Rochdale Borough's Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability - Councillor Wera Hobhouse has revealed the cost of dropped litter and fly tipping in the Borough - is a staggering £3 Million a year! That is the cost to Council Tax Payers in the Borough and involves collecting 4,500 tonnes of litter in Heywood, Middleton, the Pennines and Rochdale.
The Liberal Democrats have taken overall control of Rochdale Metropolitan Council after a Labour Councillor sensationally quit. This leaves the Liberal Democrats with over half the Councillors and now in full control of the Council. The Lib Dems have been in minority control since May after gaining a number of seats in the local elections.
Commenting on today's [Friday] report from the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health showing what would be needed to meet the ten-year National Service Framework for adult mental health care, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson, Sandra Gidley MP said:
A major spending boost is needed if mental health care is to meet the government's expectations for 2010/11, a charity has warned. Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health examined the resources needed to meet the government's 10-year National Service Framework. It says public spending on mental health care must increase by a further 50% over and above inflation. And staff numbers must increase by almost 40% to meet the targets.
Up to one in three mental health patients are being over-prescribed drugs, says the Healthcare Commission.
Commenting on the Independent Remuneration Panel's recommendation on the allowance paid to the Mayor of Bedford which will be presented to a meeting of Bedford Borough Council next week, Liberal Democrat Group Leader Michael Headley said:
