Redcar Lib Dems protest against Council Tax rise

On Saturday, local Liberal Democrats, including MP Ian Swales, took to the streets to oppose the Council’s unfair plan to increase Council tax by 3.5% this year.

Redcar and Cleveland Council plans to turn down a grant of nearly £1.5 million from the Coalition Government to freeze council tax, and to raise it by 3.5% instead - increasing the burden on local people.

Liberal Democrats in Redcar have launched a petition to put pressure on the Council’s ruling Labour Group to think again. So far they have obtained over a thousand signatures, with more and more people signing up every day online through Ian Swales’ website. On Saturday they collected over 500 more signatures in less than two hours.

Saturday’s event, which was supported by the Tax Payers’ Alliance, attracted the attention of hundreds of people who object to the Council’s intention to turn down Government money in favour of taxing local people.

Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader, Glyn Nightingale commented:

“The support we received on Saturday was overwhelming.

“It should send a clear message to the Labour-run Council that this is not the time to increase the burden of tax on local people – especially when offered a credible alternative by the Coalition Government.

“Recent internal and external audits of the Council’s finances have revealed poor economic management – it is not acceptable to make working people pay for the Council’s financial incompetence.”

Labour Council Tax rise in Redcar and Cleveland is the highest in the country

Local Liberal Democrats have reacted with anger to the news that the 3.5% increase in Council Tax in Redcar & Cleveland is the highest in the country.

The rise, which will come into effect this year, is happening despite the Government offering the Council £1.42 million to freeze the tax.

So far no council in the entire country has voted to put up council tax by more than this.

Councillor Glyn Nightingale, Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Lib Dem group, said:

“This is a slap in the face for hard working families. At a time when the Council should be helping local people and easing the financial burden on them, Labour will be piling on the pressure with this tax rise.”

Residents and Liberal Democrat activists will be meeting at the clock on Redcar High Street at 1pm this Saturday (25th) and will be collecting signatures for our petition against the increase until 3pm.

Redcar Liberal Democrats step up Council Tax campaign

Residents and Liberal Democrat activists will take to the streets this Saturday (25 February) to continue their campaign against Redcar Labour’s unnecessary 3.5% Council Tax rise.

The rise, which will come into effect this year, is happening despite the government offering the Council £1.42 million to freeze the tax.

The Leader of the Council has refused to meet with a cross party group of councillors to discuss the budget and seems intent on pushing through the proposals despite the extra strain this will put on local people.

The activists will be joined by Andrew Allison, the grassroots co-ordinator of the Taxpayers' Alliance, and will be collecting signatures on Redcar High Street from 1pm – 3pm

Councillor Glyn Nightingale, Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Lib Dem group, said:

“It makes no sense for local Labour bosses to ignore the chance to freeze Council tax when the government has offered to pay them to do it. Instead of helping hard working families and taking pressure off their budgets Labour will be piling on the pressure with this tax rise.”

Redcar & Cleveland Council's funding of Pro-Labour Coastal View and Moor News free newspaper

My December 16th posting about Coastal View free newspaper publishing verbatim scurrilous Labour Party articles smearing the Lib Dems, started with the words "Grant funded Coastal View." This prompted a complaint to Ian Swales' office by one of the owners claiming that the newspaper was not grant funded.

As a sign of good faith, even though I had understood that they had received Council grants, I deleted the words "grant funded."

I have checked with the Council and the newspaper has received the following grant funding:

£5000 (grant) in May 2009, in relation to set up costs printing, design and delivery of the newspaper; 

£3000  (PR work) in May 2009, in relation to PR work carried out for the Enterprise Team.

Since then the newspaper has been taken over and the following has been provided:

£662.50 (grant) in November 2010, in relation to the purchase of a PC and Monitor; and

£1750 (PR work) in January 2011, in relation to promotional activity for the Enterprise Team. 

Every edition since No 3 has carried a full page advertisement paid for by hard pressed Redcar and Cleveland Council who are making severe cuts in public services yet can afford to fund this newspaper.

Issue 3 - Redcar Renaissance. 1 page advertisement costing £250;

Issue 4 - Have your say on Regeneration Masterplan. 1 page advertisement costing £250;

Issue 5 - Sea change on its way. 1 page advertisement costing £250

Issue 6 - Green light for landmark building and virtual shopping is a winner. 1 page advertisement costing £250.

Issue 7 - This is…. £75m Redcar Regeneration. 1 page advertisement costing £250.

Issue 8 - Contractor appointed to deliver Creative Hub and plans in place for Redcar Leisure and Community Heart. 1 page advertisement costing £250.

