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 Official Opposition on Northamptonshire County Council have today unveiled their budget priorities ahead of Thursday's budget setting meeting at County Hall.
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 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.
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 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 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 Leader of the Opposition at County Hall has today reacted to an OFSTED inspection of safeguarding children that identified serious failings in the safeguarding of children. OFSTED judges Northamptonshire County Council as inadequate in all 4 categories and identifies that:
The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall has slammed the Conservatives and Labour after they united to remove the Liberal Democrats from the Police and Crime Panel, despite the Liberal Democrats being entitled to a place under the law.
Northampton Liberal Democrats have called for an end to the speculation about a sale of the ancient Egyptian Sekhemka statue from Northampton's Museum.
Cllr. Chris Lofts (Lib Dem, Towcester) has strongly criticised the Conservative administration at County Hall for their ongoing failure to fix the damage they have done to Children's Services in Northamptonshire.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Lofts has branded Conservative plans to start charging small businesses for trading standards advice a "tax on jobs" and "a direct attack on business."
