and much needed by the local community and especially valuable to nearby Polefield estate that is recognised as a deprived area.

At last nights Planning Committee I asked (on behalf of residents) that careful consideration be given to drainage issues surrounding the new development as in the past developments have adversely affected drainage of surface water into neighbouring properties. The committee noted my concerns

Last night was a case of one extreme to another. I started off in the Councils Economy and Environment Scrutiny sub group looking at the Local Development framework for Bury and ended up in a pub in Prestwich in a Tenants and Residents meeting.

LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

This important sub group is responsible for monitoring the progress of the production of the Local Development Framework and associated documents. The LDF looks at the allocation and use of all land throughout Bury and for instance identifies land for business use, housing and of course the green belt. Perhaps the most controversial aspects include the need to identify new sites for gypsy’s and travellers as well as identifying land for about 11500 new homes.

As if that wasn’t enough they have to deal with the impact of climate change which will dramatically affect areas prone to flooding which we were told will have an impact on Radcliffe and Ramsbottom proposals.

LDF documents are still work in progress at this stage and there is much consultation and examination before they become adopted as policy by the council, but clearly there will be significant challenges with wide ranging impact on most of Bury.

POLEFIELD TENANTS & RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Following the LDF meeting at the town hall I had to rush to a meeting of Polefield TRA at the Parkside Hotel in Prestwich.

The meeting included tenants, police, Six Town Housing officers and myself. We received reports that suggested that things were pretty quite on the estate - limited anti-social behaviour.

Plans are progressing for a Halloween night disco for under 11’s at Heaton Park School and a public meeting in November.

Tenants raised concerns about speeding on the estate, the use of (often illegal) bikes and quad bikes etc and potentially dangerous junction of Cuckoo Grove, Polefield Hall Rd and Polefield Circle. I promised to request the Council to investigate possible improvements to this junction along with the provision of some improved street lighting and road repairs.

It really does not achieve anything for Labour and the Tories to constantly try and twist each others words and statements on public spending in order that they then bleat “I told you so” to the media. With the Tories pledging to increase the costs of a ploughmans lunch in the House of commons and Labour trying to match the rhetoric with strong words but without saying much at all, we desperately need a grown up debate.

They talk of Public services as if they were something that is a luxury that can’t really be afforded in tough times - like eating out less or not replacing your ageing TV.

In all the talk of spending cuts and committments we need to remember that many public services are by definition quite vital and essential - relied on by many of the most vulnerable in our communities and by necessity not always affordable or providable through the private sector.

So in these difficult times whilst it is right to address Government spending, let’s also address Government income and Government waste, and lets have a sensible grown up discussion about services - the services that we can do without - ID cards etc and the services that need protecting - because of the impact of cuts.

The TUC were right to wade into the debate yesterday on the eve of their conference because we must not forget the implications of cuts invariably mean redundancies directly and indirectly.

Cuts will need to be made, but we need to ensure vital services are protected. It’s about services that matter, it’s about people lives as well as livelihoods.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to visit Sedgley Childrens centre at Sedgley Park School yesterday.

The centre opened in July 2008, so it was great to see how it had progressed in 14 months since. The centre caters for all Sedgley’s diverse community including the growing muslim community and the orthodox Jewish community.

It was amazing to see the amazing rage of events that take place over the course of a week and to see and hear first hand about the facilities available and to see how health and childrens services are using the facilities.

The centre is clearly going from strength to strength and there clearly great pride and enthusiasm amongst the staff for the important services they are offering.

Congratulations to Vicky and the team for all their endeavours and achievements to date,

Well Done! (and thanks for the tea).

Bury Conservatives are failing Bury. At present they are failing our local democracy and failing to engage/communicate with citizens. However that failure will inevitably lead to policy failures which will affect local people.

It could be the Youth Service, it could be on leisure facilities, it could be childrens services - watch this space.

In wednesdays full council debate on the Lib Dem democracy motion to improve public question time, scrutiny and decision making, the Tories failed to understand that good decisions don’t just materialise out of the the Chief executives office, or departmental heads and especially the Conservative Group.

Good policies arrive from a deliberative process that takes ideas, that investigates practical hurdles, that challenges all involved to meet client needs and , yes, ultimately can withstand the test of detailed scrutiny. Then and only then after such a process can we say our policies are tried and tested and ready for the open road.

After wednesdays ridiculous, arrogant and frankly insulting display from the Conservatives they might as well develop policy on the back of an envelope - or are they doing that already?

It has been said that scrutiny is dead in Bury - I would agree but I also fear democracy in Bury is seriously ill. Opposition parties will need to decide over the coming months what action we now take to improve scrutiny and democracy in Bury.

In the meantime I have seen enough of Conservative Government in Bury to know that I currently have no confidence whatsoever in this administration and no confidence in the Council leader. It’s time for change.

Tory Councillor and MP hopeful Michelle Wiseman says she is confused.

She is confused ,she says, because whilst the Lib Dems are opposed to a sports zone being built on open parkland in Heaton Park, we were proposing (at last nights council meeting), to press for more sporting activities and initiatives in Bury in the run up to the Olympic Games in 2012.

I would urge Mrs Wiseman to get out more (and meet real members of the public) as things aren’t always as black and white as Conservative Central Office makes out.

The Lib Dems are opposed to the specific proposals because, put simply, they are:

a) in the wrong place

b) Not freely available for public use - charges may be as much as £45 for pitch hire and,

c) Will mean the end for yet another piece of Heaton Park .

They are primary reasons and when you throw in the damage to the environment and extra congestion and nuisance to neighbouring residents we feel that makes a compelling case.

That should not however mean we are opposed to sports facilities - for the record we did not oppose the building of the Commonwealth Bowling greens and pavilion etc. But why should we be building on historic open parkland when there are derelict brown field sites across North Manchester and Bury?

But what was most dissapointing from Mrs Wiseman was that her desperate attempt to sit on the Heaton Park fence was exposed last night after telling Heaton Park Action Group that they had her 100% support we now know that was a shallow empty committment.

As for our motion we believe the Olympic Games provides a great opportunity to encourage young and old alike to get involved in sports and improve fitness and health etc by tapping into that enthusiasm that will be growing over the next few years. So it was particularly dissapointing that Michelle and her Tory colleagues voted down our proposals which included the development of a Greater Manchester Leisure Card enabling all residents across greater manchester to get better more affordable access to facilities across the area.

Confused, Shallow, Fence sitting - Bury Conservatives, one change we don’t need.

