We're Leeds United we make history

I was in the record crowd at Elland Road of 57,892 on 15 March 1967 v Sunderland with my Dad and brother Gordon. On 20th March 2012 I was at Elland Road with my lad Mark and Grandson Daniel to witness Leeds United's heaviest ever home defeat, 3-7 against Nottingham Forest, in a crowd of 21,367. We may not be famous anymore but we can still make history.

What the Liberal Democrats have achieved in Government

This excellent infographic was produced by Mark Pack:

Lib Dems vote against Council Tax rise

Tonight local Liberal Democrats voted against Redcar & Cleveland Council’s unfair plan to increase Council tax by 3.5% this year.

The Labour Council turned down a grant of nearly £1.5 million from the Coalition Government to freeze council tax and voted to raise it by 3.5% instead – the highest increase in the country announced so far.

Across the country around 80% of councils have announced that they will freeze council tax this year.

Labour bosses provided no substantial justification for refusing the Government’s offer.

Liberal Democrats in Redcar launched a petition to put pressure on the Council’s ruling Labour Group to think again, but it was to no avail. They have obtained over a thousand signatures.

Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader, Glyn Nightingale commented:

“This is a slap in the face for local hardworking families.

“Very few people will see their wages go up by 3.5% this year. This is not the time to increase the burden of tax on local people. But it is inexcusable when Labour has been offered a credible alternative by the Coalition Government.”

Cleveland Police Authority rejects Government offer of £960,000 grant to freeze Council Tax this year

I would hardly call the Northern Echo's report of the Cleveland Police Authority precept decision yesterday a fair and balanced report of the meeting.

Where is the reference to the £960,000 grant the Authority would have received had it opted for the freeze option? That is the equivalent of a 3% increase in Council Tax. Surely Council Tax payers are entitled to know they are now going to be paying £1,120,000 extra in Council Tax this year when they could have saved that 3.5% increase and received £960,000 in Government grant funding. 

The concern was that this grant may not be available next year but that is no reason not to accept it this year. I reject the claim of the acting Chief Constable that she could not manage on anything less than a 3.5% increase.

I spoke in favour of the Council Tax freeze at the meeting and voted against the 3.5% increase.