Redcar Lib Dems welcome new jobs

Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Council have welcomed the news that over 500 jobs were created in the sub region in July 2013.

Lib Dems are particularly pleased that most of the new jobs are in engineering, technology and manufacturing, including a forecast of 40 new posts with CPI in Redcar.

Also welcome is the news that unemployment in the area fell during July and is now at its lowest rate since autumn 2011.

Lib Dem Council Group Leader Glyn Nightingale said:

“This is excellent news and shows that the similarly good figures for April, May and June were no flash in the pan.

“The recovery is clearly under way, although there is a long way to go. Jobs are the only thing that can really regenerate an area.

“Lib Dem influence in Government means that we are giving employers £2000 cash back on the tax they pay on their employees. This is a real incentive to create the jobs that Redcar & Cleveland needs.”

It's time for Labour to go - Lib Dems propose vote of no confidence in George Dunning's Labour Party.

Redcar and Cleveland Council’s Liberal Democrats propose a Council motion of “No Confidence” in Council Leader George Dunning (pictured right).

Calling on George Dunning to step down as Council Leader, the Lib Dem motion to the Council says “That the Council has no confidence in George Dunning as Leader of the Council.”

Commenting Lib Dem Group Leader Glyn Nightingale (pictured below) who is proposing the motion said, “It is time for Labour to go. George Dunning’s Labour Group has lost the confidence of the public and he has lost the support of his own party and of local Councillors  and, more importantly, of local people. No wonder George Dunning has lost his majority on the Council.

“It's time to stop Labour wasting public money on unessentials. It's time to give top priority to getting the basics right, like freezing Council Tax, making the area cleaner and green and attracting more jobs and  business into the area. The Council needs greater stability and the confidence of local people.

 “That's the Liberal Democrats' top priority both locally and in Government.”

Seconding the motion, Councillor Josh Mason, Lib Dem Constituency Chairman, said, “After a series bungled Labour policies on raising Council Tax, parking charges in Saltburn and saying ‘No’ to a theatre in Guisborough, it is clear that Councillor Dunning is bad for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.”

“The Liberal Democrats call for him to resign immediately.”

It's not just George Dunning that's the problem - say Liberal Democrats

Responding to Redcar and Cleveland Council Leader George Dunning’s “I won’t resign” statement, the local Liberal Democrats believe the Labour party is making him a scapegoat for losing its Council majority.

Lib Dem Group Leader Glyn Nightingale said: “Labour’s internal squabbling and call for George Dunning’s resignation disguises what’s wrong with the way Labour run our area. George Dunning isn’t the problem. It’s the Labour party itself. He’s just their front man.

"Labour keeps wasting public money on schemes few people want like the vertical pier. They neglect essential work needed to make the area clean, green and tidy.

"Typical is the Labour’s decision – kept confidential – to sell of 88 Westgate to a pub chain. They put profit before community interest. Labour councillors could have defied the Labour whip and joined Lib Dems and others to stop the sell off. But for Labour councillors keeping the whip beats the public interest. It’s the way they are.

“On top of all this, Labour is launching yet another reorganisation of the Council’s administration. There’s no guarantee top heavy management will end.

“And just as bad, Labour wants to change the way the Council is run to give even more power to Councillor Dunning and his Cabinet. All this while being a minority in Council.

 “Local people need a Council that represents their needs, listens to what the public say and stops wasting their money. It’s time to get the basics right.”

Lib Dems call for a united opposition to Labour on Redcar and Cleveland Council

As the largest opposition group on Redcar & Cleveland Council, Liberal Democrats are concerned that the insecurity of Labour’s grip on power caused by recent defections will be disastrous for the borough. Labour have now lost their overall majority.

Lib Dem Group Leader Councillor Glyn Nightingale (pictured), said:

“The Liberal Democrats are opening talks with other opposition councillors to explore ways of steering the Council to more stable ground. The Council should be listening to what the public say and putting people’s needs before politics.

 “I hope that opposition groups can come to an agreement which will work for the benefit of the wider community.”

Ian Swales MP to chair Coroner committee

It has been announced that Ian Swales, Liberal Democrat MP for Redcar, will chair a new group tasked with overseeing the streamlining and modernisation of Cleveland's ailing coroner service.

Ian has attended meetings with all interested parties - the police, coroner's office and councils - to come up with a solution. Together, they launched a review which has revealed some administrative problems holding back progress in the coroner's office, leading to some of the worst backlogs in the country.

Ian Swales is now to chair the group tasked with implementing the review to streamline and modernise the coroner's service in Cleveland.

Ian commented:

"It's totally unacceptable that local families have to wait so long for verdicts at what is already a very difficult time.

"I'm looking forward to working with all concerned parties towards a positive outcome for all.

"Our aim is to move from having one of the worst coroner's departments in the country to one of the best."