As if the current recession isn’t bad enough, I came away from last nights Council Climate Change meeting with the realisation that things are going to be very difficult for local authorities and for that matter central government if we are to meet internationally agreed targets for Carbon emissions.

Effectively from 2011 a set of increasing financial pressures/penalties will be applied vice-like by Government in order to force councils to reduce carbon emissions. 

At the centre of the proposals is a scheme of carbon trading which would involve councils with emissions over a certain level having to “buy” carbon allowances and possibly trade them in etc.

What was clear from last nights meeting was that there isn’t really any alternative to these proposals and in Bury’s case perhaps as much as £300,000 in allowances may need to be purchased to start with (from where will the money come from I hear you ask?) and this may well rise if we struggle to reduce emmissions. It could all be a nightmare for councils and in turn council services that will require investment to meet the reduction targets.

The biggest challenge is likely to be with our schools. Currently it has been identified that 72% of Bury’s carbon emissions come from our schools.

I suppose what hit me last night was the fact that a) there is virtually no room for manouvre on this, b) Its another financial problem for public services and c) there is no choice!

After all if we fail on climate change we fail future generations and the clock is already ticking.

Bury Council are “consulting” on the future of Bury’s Youth Service. This follows the decision in March to seek external partners to run the service in what was viewed by Lib Dems as a damaging cost cutting exercise.

The Youth Service promotes and delivers personal and social development to 11–25 year olds. It operates out of four local authority centres in Radcliffe, Whitefield, East Bury and Elton while the Phoenix Centre in Prestwich is used in partnership with Prestwich Methodist Youth Association.

Many partners work with the service, such as Connexions, the Youth Offending Service and schools.

It seems a tad disenguous that people are being for their views now several months after the decision was taken to cut back on the youth service. Any comments will be cash strapped by the councils earlier decision which ignored the views of the young people, youth workers and many councillors at the time.

Nevertheless of course if you don’t make your views known that will go against the youth service provision in Bury as well. So please do make your views known before Sunday, September 20, contact youthservicereview@bury.gov.uk or visit the service’s Facebook group. And please please please back Bury’s Youth Service - it needs better funding not chopping!

For more details and to ask questions, call Amy Svensson, improvement adviser, on 0161 253 6549.

Lib Dems ask all teachers, nurses and street cleaners in Bury South ‘where is the waste?’

Everyone employed in the public sector – including Bury South’s army of hard-working teachers, care assistants, librarians and social workers – is being asked to say where they think taxpayers’ money can be saved. 

The Liberal Democrats are launching a website where people who work with taxpayers’ money can submit suggestions on how to cut waste in the public sector. It will be launched by leader Nick Clegg as part of the ‘Ask the People in the Know’ project and can be accessed at www.nickclegg.com/intheknow .

Vic D’Albert, Liberal Democrat candidate for Bury South, said: “Every day I meet public servants out and about in Bury South whose hard work and dedication is an inspiration to us all. 

“They are the people who know what works and what doesn’t in their chosen field, and frankly they’re the ones I’d trust to say where cuts can be made safely without putting lives in danger. 

“Unlike the Tories, who just want to take an axe to public sector jobs, and Labour, who only care about bailing out bankers, the Liberal Democrats will reduce public debt in a responsible way. “That’s why we’re asking the experts – the people on-the-ground who know how money can be saved without threatening essential services – where is the waste?”

9th - Full Meeting of Bury Council, from 7pm Bury Town Hall. Public welcome

14th - Local Development Framework Sub Group, 6pm Bury Town Hall, Public welcome

17th - Economy, Environment & Transport Scrutiny Commission, 6pm Bury Town Hall, Public welcome

The next meeting of Prestwich Area Partnership is October 1st, Butterstile School, Prestwich from 6.30pm

I read with interest local Conservative, Mr Grosskopfs comments in last weeks letters. Mr Grosskopf starts with a mistaken understanding of Gordon Browns economic policies and then goes on to provide a kindergarten explanation of how a Conservative Government would make everything in the garden rosy.

Fist of all, and anyone who know me knows that I am no defender of Labour policies, but I will grant that Gordon Browns economic policies have sought to end boom and bust in our economy despite Mr Grosskopfs comments last week. It is the methods employed in ending the boom and bust economic cycles previously suffered that has led to ridiculous borrowing levels by financial institutions and individuals alike that has led to our present demise. So if we are to blame Labour for the state of our economy lets at least get the reasons right!

He then goes on to suggest that a Conservative Government will sort this mess out and it will somehow be better for local government. I was first elected to Bury Council under a Conservative Government and perhaps I need to remind people - certainly local Conservatives, about the devastation wrecked on local Councils by a Conservative Government intent on blaming all the worlds ills on local councils while claiming the glory for every “saving” going at national level. Conservative Governments brought local councils to their knees, forcing damaging cuts to vital services and enforcing savage cuts to council responsibilities and powers. A Conservative Government would be no friend to local councils - remember the poll tax!

He then goes on to tell people that in any case the Lib Dems don’t stand a chance locally at the next general election. Me thinks he is worried. If  everything was as it was in 2005 he would be right. But we have more Councillors - more than the Conservatives in Bury South, Labour are much weaker, the world has changed  and the Lib Dems are stronger. And just to correct his comment, actually a vote for the Lib Dems will be just that AND will help us win in Bury South AND help us ensure we get fairer Government, better Government and a fresh start for Britain.

He finishes by questioning the Lib Dems achievements in the 10 years since we took “power” in Prestwich. I wish he checked his facts first. Sadly we have only been controlling the Area Partnership for the past 5 years and if he checked out the “powers” we have at local level he would discover that we are very limited in what we can do aside from Tory controlled Bury Council. In actual fact under those cicumstances I feel we have achieved an awful lot in 5 years and undoubtedly if the Bury Council was Lib Dem led we would have achieved much much more. But the one fact remains that whoever rund Bury or the Area Partnership I can assure residents that local Lib Dems will be fighting your corner on the issues that matter.

Along 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.

David Cameron is today making a speech on the NHS in another desperate attempt to prove the Conservatives are the party of the NHS , that it’s safe in their hands.

The trouble is even if we believe him, I am not sure I can believe the Conservative Party - especially following very public outbursts from  some of his MEP’s etc.

The problem is their past handling of the NHS and the lack of detail on their current policies. For instance they propose to “introduce more providers”. Now this can only mean privatisation. But there is no substance or detail so we can only wonder and worry about the extent of the privatisation they plan.

Until we see the small print of their health manifesto then no one can be confident that the NHS won’t suffer as it did under Thatcher and Major. The Tories can’t be trusted with our vital public services. That has been proved time and time again.