Issue 9 - Redcar Regeneration gathers pace and outdoor exhibition comes to Redcar. 1 page advertisement costing £250.

Issue 10 - £50k grant is just suite for Loftus Project, Council offers job bonanza support and creative talent throw open their doors. 1 page advertisement costing £250.

Issue 11 - International demand for glimpse of Saxon Princess Treasure, spark of inspiration for half marathon runners, and creative talent throw open their doors. 1 page advertisement costing £250.

Issue 12 - Start on site for £31m Redcar Leisure and Community Heart and youth centre gets green light. 1 page advertisement costing £250;

Issue 13 - A66 improvement plans motor ahead, Seaside scheme set to bring investment and jobs and demolition signals start on site for Creative Hub. 1 page advertisement costing £250.

Issue 14 - £4.9m youth centre work begins, £300k revamp is treemendous for forest and entries pour in to landmark naming contest.  1 page advertisement costing £275;

Issue 15 - Seafront shop to showcase Redcar Regeneration, creative industry set to flourish and mMajor demand to be Eco Village people.  1 page advertisement costing £275;

Issue 16 - Redcar leisure plans given the green light, Princess’s Treasure display attracts 28,000 and pupils all smiles at new £4.75m school. 1 page advertisement costing £275;

Issue 17 - Olympic hero’s jump-start for £31m leisure scheme, hundreds check out Tesco jobs and My place begins to take shape.  1 page advertisement costing £275;

Issue 18 - Ian’s at the art of Redcar’s revival, School children steel themselves for seaside landmark and trip down memory lane for ex residents – South Bank.  1 page advertisement costing £275; and

Issue 19 - Eco Village launch, Flight of the future – Redcar Seafront fly through and Landmark visit for Coatham Primary school to Vertical Pier. 1 page advertisement costing £275.

Last year, in February, Redcar and Cleveland Lib Dems announced that we had included abandoning the "vertical pier" in our manifesto in response to the survey we had carried out that showed 97% of Redcar residents did not want it.  Coastal View asked me to write an article about it. I did this and received an email back thanking me and pointing out that it would be the front page lead story. In the end they didn't publish it and instead a full page Council add appeared in the paper promoting the "vertical pier."

Get involved with Redcar Athletic FC Floodlight Appeal

Redcar Athletic FC have opened an appeal to raise money to finalise the installation of the Club's Floodlights, the lights are required as part of the criteria for entry into the Northern League coupled with a top of the League finish. The club through grants and donations have secured £27,000 towards the cost of the lights but need to address a shortfall to complete the development. The team are currently sat top of the Wearside League and the push to ensure that the floodlights are ready for the deadline date of 31st March 2012 has started in earnest. Redcar has an old tradition of Northern League football but has never had a team in the League since the 1920's we require the support of the local community and local businesses to help us bring Northern League football back to Redcar anybody interested in getting involved in any capacity to help us achieve our dream please get in touch. Redcar Athletic FC are also appealing to local businesses and individuals to come forward with donations to help us finalise the developments at the ground which include floodlights and spectator provision. If you are interested in donating to the cause or getting involved with the club please contact Kevin Fryett on 07854935380 or kevfryett@hotmail.com

For individuals who cannot donate the club has launched a number draw club and for a £1 a week individuals can win a cash prize the equivalent of half of the weekly takings, the club would like eventually to build this number draw up to around a membership of 500 giving a weekly prize of £250 if you are interested in the number draw again contact Club Secretary Kevin Fryett on the above details or see attachment for an entry form  

The club has also launched a fantastic prize raffle draw which is restricted to 30 organisations, businesses or individuals and for £500 the participant will receive a raffle ticket for a 1 in 30 chance to win a full corporate package at the forthcoming Boro v Leeds Utd game for six people, in addition all entrants will receive - 4 free tickets to every home game with half time/full time refreshments, 1/2 page advert in the matchday programme, 6ft x 3ft advertising board around the pitch perimeter and a link on the club's website.Contact Kevin Fryett on 07854935380 or e mail at kevfryett@hotmail.com for further details or see attachment for leaflet.

Redcar Athletic FC is also looking for sponsors at all levels and has packages available from as little as £50, this is an exciting time to get involved with Redcar Athletic FC and promotion to the Northern League would raise the clubs profile even higher, if you want to become a corporate partner of a very progressive ambitious local Football Club please get in touch using the contact details above.

Any potential sponsor/investor or anybody interested in supporting the club have a great opportunity to sample the clubs progression by attending the crunch top of the League clash with Ryhope CW at Green Lane, Redcar on Saturday 11th Feb 2012 2pm ko, free tickets are available by contacting Kevin Fryett.