Calls from Keith Francis (Central Chelmsford Lib Dem County Councillor) have achieved a number of measures to improve safety at this busy and valuable crossing. Cllr Francis met with officers and the new cabinet member for transport (Cllr Norman Hume) to persuade them that special measures were necessary.
The financial out-turn for 2006/7 was revealed at the Transport Select Committee recently. All County Councillors know that the poor state of Surrey's roads is the number one bone of contention for local residents. So the members of the committee were stunned to be told that last year was the third year in succession when the budget was under-spent by the Tory executive, this time by £5.2 million!
The Liberal Democrats have exposed Bedfordshire County Council's plans to introduce fortnightly rubbish collections for all residents in Bedford Borough by March 2008.
A continuing partnership with Jiangsu Province in China proposed by the ruling Conservatives at Essex County Council, must be accompanied by a robust expectation of improved human rights for the Chinese people living in the province, maintained the Liberal Democrats group.
Paul met the Charity Shop DJ in Parliament to encourage people not to throw away their old vinyl records. Andy Jupp, aka the Charity Shop DJ has been working since 2001, going around car boots sales and second hand shops sourcing records to use for his party mixes. He has travelled the country playing gigs with his recycled remixes and has even been to India!
The parliamentary joint committee on human rights has found that there is not enough evidence to support extending the 28-day limit on holding terrorism suspects before charge. Any extension should be based on clear evidence, not the idea that a need "may arise at some time in the future", said the committee of MPs and peers. It also recommended the production of an annual report on police use of the power to detain without charge beyond 14 days, and a parliamentary-approved upper limit on pre-charge detention.