The right wing opponents to Obama’s public health care proposals in the US are now going into hysterical hyperdrive with allegations about the NHS that are totally wrong and a total fiction.

I for one would not be here today if we didn’t have the NHS - OR if I lived in the US - the NHS saved my life and I find it both distateful and upsetting to read the slanderous, insulting comments that are being misrepresented in the US media.

For instance: 

A Republican National Committee ad said that in the U.K. “individuals lose their right to make their own health care choices.”

Another ad launched earlier this month by the anti-tax group Club for Growth claimed that government bureaucrats in Britain had calculated six months of life to be worth $22,750. “Under their socialized system, if your treatment costs more, you’re out of luck,” the ad says, as footage of an elderly man weeping at a woman’s bedside alternate with clips of the Union Jack and Big Ben.

One Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa told a local radio station last week that “countries that have government-run health care” would not have given Sen. Edward Kennedy, who suffers from a brain tumor, the same standard of care as in the U.S. because he is too old. Another Republican, Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia, said that the U.K. and Canada “don’t have the appreciation of life as we do in our society, evidently.”

I am pleased to hear that the Department of Health has now launched a campaign to correct the lies being reported, I believe the Government should also make the strongest representations possible.

What is happening is insulting to all those that have relied on the NHS  and to all those dedicated and highly committed health practitioners that work in the NHS. These right wing comments are nothing short of a disgrace and an insult to the UK.

We love our NHS  - Hands off!

Last night I was delighted to be able to attend the leaving party of Prestwich Area Youth Manager, James Perkin.

James became Prestwich Youth service manager 2 years ago and along with the rest of the Prestwich team has done tremendous work in the area, developing youth projects, reinvigorating the Phoenix centre and engaging young people on the issues that matter to them.

At last night leaving party, the greatest testament to his work over the past two years was the tributes paid by the young people themselves, especially the members of the band formed from the live music project that has been created at the Phoenix centre. They performed a number of songs, some well known, some self penned - including a special composition “James’s Song” , written in his honour.

It was a great night, I said a few words, but the best words came from the young people themselves.

What struck me though, and I said this to those there, was how vulnerable our front line services are. Over reliant on 1 or 2 people in an area each day to effectively try and deliver a service. People if asked might think there were 100’s of youth workers, 100’s of police officers. Yet the reality is that we are reliant on a small handful of highly committed, dedicated public servants.

As such it brought home to me again last night how fragile and vulnerable the youth service currently is, with the Tory threats of “outsourcing” or privatising the service hanging over it.

What the Conservative administration failed to realise (or perhaps they planned it that way), was by announcing their proposals they have threatened the very existence of the youth service - before they can even outsource it.

With the announcement that Bury Council is to contest the recent equal pay ruling against the Council would suggest the Tories are playing a dangerous game indeed both with Council services and finances.

I understand all the other Greater Manchester Councils have accepted the decision, yet Bury Council seems to think that they somehow have a special case.

Having already incurred costs of over £600,000 they are now committing to spend a whole lot more on legal expenses to fight a claim that will cost millions if lost. To that end I appreciate the Chief Executives judgement that as protector of the public purse they must do all they can to safeguard public funds and as such the maths says it all, sadly however form on this issue isn’t good.

What is deeply worrying is that having seen what has gone before on this issue leaves me with precious little faith in the Council strategy especially with regard to any involvement from the ruling Conservative administration.

It must be remembered that not so long ago councillors were being told that we had to go through the painful pay and regrading review because if we didn’t we faced hundreds of legal actions against the Council.

So having demoralised half the staff, with many leaving, surpise surprise we end up with legal actions culminating in the recent decision that exposes Bury to claims running into millions.

Of course that was also helpfully followed by Bury’s Chief Executive warning of redundancies with dire consequences for council services.

Now the Council is advised that we once again have a great case. I wish I was that confident and in any case the moral arguments would seem in many cases to outweigh any legal technicalities. Then there is the sleeping partner in all this - the Labour Government that has stood back, washed its hands and refused to offer any crumbs of comfort to beleagured councils around the country- the silence is deafening.

Bury Council is proposing to introduce some safety improvements for this junction primarily consisting of the introduction of push button pedestrian facilities and some minor road widening.

Attached below is a copy of the letter and plans highlighting what measures are proposed for the junction and which will be delivered to the residential properties/businesses near to the proposed scheme later on this week.

If you have any queries or wish to raise any concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact either myself, Cllr Pickstone or Cllr Davison.

bor-hroad-plan.pdf      bor-hroad-letter.pdf

  LETTERS TO THE PRESS 6/8/09

I was amused to read the letters pages of 23^rd July with broadside against the Lib Dems from Lab/Con members.

Most amusing was the Labour member saying its all our fault for putting the Tories into power at Bury, and the Tory member saying we should remember that we were in coalition with the Tories in Bury. Who was right? Of course neither. Both sadly so wrapped up in their own spin and bitter take on events that they prefer to ignore the truth.

When Labour lost power the Tories were the largest party. The public that had voted against Labour and in two cases for 2 new Lib Dem councilors would not have stomached the Lib Dems then propping up a Labour administration. Straight and simple.

We have never been in coalition with anyone on Bury, preferring thus far to handle matters on an issue by issue basis and that has seemed to work well. But of course that will never satisfy the Tories or Labour who would simply prefer us not to exist – 3’s a crowd in politics so far as they are concerned.

The Conservative member then went on to lambast us “suggesting not a lot has happened”. I would correct him on that score, and suggest that not a lot has happened in Prestwich as a result of the Tories being in power –  but a lot has happened as a result of the local Lib Dems.

As I write we have teams cleaning graffiti and grot spots across the area, we have had a successful Prestwich Festival, plans for the development of Prestwich village are before the Councils Planning Committee, we are finally getting an alley-gating scheme to cut back crime, and we continue to press for this Conservative Council to get real and stop neglecting our highways. And, we will continue to stand up for all of Prestwich, while the Tories and Labour no doubt increase the mud slinging and point scoring in the run up to next May’s elections.

Finally, I noted  the Labour member saying we should have proportional representation because its not fair that the Lib Dems have all 9 Prestwich seats. Now there’s a turn up, welcome to the club Frank!

Local residents campaigning against the proposed commerical soccer centre at the St Margaret’s corner of Heaton Park are hoping that the parks hertigate could save the day for this beautiful area of open parkland.

