February 20th, 2008 by Group Office | Comment?
At the meeting of the County Council on 20 February, local Lib Dem Knaresborough councillors Richard Hall and Bill Hoult got unanimous support to demand the keeping open of Aspin Lane Post Office in the town.
Speaking at the meeting, Lib Dem County Councillor Richard Hall said:
“If Aspin Lane Post Office closes, it would leave one post office in the town centre. Knaresborough is a large, growing town of 15,000+ residents.”
Councillor Hall went on:
“Aspin Lane Post Office was never in the original closure proposals by the Post Office. Instead, arbitrarily, it has been brought forward for closure because the one in Cold Bath Road in Harrogate is to remain open.”
“North Yorkshire County Council, in its demand to keep Aspin Lane Post Office open, has given valuable support for the growing campaign by Knaresborough
Town Council and the community of Knaresborough to keep this essential service.”
Councillor Bill Hoult, who also represents Knaresborough for the Lib Dems, said:
“This unanimous support from the County Council will be reported to the town meeting on 3 March at 7pm in Gracious Street Methodist Church, Knaresborough.”
“I am confident that it will help the Knaresborough community campaign to stop this closure.”
February 20th, 2008 by Group Office | Comment?
Liberal Democrats at North Yorkshire County Council today demanded to know why the ruling Conservatives have cut routine gulley clearing from twice a year to only once.
This is in spite of the heavy rainfall which caused horrendous flooding in Craven last month.
The Tory portfolio holder, Cllr John Fort, said that the whole area was being looked at, but did not promise a restoration of previous service levels.
Airedale County Councillor Mark Wheeler, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats at County Hall, comments:
“Cutting this service is an abdication of responsibility. The Tory Council is failing local residents.”
“With climate change likely to increase the amount of flood risk in future, surely the County Council should be increasing the amount of gulley clearing, not decreasing it.”
“I can only hope that when this matter is looked at again, common sense will prevail and the Council will properly fund this vital service.”
February 20th, 2008 by Group Office | Comment?
Liberal Democrats at North Yorkshire County Council today demanded action on progressing the modernisation of day services for people with learning disabilities in Craven.
Since 2004 promises have been made that clients currently housed at Snaygill would be re-housed into suitable new accommodation.
This project was due to be in place by summer 2006 but is no further on.
Craven District Council had agreed with North Yorkshire that an extra building would be added on the land at Stepping Stones (Aireville Park) but Craven are still waiting for North Yorkshire to agree the final terms and conditions for the lease.
In the meantime, carers’ representatives were advised in January that there would be no accommodation going ahead on this site as it was far too expensive.
At today’s meeting of the Council, Skipton County Councillor Polly English today demanded to know just who is making these decisions, and commented:
“As the local ward member I have been kept completely in the dark.”
“We are failing the most vulnerable in our society.”
“Snaygill is due to close on 30 June 2008 and no decision has been made as to where we can safely house the service users.”
February 19th, 2008 by Group Office | Comment?
North Yorkshire County Council is planning to formalise the appointment of two councillors as Young Peoples and Elderly Persons “Champions” for the county. Each will be paid a special extra allowance of over £4000 a year.
Both Champions are currently hired and fired by the single party Conservative Executive that runs the Council.
The Liberal Democrat Group think that, particularly for the Young Persons Champion, it should be the young people who vote for the councillor they want to represent them and not left to the Executive.
A motion is being put to the next Full Council meeting on the 20 February proposed by Councillor Bill Hoult (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group) and seconded by Cllr Caroline Seymour (Liberal Democrat spokesperson on the Young People Scrutiny Committee).
Councillor Bill Hoult (Knaresborough) explains:
“This creates a great opportunity to involve young people in the democratic process, something the County Council and the Government are striving to do.”
“We think it is wrong that the appointment or dismissal of these champions is at the whim of the Executive which will act like a gag if the person wants to keep his/her job and allowance.”
“The person elected should be able to speak up for young people without always looking over their shoulder in case they are sacked by their political masters. That is real democracy!”
Cllr Seymour adds:
“This is just the right time for action on this. District Councils in North Yorkshire are working with the County Council on Youth Participation Plans.”
“The Local Government Association, of which I am a member, is promoting a Local Democracy campaign called “sending the councillor back to school”. What better way of encouraging young people to become involved than letting them elect a representative?”
The motion also proposes that elections for the Elderly Persons Champion should also be instituted following agreement on the electorate and the electoral system.
January 25th, 2008 by Group Office | Comment?
A Liberal Democrat has hit out angrily at North Yorkshire County Council’s failure to manage the budget for the new school at Richmond.
Richmond County Councillor Stuart Parsons has expressed surprise and anger at the revelation that the massive investment programme at Richmond School has, in under four months, already gone 18% over budget.
Cllr Parsons also expressed disappointment that the Conservative Executive member responsible, Councillor John Watson, failed to let him know that there was a problem.
Lib Dem County Councillor Stuart Parsons said:
“It is incredible that such an important project could find itself in serious difficulties already. Councillor Watson must bear full responsibility for this debacle.”
