At the Essex County Council budget meeting, Liberal Democrats identified spare cash stashed away in the council's accounts and proposed the following projects for spending.
£4 million extra for minor highways schemes across Essex
£2.5 million for Public Health, to help reduce youth suicides, tackle smoking related illnesses and improve mental health
£350,000 for the Youth Service, to help young carers, lunch clubs and outreach work
£250,000 to help 16-18-year olds from low income families to get to college
£250,000 to help reduce fly tipping
£12,500 to enable street lights to be left on if recommended by local police
£22,000 to develop a plan for solar panels on County Council property
There will be a East West Rail consultation event this Thursday (15 February), where you can see the five proposed route plans and speak to the East West Rail Company. The consultation will be at Scott Hall, Barford Avenue MK42 0DS from 3.30pm to 7.30pm.
Mayor Dave Hodgson has welcomed the launch of the public consultation on route options for the Bedford - Cambridge section of the East West Railway line, and called on people to have their say in support of a route via Bedford itself.
More than 1,000 people in Uttlesford have signed the Lib Dem petition calling for the County Council to abandon its plans to close Libraries in Essex. It was handed to Essex County Cllr. Stephen Robinson outside Saffron Walden Library by Councillors and local campaigners from Saffron Walden, Stansted and Thaxted.
Westminster is in a strange state of lassitude. We know there is a massive Brexit storm ahead; but nothing much is happening. Theresa May's statement to the Commons yesterday was largely an exercise in repetition, including the ludicrous assertion that we might 'accidentally' leave the European Union without a deal.
Proposals to enhance and improve Essex libraries were rejected today by Conservative-run Essex County Council. At today's Full Council Budget meeting, Liberal Democrats proposed a full review of library premises, to consider commercial or residential additions, which would safeguard their future, rather than threaten the closure of 44 libraries.
A plan to investigate clean air zones across Essex's urban centres was rejected. Essex County Council Liberal Democrats called for the Council to take a lead on undertaking full assessments for clean air zones to tackle air pollution.
The proposal was simply to spend £22,000 to develop a business plan for this but it was rejected by the Conservatives. The Lib Dem proposals also included charging heavily polluting vehicles.
At a recent meeting at Brentwood Borough Council it was stated that Local Enterprise Partnership (SE LEP) monies are match funded by Essex County Council.
This was queried by Brentwood Lib Dem Councillor Barry Aspinell.
Cllr Aspinell asked the Cabinet Member for Finance, Commercial and Traded Services for clarity regarding the process of applying for the match-funded money. Cllr Aspinell also asked about the level of match-funding that the council would be committed to.
February is LGBT History Month, and Bedford Borough Council flew the rainbow flag at Borough Hall to mark the start of the month, pictured here.
Meanwhile, as part of LGBT History Month, this Saturday, 16th February, the Higgins Bedford is the place to go for the OUTing the Past Festival of LGBT History. The Higgins Bedford is again a 'hub' venue for the festival, and there's a packed programme for Saturday of speakers along with stalls with information on LGBT History, as well as LGBT rights, support and activism and more.
A plan to investigate clean air zones across Essex's urban centres was rejected. Essex County Council Liberal Democrats called for the Council to take a lead on undertaking full assessments for clean air zones to tackle air pollution.
The proposal was simply to spend £22,000 to develop a business plan for this but it was rejected by the Conservatives. The Lib Dem proposals also included charging heavily polluting vehicles.
50,000 older people have now died waiting in vain for care during the 700 days since the Government first said it would publish a Care Green Paper.
This is one of the conclusion drawn from a survey just released by Age UK
Amongst the other findings are that:
over the same period, in excess of half a million older people (626,701) have had their requests for social care refused, and 7,240 older people have had the terrible experience of running down all their savings because of their care bills, leaving them reliant on the state to fund their care in future and with nothing to leave for loved ones after their death;
In addition, during the same 700 day period, 1,263,844 older people have developed an unmet need, such as being able to wash or dress. This is 1,805 developing an unmet need every day.