Consultation on the Goals Soccer Centre application closed in July, but campaigners have been informed that English Heritage - the Government’s formal heritage “watchdog” have raised several serious concerns about the development. Heaton Park is a Grade II parkland, and Heaton Hall itself is a Grade I listed building. Campaigners understnad that English Heritage have raised concerns about the size of the development (the number of football pitches and tennis courts), the car park (that there shoudn’t be one) and the amount of fencing in the scheme which detracts from the open nature of the park.

At the same time campaigners have found out that the Heritage Lottery Fund, who have funded millions of pounds of improvements in Heaton Park in recent years were not consulted on the proposed development, and only found out after the consultation deadline after a resident tipped them off!

Requests for a copy of the English Heritage objection have been denied by Manchester Council.

Its brilliant that these important heritage agencies have been brought into the discussion on the Soccer Centre. Heaton Park is a historic piece of parkland thats been used as a park for over 100 years. The proposed development is only metres away from a beatiful historic house.

These heritage concerns raise serious questions about the proposed development. “Bury Council has already raised concerns that there is not enough parking in the scheme. If English Heritage say there shouldn’t be a car park where does this leave the local residents?

Manchester Council must see sense now?

Last night Bury Councils Healthier Communities Scrutiny Committee confirmed the Councils decision to close all but one of our elderly persons homes and change some to special centres ie for dementia/respite care etc.

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

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

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

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

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

A new planning application has been received which is within Holyrood Ward of Prestwich as detailed below:-

Application number: 51622         Type of application: Full         Date Registered: 03/08/2009

Applicant: Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
Location: HEATON PARK CP SCHOOL, CUCKOO LANE, WHITEFIELD, M45 6TE
Proposal: EXTENSION AND REFURBISHMENT TO PROVIDE NEW CHILDREN’S CENTRE

Plans will be available to view on the Council’s website (see the Planning Dept link on the left) within 2 working days. Should you require further details please contact the case officer: Helen Longworth on: 0161 253 5322 or myself or my fellow Holyrood Councillors, Cllr Tim Pickstone or Cllr Wilf Davison.

A few people in favour of the proposed development of a sports zone in Heaton Park keep challenging the “anti” development campaign, including myself and colleagues, accusing us of spoiling things for the kids that want sports facilities.

I am frankly amazed at what little regard some people seem to have for parkland, and especially for something as widely cherished as Heaton Park.

They don’t see a problem with building on parkland, they don’t see the loss - only the gain, almost blinded by the potential gain. And perversely they fail to see that sports can be played on grass parkland as well. In fact unless things have changed isn’t football supposed to be played on grass? Grass parkland is the ultimate in flexible sporting facilities!

Would the same people like to see Bury Council build sports facilities on St.Mary’s park, Barnfield Park or the Clough?

Our parkland has to be protected because once developed it will be lost forever and that would be an apalling legacy to leave future generations.

 ”on this site once stood open grassland - a habitat to wildlife and mature trees, shrubs and wild flowers. A haven and place of tranquility and sport to be enjoyed by the many and available to all absolutely free”

Back 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

In the wake of the Tory by-election victory in Norwich North their treasury spokesperson Phillip Hammond has called for a massive Tory majority after the next election in order that the Tories are not held up in Parliament from making the necessary public spending cuts.

Hopefully there are still plenty of people out there who remember the early 1980’s. A new Conservative Government had come to power and they set about making deep cuts to public spending. Cuts that decimated local councils, cuts that hit front line services, cuts that hit the vulnerable and the weak.

The Thatcher Government politicised me and (I suspect, many more). I joined the Liberal Party in 1983 as a result - the need to fight such damaging policies, to fight for the vulnerable and the weak, the disadvantaged and the poor.

The last thing this country needs is a massive Conservative majority after the next election. Its generally agreed by all main parties that we need to make spending cuts, but they need to be justified to Parliament and to the people and they have to be managed.

A large majority for any party right at the start of a new Parliament would lead to a Government that could push cuts through without taking notice of opposition or the people. That would mean bad policies, bad cuts and bad news for the weakest in our society.

No Mr Hammond a massive Tory majority is not what’s needed, a caring supportive, unifying Government that can take the tough decisions and make cuts sensitively is what’s needed and the Conservatives aren’t it! 

Last night I was delighted to attend a reception to officially open Prestwich’s latest community facility.

A legacy to St.Mary’s Church, the former Pensioners Club on Church Lane has been refurbished and decorated and was last night re-opened as Church Lane Community Centre.

Following a lovely buffet and refreshments ,the Rev. Bryan Hackett was master of ceremonies and made a presentation to a former member of the Pensioners club before introducing the Bishop of Bolton who blessed the new facility.

I was then invited along with the other Cllr D’Albert to officially open the building by presenting the keys to a management committee member.

I was pleased to be able to congratulate all those involved in refurbishing the building, and said it would prove a tremendous asset to the Prestwich community for many years to come.

Throughout the reception members of the Halle Orchestra string section played a number of well known classics.  

The answer so far is 25 days and counting.

Baguley Crescent, Rhodes , Middleton - One block of flats has a mountain of household refuse including rotting foods and dumped mattress at the rear with over flowing drains covered in grease. I reported it to the Council initially about 6 weeks ago - no response. I re-reported it on June 22nd! I’ve just re-re-reported it an hour ago. I was told the supervisor is looking into it and will come back to me.

On another part of the same estate there is a stack opf asbestos roofing leaning against a wall. I reported that also on June 22nd - it is still there.

It really isn’t good enough that residents complaints - especially on an evironmental health issue (rats have been seen), should be so appallingly handled.

Lets see what happens next.

Last nights meeting of Bury Councils’ Economy, Environment and Transport Scrutiny commission was most notable for one of the worst examples of a council trying to do a policy u-turn and save face that I have ever witnessed.

It all came about because in this years council budget the Conservatives decided that in oirder to save £250,000 they would switch off perhaps a third of street lights for a period each night.

Was this policy proposed as a grand environmental initiative - NO, Was this planned after extensive consultation - NO, Was this done as a blatant attempt to cut costs irrespective of the consequences - YES.

This was further ratified at a recent meeting of the Councils Executive that then requested the EET to scrutinise the issue.

Fast forward to last night and out of the blue the Conservative Chair, proposes a motion to go to Executive telling them to forget about it as it’s a bad idea.

Ok, even if we can put aside the fact that the Council Executive asked us to scrutinise the issue and we would be effectively be saying NO! And we could leave aside the potential environmental merits of reviewing the streetlights CO2 and power costs and requirements etc. At least we could if it was done for the right reason.

