Wednesday 29 April 2009

SCRUTINY PANEL TACKLES THE BENEFITS OF BONDS

Redcar and Cleveland Council has set up a new scrutiny panel to investigate the value of Local Government Bonds as a potential to raise funds

The process will allow the Panel, under the chairmanship of Councillor Philip Thomson, to make recommendations to the Main Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet, the Council and to any other relevant body or individual.

The members will be inviting experts to come and talk to them in order to collect a body of information over the following weeks on which to base their recommendations.

BENEFIT FROM HOME COMPOSTING

Redcar and Cleveland Council is offering advice on home composting as part of Compost Awareness Week next week

The Council's Community Waste Liaison Officer Barbara Webster will hand out leaflets to shoppers in Redcar High Street on Wednesday, May 6, from 11am-1pm and visitors to the Household Waste Recycling Centre at Warrenby, from 3pm-3.30pm.

She will also be at Guisborough library on Thursday, May 7, from 11.30am-1.30pm and at the Household Waste Recycling Centre, Dunsdale, from 2.45pm-3.15pm.

The week's theme, Food for Thought, is about learning how to make a difference with compost - composting household kitchen and garden waste or making the ‘greener choice’ of peat-free composts containing recycled materials.

To find out more by clicking here or call 0845 077 0757.

Monday 6 April 2009

Lib Dems condemn "true" Independent for joining Labour

Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have condemned former Independent Councillor Liz Beadle for joining the Labour group.

Following the Liberal Democrat success at the Dormanstown by-election, Labour and their Independent colleagues lost their majority on the Council.

But today it appears that Cllr Beadle, elected as an Independent in Eston in 2007, has now joined the Labour group.

Lib Dem Group Leader Councillor Chris Abbott said:

“I am disappointed that Cllr Beadle has joined Labour.

“Another so-called 'true' Independent is now propping up a failing Labour administration which has dragged the Council down from 4-stars to 2-stars and which has been branded “negligent” by the Audit Commission for putting £4 million of public money, out of a total of £6 million into failed Icelandic banks after warnings had been given.

“Labour has now lost three out of four by-elections since last September. It’s time they got the message.”

Friday 3 April 2009

Dormanstown victory is the first in living memory


Picture - Winning Team left to right: Cllr John Hannon, Cllr Margaret Wilson, Amanda Proud, Cllr Glynis Abbott, Pat Swales, new Cllr Ken Lucas, Ian Swales (PPC for Redcar), Chris Abbott Group Leader, Steven Abbott, Cllr Mary Ovens, Cllr Madge Moses, Wilf Phillips.

Posted by Chris:

The Liberal Democrats' victory in Dormanstown is the first time in living memory that Labour has lost a seat in the Ward. The nearest coming 10 years ago when the Lib Dems lost by 8 votes.

In more than 30 years fighting local government elections Labour's desperate campaign of smears, lies and outrageous distortions was the worst I have ever come across. Their campaign amounted to little more than repeating over and over again distorted remarks about the pay rise an Independent Re-numeration Panel (IRP) gave to an Independent Deputy Mayor FIVE years ago. It was from around 500 to about £3000 in a Council with an annual budget of around £330,000,000.

Leaflet after illiterate leaflet spouted out that it was a Lib Dem 557% rise, not mentioning the small amount involved. They even claimed that the recent increase the IRP gave to the Labour Leader of the Council was a £7000 Lib Dem rise which the Leader turned down. What it had to do with the Liberal Democrats I don't know but that is what they claimed to the electors.

The crazy thing was they did this in the face of a report from the IRP, which pointed out that several leading Labour Councillors had been interviewed by them and had all requested that the Leader of the Council should have an increase in allowances. Clearly asking for it then turning it down was nothing more than a publicity stunt.

You would think with a £330m budget, they could have found a few more intelligent issues to debate in the by election than the increases in allowances recommended by the IRP, FIVE years ago, in a report that they instigated in the first place and have been receiving themselves ever since.

Judging by the appalling personal attack on me by the Cabinet Member for Resources, just after the result was announced, it is clear Labour in this area are never going to learn. It is also clear which Party Labour fear most in Redcar. Watch out for the General Election in Redcar Constituency, when it comes, we might have a surprise to spring.

Liberal Democrats WIN the Dormanstown Ward By Election


Liberal Democrats have won the Dormanstown Ward By Election on Redcar and Cleveland which could put an end to Labour control.

The result was as follows:

Ken Lucas (Lib Dem) - 809 (42.4%; +17.3%)
Marion Fairley (Lad)- 667 (35.0%; -17.1%)
Lynn Payne (BNP) - 305 (16.6%; +16.6%)
Barry Hughes-Mundy (Con) - 125 (6.6%; -16.2%)

Majority 142
Turnout 36.83%
LD gain from Lab
Percentage change is since May 2007

Composition of the Council now is:

Labour - 26
Liberal Democrats - 15
Conservative - 11
East Cleveland Independents - 2
Independents - 2
Independents supporting Labour - 3