Liberal Democrats, Irene Balls and Claudette Furminger romped home in the Bentswood by-elections to hold the seats left vacant by the death of popular Lib Dem councillor Trevor Fisher. The Tories were a poor third, showing that local people no longer trust them with the running of the local councils.
North Herts District Council is now planning to spend a massive £10.6 million pounds on new council offices - 40% more than they originally estimated. The revised figures are to be presented to the council's cabinet next week as part of the Council's budget for 2009/10.
Local resident Julia Kirkland, who lives in Clarendon Park, addressed the council's Environment Committee on Wednesday 21st January, armed with photographs of derelict buildings in her neighbourhood.
Liberal Democrat councillors are urging community involvement in how the new Civic should be run. The recent decision by the Council's Conservative Executive that the management should be contracted out to a commercial operator was 'called-in' by Lib Dem councillors for scrutiny by the Community & Health Scrutiny Committee. They argued that any departure from an in-house operation that has been the norm for all council services should be considered by the whole council and not just the nine members of the Executive. Also that local organisations, community groups and other users should be consulted on how the new Civic should be run, and that council-tax payers should be asked what level of subsidy would be acceptable to them.
A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to build a three-storey block of flats has been thrown out by the Government.
East Park resident Miss Donna Wright contacted Darren Friel after rain water was seen pooling outside her home in Hollington Road. On closer inspection it was discovered that recent work carried out by contractors to form a new crossing for school children as part of the safer routes to school scheme had covered up the existing drain gully with tarmac.