What was clear last night was that the Conservative Group, desperate to get out of a mess on this issue, with Council officers opposed, residents opposed and Police opposed, were desperate to be bailed out by the EET scrutiny commission. So now they can say they were prepared to go ahead but have bowed to pressure from the scrutiny commission.

I told the meeting that I didn’t think it was the job of this commission to find a way for the Executive to save face and get them out of this mess.

In the end due to something of an impasse (this item lasted nearly 40 minutes) and the opposition at least were opposed the switch off anyway, we agreed to tell the Executive to forget about turning off the street lamps (for now), so long as we can examine a long term strategy for reducing the environmental and financial impact of the boroughs streetlamps.

Phew, but what a joke!

Labour have announced today a review of elderly care funding to end what they rightly call a care lottery.

The trouble is that firstly they have said they want to make things fairer for the elderly requiring care but haven’t exactly said how. Only suggesting a few options that could be considered. Secondly you can’t go round inventing policies that affect one aspect of one sector of the community (albeit a major one).

Yesterday they announced a review of official retirement age, also fine, but shouldn’t it be considered as one of a range of measures that improve the quality of life of Britains people through their passage from working life to retirement life to elerly care and dependency?

Council officers endlessly talk about creating provision and support for those wanting to remain at home, then there are those with disabilities. Travel and leisure requirements and extra pressures on the NHS, not to mention actual pension levels  and other state entitlements.

It’s one thing Labour saying something needs to be done (It’s shameful by the way, that it’s taken 12 years for them to realise that!), but we need joined up thinking, cross agency/service working and genuine consultation with the elderly and the wider public.

Let’s face it we all hope to get there one day.

I attended the “Stand up for Radcliffe” march on sunday afternoon organised by Churches Together and the local MP, however I am concerned that what was ostensibly a successful event with over 100 taking part, may have been marred by public comments by the local MP suggesting the Chief Executive of Bury Council had lied and had been dishonest regarding assurances given that all necessary contract had been (or would be) signed prior to Labour losing control of the council.

The allegations followed speakers including myself. First of all a representative of Radcliffe Churches Together was followed by a parent and a former head girl.

I then addressed the assembled marchers in Bury Council’s Town Hall car park. I thanked the organisers for providing this opportunity for concerned residents, parents and pupils to make their voices heard and made it clear that I was concerned that Bury Council was not listening to the concerns being raised about proposals for Radcliffe Riverside and The Derby High Schools. I said that Governments start failing the people when they stop listening to those that elected them. That leads to mistakes and in this case the mistakes they are about to make could disrupt and damage the education of many Radcliffe young people. Parents have a fundamental right to expect that their children will receive the best possible education from the local council.

Radcliffe deserves a first rate high school like every other town in Bury. Bury’s decision not only jeopardises the future of the new school to be built but will also have a damaging impact on Riverside pupils.

My comments were followed by Ivan Lewis’s allegations. Allegations that centre around apparent pledges made just prior to Labour losing control of the Council. According to Ivan Lewis the Chief Executive gave assurances that all necessary contracts re: the land for the new Riverside School were or would be signed before polling day. Subsequently this turned out to not be the case.

These allegations are extremely serious and will need to be investigated and responded to that is clear. However I am concerned that over and above these allegations the key issues are hear and now, not something that happened or didn’t happen two years ago.

We need to address real concerns faced by parents and pupils around the possible disruption of education, transport issues, disabled access and more.Sadly Ivan’s comments distract from those very real concerns and it is now likely that an almight row will now blow up about who said what and when, at a time when we should be addressing the concerns of the school community.

That’s the story of last nights busy Prestwich Area Partnership meeting at Sedgley Park School.

PRESTWICH FESTIVAL

The meeting was opened with a rolling slide show of photos from the 55 events held throughout Prestwich Festival. I took the opportunity to highlight how the festival came about and to thank all those that played a part in ensuring its success. I also requested feedback from residents who attended any of the events also with suggestions about to improve the festival next time.

OASIS CONCERTS

Graham Atkinson, Bury’s Director of Leisure services, reported back on the issues faced by Bury Council and the cross council  coordination of the Oasis concerts. He highlighted all aspects of the operation and identified areas to improved on next time. Which included aspects of parking and toilet provision, crowd dispersal at the end of concerts. Public transport issues  and nuisance/anti-social behaviour. A report is currently being compiled.

HIGHWAYS

We received a report with the delegated budget for local unclassified road repairs for the year. Prestwich is being offered just over £62,000 to spend. the report highlighted that the 13 worst streets in Prestwich needed repairs totaling £700,000. Its fair to say the Area Partnership was not amused. A resolution was passed highlihting our dissatisfaction and calling on the Council to review the situation as a matter of urgency and to get to grips with this issue that is now approaching crisis point.

HEATON PARK GAME ZONE

Residents from St.Margarets area attended open forum to raise the issue about Manchester’s plans for a private game zone in Heaton Park. In response the Area Partnership passed a resolution in support of residents and to inform Bury and Manchester Planning of our deep concerns about their proposals.

NEXT MEETING

October 1st, Butterstile Primary School arrive from 6.15 for 6.30 start.

The Government are set to announce plans for fast tracking professionals into Social Work to help meet the critical shortage of social workers.

The pressure comes in light of the report into the Baby P death which highlighted the shortage of social workers at Haringey Council - A problem faced by many Councils.

Whilst I applaud every effort to bring more people into Social Work we have to be extremely careful that their inexperience coupled with on-the-job training pressures both with trainees and their experienced couterparts, doesn’t stretch our social services even further. 

The public needs to have confidence that the trainees aren’t getting a cut down training programme on the cheap that could ultimately put at risk even more children and vulnerable adults. We experience Social workers leaving or retiring all the time we could end up with a highly inexperienced and dangerously exposed social worker network.

At the end of the day we have to address the drain of social workers away from this service by bring pay and other benefits in line with the daily risks and pressures that they face.

To my mind that’s first base, we can then address the best ways of bringing more people into social work as quickly and expedient as appropriate bearing in mind the extreme vulnerability of their clientele and the high expectations of the general public.

Prestwich Local Area Partnership takes place this Thursday, 9 July 2009 from 6.30-8.30pm, at Sedgley Park Primary School, Bishops Road, Prestwich.

The Local Area Partnership brings together the local councillors in Prestwich, partner agencies like Police, NHS and Six Town Housing, and community group representatives.

Councillors and partners will be available from 6.00 to meet up with local people, the meeting starts with formal business at 6.30, and then the public open forum where everyone can have their say is around 7.30pm.

