The Liberal Democrat group on Rochdale Council have chosen Councillor Andy Kelly as their new group leader. This follows the decision of Councillor Wera Hobhouse to concentrate on her teaching commitments.
A slim line, slicker and fitter council will save over £1m says group leader Saving will help pay for the reopening of homeless provision in the borough The Liberal Democrat Group in Rochdale is calling for the total number of councillors to be reduced from 60 to 40, and for elections to be held every 2 or 4 years instead of having 3 local elections in that same period. "Reduce the number of councillors from 60 to 40 across the borough and have fewer elections" said Lib Dem Group Leader Councillor Andy Kelly "It's a very simple equation- we would save up to £1.1m over 4 years and that's not adjusting for inflation either. Councillors have a golden opportunity to make effective and realistic savings here. The council has reduced its services substantially during the efficiencies process; does it really need the same number of Councillors to govern a smaller service? I think the general public would be glad to lose a number of less effective Councillors and an all out election in 2014 would be the way to do tha
So, the Jubilee weekend is upon us, and what a fantstic weekend of events and celebrations there are in store for communities right across the Borough. Personally, my Jubilee weekend kicked off yesterday afternoon at Roxton V.A. Lower School, which had been kind enough to invite me along to the children's own Jubilee Street Party. It was great fun, and the children really enjoyed a party which they had helped put together. People all over the Borough are of course helping to put together their own local street parties and other celebrations right across the weekend. We also have a range of events across the whole jubilee weekend at Russell Park in Bedford, with the International Kite Festival today and tomorrow, then a Battle of the Bands competition on Monday and an 'It's a Knockout' competition on Tuesday. There will be food and amusements all weekend, and all alongside the beautiful embankment. The town centre is looking great, with bunting out and many shops having gone all out with the jubilee decoration
Following a public consultation exercise earlier in the year, a draft Development Brief has been prepared for the Upper High Street, Depot Road and Church Street development site. Comments are welcome until 5.00pm on Friday 13th July.
Lib Dem councillors on Brentwood Borough have expressed anger and frustration at a decison by the leader Cllr Louise McKinlay to exclude them from any formal meetings she is having with the Chairman / CEO of Crossrail to discuss what is happening in Shenfield and Brentwood.
Earlier this month, Bromsgrove Lib Dems announced the winner and runner up in our first ever essay competition on our Facebook page and now we are sharing the news, in full on our website!