Lib Dems were disappointed, but not surprised, when Hertfordshire Tories voted to enhance property developer profits by reducing the amount they have to pay to provide school places.
The change in policy, from the upper end of the range allowed in the regulations to the bottom end, was proposed by officers because it was 'too difficult to argue' after neighbouring authorities and the Government's own agency, the ESFA, allowed developers to contribute the lowest possible amount or are building schools to the lower specification.
That is the question many local rail users are asking, after a motion of No Confidence in Transport Minister Chris Grayling was defeated with not a single Conservative MP breaking ranks in the vote, despite many of them expressing their extreme concern in the debate. And Grant did not speak at all in the debate unlike MPs for Stevenage, for Hitchin and for North-East Herts, the areas sharing our pain.
Saturday 23 June
You are invited to travel to the "March for Europe", by meeting on the Platform at Witham Station for the 10:46 to London (10:33 from Colchester)
[10:00 from Braintree, 10:18Marks Tey, or 10:33 Kelvedon and change to meet at Witham OR see us in St James Square.]
I suggest- Change to Underground at Stratford (Jubilee to direct to Green Park is likely to be less crowded than using the Central and Bakerloo or Picadilly lines to Picadilly Circus)
Join the Liberal Democrat contingent at St James Square SW1Y4JR at about 12:05, for Vince's speech at 12:15.
We join into the main march in Pall Mall by 13:00, to shuffle off to Parliament Square. Please indicate your intention to come, and check for any final instructions by going to https://www.libdems.org.uk/march-for-eu….
It is not far but progress is slow, so bring water (and a snack if you want to avoid long queues), and wear sun protection and comfortable footwear for walking and standing around. As of Friday, the forecast is dry, sunny and 21 to 23C
Not all local members will choose this train. If you want to make sure of meeting someone at Witham, you are invited to e-mail sbolter@greenlibdems.org.uk by 9:30Saturday. ]
Stewartby's Liberal Democrat Councillor Tim Hill attended the Council's Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and scrutiny meeting last night to question both the Environment Agency and Covanta about the proposed Energy to Waste Plant.
Before Councillor Hill started his questioning, he welcomed the news that a High Court Judge has ruled in favour of Bedfordshire Against Covanta Incinerator (BACI). The Judge said that BACI has identified arguable grounds to have their case heard in Court. Councillor Hill thanked BACI for their work so far.
SPORT STRATEGY SUFFERS A FALSE START - BUT THE ATHLETICS TRACK EVENT HAS ALREADY STARTED!
DBC's long overdue Sports and Activity has failed to satisfy scrutineers and has been sent back to the starting-line for a re-write. Meanwhile the council is going ahead with yet ANOTHER major Sports infrastructure decision - with NO SPORTS STRATEGY.
David Beavan -Lib Dem Candidate for Southwold and Reydon By-Election
Thursday 12th July 2018
Southwold & Reydon campaigner, David Beavan has been nominated as the Lib Dems candidate in the forthcoming Waveney District Council By-Election.
David, has been leading the high profile campaign to secure a fairer rating and taxation system for second homes and for more affordable housing for local people. He was the runner up to the Conservative in the contest for a County Council seat in May 2017 and is campaigning hard to win the seat in advance of the planned merger of the two Councils in 2019. He has already secured the formal support of the Green Party who have decided not to stand against David.
Liberal Democrat Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced the introduction of 300 electric vehicle charging points, on 150 posts, across Bedford Town Centre for electric cars over the next 3 years, a massive increase on the existing number.
Working in partnership with Chargemaster, the UK's largest charge point manufacturer, the Council will install the stations on street and within car parks. Both fast and rapid chargers will be installed as part of the project and installations will begin in the coming months.
Chelmsford's new Local Plan was passed by the full council last night but was attacked for being weak on infrastructure, environment, and the affordability of homes. Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition Cllr. Stephen Robinson said,
"The Liberal Democrats are clear that this country has not built enough houses for 20 or more years. And nothing like enough houses that can be afforded by younger people and others on low incomes, people who are vital to our society's future.
Responding to the National Audit Office's (NAO) latest report on Universal Credit, Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat DWP Spokesperson Dean Crofts said:
"The comprehensive report from the NAO is a devastating indictment of the Conservatives' cruel and incompetent roll-out of Universal Credit.
"Not only is UC years behind schedule and unlikely to either deliver value for money or increase employment, it is also causing severe hardship among claimants, which the Government consistently refuses to acknowledge or address.
"As is typical with this government, they are reacting to events rather than preventing events happening."
"The awful situation is unlikely to improve, with the NAO estimating that over 300,000 new claimants will be paid late over the course of this year, inflicting further financial and psychological harm on some of society's most vulnerable people.
"The Conservatives must re-instate the withdrawn work allowances to reduce hardship for claimants and fix the flaws identified by the NAO before it is too late."
At the HCC Council Meeting of 27th March, Lara Pringle, the new DBC councillor for Northchurch presented a petition from the local Road Safety Pressure Group, "Go 20 Northchurch".
Local residents have been calling for some time for a 20 mph speed limit to be imposed on the centre of the village.