Main Agenda Items

The main agenda items include:
- report and evaluation of the Love Prestwich Festival
- reports from the Area Manager, Police, Childrens Services and Youth Services
- report on Oasis Feedback
- Highway Repair proposals
- local grants.

Local Area Partnership Papers

Agenda (pdf 38kb).

Action notes (pdf 104kb).
Local area partnership manager update (pdf 47kb).

Highways refurbishment programme (pdf 51kb).

All members of the public are welcome to attend.

Many thanks to local resident Guy Dickinson for this information

Lodging a planning application objection will take you 2 minutes.

You must lodge an objection by 20th July - go and do it right now!

1) Go to this page (it redirects to the Mancs Council planning site) - http://tinyurl.com/leuakn

2) Fill in your details and then carefully select the various options:

3) COMMENTATOR TYPE: Neighbour (obviously if you live near the park, you’re a neighbour)

4) REASONS:

(hold down the ctrl key to select multiple reasons.) I chose:
Ecology
Light
Loss of trees
Noise or Disturbance
Parking
Traffic
Visual Amenity

5) MAKE SURE YOU SELECT THE OPTION “Inform the Authority that you object to the Planning Application.”

6) COMMENTS:

As I understand it, planning decisions apply more weight to objections/concerns over traffic and pollution, parking and environmental concerns. Your objection is likely to carry less weight if you simply object on grounds of aesthetic or tradition.

As an example of what can be written see this site, which you may wish to use as a template.

Hundreds of local residents gathered in the threatened area of Heaton Park today to protest at Manchester City Council plans for a giant game zone area tobe developed there.

I was delighted to join protesters to help make the point that this area is valued by local people and to send the message loud and clear to Manchester that Heaton Park isn’t for sale!

My colleague Cllr Tim Pickstone reminded residents that parks don’t get “built” these days so when this is developed on it will be lost forever.

I have attached the Councils proposed highways refurbishment programme for Prestwich the schedule lists the worst streets in Prestwich - in need of repair and you will see that the worst is Fairway with estimated repair costs of £165,000.

The trouble is Prestwich Area Partnership has been allocated £63,000 to carry out all necessary repairs.

The gap between budget and repairs needed is growing and growing and as reported last week the number of claims meanwhile is growing as well with £2,000,000 paid out between May 07 and June 09.

This Highways budget is set to be presented to Prestwich Area Partnerships meeting on thursday July 9th at Sedgley Park School. It has become an almost apologetic item on the agenda that only serves to cause irritation. Bury Conservatives have to take action to deal with our crumbling roads, or the claims will carry on growing.

The schedule and estimated costs can be found here: prestwich-with-footway-costs-split.pdf

A Manchester University study has found that patients with asthma avoid using inhalers or cut down their dose because they cannot afford prescription charges.

The study discovered that patients “skipped” or “stretched out” medicine, potentially making their illness worse. The UK survey has also found more than a third of patients are struggling with drug costs due to the recession.

Whilst this study highlights problems faced by patients suffering with a specific illness, it is undoubtedly the case that a review of precription charging is now well overdue. Many people are suffering because they cannot afford multiple prescriptions and so go without with the inevitable consequences. the recession has just aggravated the situation further.

What until recently affordability was mainly a problem facing dental patients, the problem has now spread to general medication. Whilst the Government has promised a review in the autumn we need urgent action now to deal with this growing health risk.

1st - Area Partnership Chairs, Bury Town Hall

7th - Climate Change Working Group, Bury Town Hall

8th - Bury Council Executive Committee, Bury Town Hall 6pm

9th - Prestwich Area Partnership, Sedgley Park School, Bishops Rd, from 6pm for 6.30 start

15th - Economy, Environment and Transport Scutiny Commission, Bury Town Hall

A leading member of the ruling Conservative Group conceded that our roads are a disgrace at the recent full meeting of Bury Council.

The admission from Cllr Gunther was in response to a question from Lib Dem councillor, Mary D’Albert (St.Mary’s ward).

But most astonishing was the reply that for the period May 07 to June 09 Bury Council has paid out on 333 highways claims with the total amounting to a shocking £2.1 Million. The average claim was just under £6500.

This is further evidence if needed that Bury’s roads are in a terrible state and in need of massive investment. At he full council meeting we called on the Council to consider drastic action, if need be obtaining one off loans to bring inject much needed funds into the highways maintenance programme.

The Conservative leader of the council conceded that the amount needed to bring our roads up to speed is more likely to be in the region of £40 million.

One thing is sure we need action now, because our roads are getting worse, claims are going through the roof and accidents are likely to happen.

Last night I took the opportunity to question the Conservative leader of the Council about his references during the week to disabled children attending Radcliffe Riverside. He had stated at a previous meeting that “It’s a reality of life” and the move to The Derby High could pose “A bit of a problem” as it does not have disabled access.

Whilst he clarified his comments last night, I told him that his remarks had been totally insensitive to the concerns of disabled people in the Borough not least Radcliffe and he should have apologised.

I also put it to him that the disability access issue is symptomatic of a Conservative Council making policy in a panic, on-the hoof and that the reorganisation of high schools had been mishandled and was a shambles.

He neither apologised or agreed with me - no surprise there. What was surprising was the leader of the Labour group accusing me of hypocrisy. This was apparently because we supported the motion to proceed with merger (with the Derby) to get the school built. Cheap points scoring, when he knows full well we never agreed to close Riverside before The Derby High. And we have consistently pressed for the pupils, parents, staff and Governors to be fully consulted and kept on side all along. Of course what we now know is that the Tories panicked and the rest is history.

Information from the Highways Agency (North West). 
The Highways Agency is advising drivers using the M60 between junctions 19 at Middleton and 23 at Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester to allow extra time to complete their journeys over the next six weekends.

Starting Friday (June 19), work is being carried out along this 6-mile section each weekend until August, weather permitting. A full carriageway closure will be in place with a contraflow on the opposite side of the motorway while the work is being carried out. Various entry and exit slip roads will also need to be closed.

The work is taking place over weekends when traffic volumes are lighter and disruption to drivers can be kept to a minimum – however some delays can be expected. Work will start each Friday at 9pm and the motorway will be fully reopened by 5am each Monday.

To ensure the ongoing safety of road-users, a 40mph speed limit will be in place throughout the roadworks – which are planned to be completed by 5am, July 27.

Overhead message signs will be used to advise drivers of the closures so they can choose an alternative route.  
The exploratory works are taking place to assess the condition of the carriageway on this section of the M60.
The Highways Agency’s North West Traffic Officer Service will deploy extra crews for the duration of the work with a dedicated patrol to cover the roadworks area and react quickly to any breakdowns or accidents to help keep drivers on the move.

