The Liberal Democrats at County Hall have reacted with shock to news that the Conservative administration will not be providing crisis loans as part of their new social fund scheme.
The Northamptonshire Liberal Democrat County Council group have lobbied the Local Government minister on the potential merger of emergency services. Recently the Conservative Police Commissioner raised alarm after talking of a "merger" between services, with the Police Commissioner taking over the Fire Service and possibly even other blue light services in the long term. In order to do this a change to legislation nationally would have to be made.
The publication of a valuable 'Healthcheck' report that will show how effective NEP really is has been delayed for several months. The report will expose whether NEP actually delivers the value for money that Tory controlled NCC claim. In the light of repeated criticism from the Liberal Democrat opposition that the £2m annual cost to the tax payer could be better spent the NEP Healthcheck was commissioned and should have reported in March. The Conservative Cabinet has now delayed publication.
The Liberal Democrats, who are the Official Opposition at County Hall, have today launched their "Safer Streets" campaign. Northamptonshire Liberal Democrats are calling for street lights to be switched back on, more frontline policing and dangerous roads and pavements to be repaired.
Northamptonshire Conservatives are making the wrong decisions, slashing community safety and crucial support for the vulnerable, whilst wasting millions on bureaucracy, according the Official Opposition Liberal Democrats at County Hall.
The Official Opposition on Northamptonshire County Council have today unveiled their budget priorities ahead of Thursday's budget setting meeting at County Hall.
The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Official Opposition expressed surprise and concern over chaotic announcements from County Hall Conservatives and the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner on a potential merger between the Police and Fire service.
The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, and member of the Police and Crime Panel, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has today expressed disappointment as the Conservative Police Commissioner's budget was passed without comment from the Police and Crime Panel. During the debate it was revealed that the much criticised back office costs could rise to £1.1m and that multi-million pound black holes lay ahead. Cllr Glynane was the only Councillor not to vote for the budget.
Councillor Richard Giddings, a Liberal Democrat Councillor at County Hall, is using his Councillor Empowerment Funding to tackle homophobic bullying in schools. Cllr Giddings has given £1800 in 2011/12 and 2012/13 to Stonewall to ensure that the Council is part of the "Education Champions" programme. As a result all schools in the county now receive resources and information to tackle homophobic bullying.
The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, and member of the Police and Crime Panel, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has today attacked the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire as he published his budget.
Liberal Democrat County Councillor and, former Regeneration Cabinet Member at Northampton Borough Council, Richard Church, has today welcomed a report by Centre for Cities that showed Northampton has recovered better from the recession than other cities, but has warned that more work needs to be done to boost low skills. Northampton was in the bottom 10 cities, at 57th out of 64, for the percentage of residents with low skills, with 15.9% of the town's residents with low skills.
Liberal Democrat Transport & Economy spokesman, Towcester Councillor Chris Lofts, has welcomed news that the County Council is to pilot a transport scheme to help jobseekers in rural areas to get to job interviews.