“It just goes to prove that putting Conservatives in charge, whether at County Hall, Richmondshire District or Hambleton District, guarantees one thing: total incompetence.”
“The Tories must call an emergency meeting of all partners to resolve this scandalous problem. Yet again it is the pupils and teachers who will suffer, and that is quite unacceptable. The Council owes them better than this.”
December 19th, 2007 by Group Office | Comment?
Liberal Democrat councillors at North Yorkshire County Council today were alone in opposing more allowances for councillors.
The Tory-run council voted at its meeting today to start paying allowances to two “Member Champions”. Previously these “Champions” have never been paid.
From next year the Council’s “Champion for Older Persons” and the “Champion for Young Persons” will each receive £4,518 per year. This is in addition to their basic allowance of £8,772.
Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Bill Hoult (from Knaresborough) said:
“Once again Tory and Labour councillors combined to vote to use Council Tax payers’ money on a barmy idea.” “Councillors are elected to serve all the people in their own wards and object to the Tory leadership trying to appoint “placemen” who will interfere with the role they were elected to do”
Richmond Cllr Stuart Parsons added:
“In the current climate of ever-rising Council Tax bills, it is foolish for the Tories and Labour to start paying yet more money to councillors.”
“This is not an attack on the individuals involved. But they put themselves up for the job so why should the Council Tax payer suddenly need to start paying them?”
December 19th, 2007 by Group Office | Comment?
Liberal Democrat Councillors at North Yorkshire County Council are again appalled by the failure of the Conservative-run authority to secure a site for the recycling of household waste.
It was stated in the report of the Executive Member’s report responsible for this facility that the Council is now advertising for possible sites! In the past the Council has paid consultants to find sites. Eleven were identified but this came to nothing.
At today’s meeting of the Council, Lib Dem Councillor Gordon Charlton (Harrogate Saltergate) asked the question as to how much the external consultants had been paid, and for what.
Cllr Charlton said:
“It seems that considerable sums of money have been wasted for no result. Lib Dems believe this is outrageous and no assurance was given in response to the question as to the future of a second recycling site.”
“A second recycling site for the district is desperately needed because at the moment the only site in the area, on Wetherby Road, Harrogate, is the busiest in North Yorkshire.”
December 19th, 2007 by Group Office | Comment?
Liberal Democrat Councillor Brian Simpson today questioned senior Tories at County Hall about the crisis at George Pindar Community Sports College (GPCSC) in Eastfield, Scarborough.
Cllr Simpson is concerned that new housing developments in Eastfield will not be in the catchment area for GPCSC. This will mean half of the young people of Eastfield having to go to Scarborough schools instead of the one in Eastfield.
Cllr Simpson said:
“I am disappointed with the response I received from the Tory portfolio holder. He ignored the issue of community cohesion, which I thought was supposed to be a County Council priority. He ignored the current situation at the college, claiming that the school is only overcrowded by five pupils. The reality is the college is having to teach children in a church hall. The Headteacher no longer has an office, as it is now a classroom, and children are being taught in corridors.”
Councillor Simpson asked for public consultation regarding catchment areas, however the Tory portfolio holder was unwilling to commit to this.
“In the short term there needs to be action to alleviate the overcrowding. The public need to be properly consulted over catchment areas for new housing developments in the area.”
December 19th, 2007 by Group Office | Comment?
Liberal Democrat Councillor Gordon Charlton today highlighted the failure of the ruling Conservatives at County Hall to fight for the post office network in the county.
In February this year the Lib Dems proposed a motion which would have committed the Council to opposing any further closures of post offices in North Yorkshire.
However, Tory and Labour councillors let the Government off the hook by supporting a Conservative amendment which watered down the motion to say that the Council “opposes any further closures without alternative appropriate provision being made.”
At today’s meeting of the North Yorkshire County Council Lib Dems were given no further assurance that there is a commitment to maintain the post office network.
22 post offices are earmarked for closure across
North Yorkshire, and it is apparent from local knowledge that there is enormous outrage among local communities that these facilities are likely to be lost.
Cllr Charlton said:“Everyone should make their voice heard by emailing consultation@postoffice.co.uk or by writing to the National Consultation Team, Post Office Ltd., Freepost Consultation Team. No postcode or stamp is needed.”
“In Harrogate and Knaresborough the Liberal Democrats have organised a huge petition to defend the five post offices that are under threat there. Residents wishing to sign should contact Phil Willis’ office at Ashdown House on 01423 528888
December 18th, 2007 by Group Office | Comment?
Liberal Democrat councillors at County Hall are to make a donation of £100 to a local charity instead of sending each other Christmas cards.
At their December 2007 group meeting, Lib Dem members opted to each donate £5 to the Sensory and Physical Support Service’s Children’s Fund. The organisation is raising funds to take 24 sensory impaired children from North Yorkshire to Lapland to meet Santa in December 2008.
If anyone else wants to make a donation, they can do so by contacting Vicky Taylor on 01609 534397.