The Highways Agency Regional Control Centre will be monitoring incidents and traffic conditions from motorway cameras as well as using electronic signs to provide drivers with up-to-the-minute information.

Only Cllr Bibby, the Conservative Leader of Bury Council, could manage to insult so many local people in one meeting.

The local paper is reporting that Cllr Bibby commented that being disabled was a “reality of life” after admitting that disabled children being sent to a school without disabled access would be a “bit of a problem”.

As someone who is disabled I am happy to enlighten Cllr Bibby that disability is more than a “bit of a problem” and, whilst it may be a reality of life, such throw-away remarks and obvious complete lack of understanding of disabled people, their concerns and needs in coping with the daily realities of life are  almost beyond contempt. In fact when I read the comments I had to read them twice, because I couldn’t believe that someone elected to represent local people,  including the disabled, could say such a thing.

Equally alarming is that Cllr Bibby is leader of the Council and no doubt responsible for disability stratagies and helping the disabled enjoy equal access to services and facilities. Oh dear.

Incredibly this furore came about because of the proposed closure of Riverside in a couple of years time with Radcliffe children being encouraged to attend the “non-disabled” access The Derby High School while a new Radcliffe school is being built.

Cllr Bibby hit top score in the insult stakes when not only he offended the disabled, but arguably the most vulnerable of disabled groups - the young disabled. It’s bad enough going through the inevitable growing pains and other emotional upheavals you ordinarily face at that stage in your life. You just want to fit in and join in - Something Cllr Bibby clearly doesn’t understand. I hope he has at least the courage to apologise or failing that perhaps the rest of the Conservative group will publicly distance themselves from his remarks.

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

The Council’s Planning Control Committee voted on Tuesday 16th June to grant planning permission for a new dining room and arts auditorium for the school, which was threatened with closure back in 2005. Local Lib Dem Councillor Vic D’Albert welcomed the news saying “This is a great boost for the school and the whole Prestwich community. As the only high school in Bury without a dining room,  this is long overdue. We’ve been lobbying the Council for years, and finally common sense has prevailed and given Prestwich young people what they need.

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

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

I don’t mind being criticised for not staning up for local residents, but when myself or local Lib Dems are attacked for supporting residents, well, that frankly takes the biscuit.

Local Conservatives have attacked local Lib Dems in the local free paper for supporting the campaign against development of a game zone in Heaton Park. Apparently we shouldn’t be campaigning on the issue because Manchester will make the ultimate decision. And????

Perhaps he would turn round and tell residents that he couldn’t help them. All I can say is that thank goodness Sedgley had Lib Dem councillors a few years ago when residents were so incensed at Manchester plans to build a school in Heaton Park. We now know local Conservatives would have sat back and allowed it to go ahead. However local Lib Dem councillors Ann Garner and Andrew Garner responded to residents concerns and campaigned against the proposals and guess what, they won. Now remind me where the local Conservatives were, oh yes, they were sitting on their hands happy to let Heaton Park get built on.

The Save Heaton Park campaign is one of those issues we should all be supporting irrespective of political party. It transcends party politics it is people politics. I still hope local Conservatives will see that it is wrong to develop Heaton Park and join the campaign.  

In an attempt to attack the Government this morning, the Conservatives confirmed that if elected they would cut public services by 10%.

Although they insist they wouldn’t cut NHS spending (Would they increase it in line with the massive deficit from 2011 announced today??), they did confirm that all other departments would be expected to make 10% cuts.

Whilst some of this may seem appropriate “careful” talk in times like these, but unless they are prepared to be more precise then they are acting wholly irresponsibly.

Where in Education would 10% be found, What cuts to defence, the Police, Local authorities, Transport?

The Conservatives are trying to respond to claims that they haven’t any policies by announcing little tasters that they hope will put the opposition on the back foot. The trouble is their “policies” don’t go anywhere. They have reduced policy announcements to sound bites! 

I have pledged my support to Scope’s “Time to get equal week” from June 8th to 14th.

Scope’s Time to Get Equal Week is a celebration of disabled people’s contribution to society and a chance to raise public awareness of the barriers disabled people face in their day-to-day lives.

Their campaign covers four main themes: Beating disabilism, freedom of expression, independent living and making rights a reality.

If you would like to pledge your support or get involved with their campaign go to www.timetogetequal.org.uk

This 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]

All combined for a typically broad ranging Prestwich Area Partnership meeting at Heaton Park School last night.

FESTIVAL

Area Partnership manager Carran O’Grady and Festival Organiser David Curtis gave a joint presentation on arrangements for the 1st Prestwich Festival which kicks off on sunday with the Clough Day in St.Mary’s Flower Park. From an initial hope that we may have about 10 events this inaugural festival has grown to a whopping 50 events. Much credit must go to the efforts of David and Carran amongst others.

OASIS

The Area partnership had requested an update on arrangements for the June Oasis concerts in Heaton Park.  Questioners asked about toilet provision, parking arrangements and security. There were also concerns raised about access to homes and polling stations. A 700 car parking facility will be available at Bowlee ticket holders are being advised that there is no local parking available. In addition there will be a massive security operation, including wheel clamping and monitoring of public drinking etc.

YOUNG PEOPLE

The partnership received a presentation from a representative of the Youth Inclusion Support Panel (YISP). YISP tries to intervene to help young people avoid the slippery slope to crime by intervening through referalls when young people get involved in anti-social behaviour. They help and support young people in meeting acceptable standards, adhering to ascceptable behaviour contracts etc and advising and offering help on youth issues.

HEALTHY EATING 

As opposed to tackling the the obese the NHS has instead launched a massive £75m campaign to encourage healthy eating. I’m sure most will have seen the nationwide TV advertising campaign. Basically it places greater emphasis on encouraging better, healthier eating habits and more exercise. It encourages parents to review what food they provide, portion control etc and develop more exercising for their children and themselves.

POLICE REPORT

PC Andy Ferguson gave a brief report at the end of the meeting informing the partnership that following a sustained campaign on Polefield the gang of young people that had caused much nuisance had been broken up and the estate is now much quieter.

There is to be a further campaign against the illegal use of quad bikes and scooters shortly. The campaign over last bank holiday weekend was a big success with several bikes confiscated. 

I was delighted to have been invited to address a meeting of Bury Branch of the Unite (formerly TGWU) Union yesterday.

I used the opportunity to highlight my concerns about the impact the Councils potentially over zealous use of RIPA powers (the so-called snoopers charter). In particular the damage done to morale and the potential damge to public confidence.

Specifically I outlined that I have written to the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council calling for a review of the powers used by Bury and for democratic accountability and independent checks to be introduced into the process.

Members of the audience were clearly very concerned about the councils use of these surveillance powers, specifically those at the receiving end of Operation Garbage - the councils surveillance of bin men in August 2007.

The staff of any organisation is its greatest asset. My concern with regard to Bury’s staff who are already suffering from low morale as a result of the Pay review and regrading shambles is that the message the Council is sending is - “OK you maybe our greatest asset, but we don’t trust you an inch”.

Not only will that affect morale further but it will damage the important element of mutual respect that needs to exist between employer and employee. Things need to change and change soon.

On friday afternoon I attended the Festival Launch event at the Church Inn.
Amidst Town crier, balloons being released, carnival queens et al politicians (yes myself included), said our “thank you’s” to all those who had put so much hard work into getting this first Prestwich Festival off the ground, and wished everyone the best of luck for the forthcoming events.

I particularly singled out Area Partnership Manager, Carran O’Grady, Ruth Shedwick and Organiser, David Curtis for all their involvement and commitment to ensuring Prestwich Festival actually happened!
35 days of events across Prestwich commence on Sunday 17th with the Clough Day at St.Mary’s Flower Park.

As I said on friday, its time for Prestwich to come together, to party, to have a great time. I hope to see you there!

Local residents packed into St.Margarets Church House in Prestwich tonight to let local councillors know their views on the proposed development by Manchester City Council of a commercially operated sports zone at the St.Margarets corner of the park.

Over 80 residents attended the meeting chaired by Cllr Tim Pickstone and assisted by Cllr Vic D’Albert. Sedgley Lib Dem councillors Andrew Garner and Ann Garner were also present as was the Vicar of St.Margarets, The Reverend Debbie Plummer.

Cllr Pickstone outlined the proposals that have led to the meeting and that as councillors we needed to know the views of constituents.

The vast majority of residents were opposed to the proposals although there were some strong supporters in favour of the proposals.

The main reasons for opposition cited by residents were:

• The impact on local traffic - especially on St.Margarets Road
• The impact on parking in the area - with the fear that many visitors will try and park in side streets.
• Increased traffic late into the evening
• Noise and light pollution (floodlights) in the evening from the sports zone activities
• Loss of historic public open parkland

Cllr Vic D’Albert told the meeting, “What I struggle with on this issue is that when the park was first being proposed for refurbishment and regeneration years ago the Councils consultants told us that he aim was to restore the park to its original splendour, to restore the “vistas” of the original park. I fail to see how a sports zone fits in with those plans. Its a difficult issue, on the one hand we desperately need 21st century sports facilities in this area, but we also want to retain our park. On the balance I think its wrong - it boils  down to location, location, location.”

Voluteers were sought at the close of the meeting to collect signatures for the campaign against the plans and also to form a small action group to lead the campaign.

Remember you can sign the petition online at www.campaigns.libdems.org.uk/saveheatonpark or via the community web site www.myprestwich.org.uk

This 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]

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. 

“Britain’s taxes are too heavy on those who can least afford it. And too easy to avoid for those who know how.  

“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. 

“With a shocking deficit this year of £175bn we need a national debate about what the state can and cannot afford in the future. 

“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

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

(source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8011882.stm)

So 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.

As 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.  

I am pleased to see that the Home Secretary has agreed to review The Regulatory and investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) which has been used by councils to spy on resident,businesses and staff alike and has acknowledged that they have often been used for trivial offences.

Unfortunately she hasn’t seen fit to review the processes employed and feels that they  can remain at the discretion of the Councils or Police without independent outside checking/authorisation  ie by a magistrate. So in essence my key concerns remain about transparency, accountability and justification. But it’s a start!

Read more here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8003123.stm

The list of events for this inaugural Prestwich Festival has just been announced.

Go to the festival page listed on the left of the web page for the full detailed listing. But I am pleased to announce that an incredible 45 events are scheduled from May 17th with the Clough day to June 21st with Prestwich Carnival.

A programme is to be delivered across Prestwich shortly (if you’d like to help deliver it please get in touch).

I would take this opportunity to thank David Curtis and Carran O’Grady and others such as Ruth Shedwick for all their input and the massive effort required to reach this point.

It’s now down to you, the great Prestwich public, to show you like the idea and get out and support these events. Remember you will be supporting local charities and voluntary organisations, local businesses and local talent. And have fun!

A new planning application has been received which is within Holyrood Ward (Prestwich) as detailed below:-

Application number: 51209     Type of application: Full     

Date Registered: 15/04/2009

Applicant: Governors of Prestwich High School Arts College
Location: PRESTWICH HIGH SCHOOL, HEYS ROAD, PRESTWICH, M25 1JZ
Proposal: AUDITORIUM EXTENSION WITH LINK TO EXISTING BUILDING

Plans will be available to view on the Council’s website within 2 working days from today. Should you require further details please contact the case officer: Tom Beirne on: 0161 253 5361 or any of your local councillors.

We will be happy to receive your comments and advise on how you can formally comment.

Prestwich Lib Dems have launched a petition opposed to Manchester City Councils plans for a commercial sports development of the St.Margarets end of the park.

The petition is as follows:

We the undersigned are opposed to the proposal to create a private use “Sports Zone” at the St Margaret’s entrance to Heaton Park. We welcome new sports and leasure facilities, but not taking up public parkland!

If you want to sign the petition online you can do so at: http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/saveheatonpark or go to www.myprestwich.org.uk  and look for the Heaton Park petition article.

We plan to circulate paper copies in the near future.

Furthermore anyone interested in joining the campaign is invited to a public meeting at St.Margarets Church House (opposite the church) on St.Margarets Road, Prestwich on monday April 27th at 7pm.

Despite recent assurances, notably at the recent Prestwich Area Partnership, I am growing increasingly concerned about aspects of preparation for the Oasis concerts in June.

I understand that despite initial suggestions to the contrary it is now expected that half the numbers attending these gigs will be travelling from out of the area by car or coach etc - that’s an influx of 35,000 using private transport on our local roads.

In addition I am concerned that the provision of portable toilets is likely to be wholly inadequate.

It also surely makes sense that we introduce some form of Residents permit for key blocks of residential areas adjacent to the park. If these events are to be a success then that means local residents won’t suffer unecessarily as well.

I will be seeking assurances over the coming week that these aspects will be re-examined. We need a committment from the organisers that the safety of local people and the Prestwich environment will be protected.

This 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];