At the meeting of Wiltshire Council's Cabinet on Tuesday (Sept13th), the Lib Dems secured a promise from the council's leader that no Wiltshire Youth Centres would close. The question was repeatedly asked by Trowbridge Councillor Helen Osborn, the Lib Dem lead member on Children's Services, who finally secured the pledge.
Brentwood's Liberal Democrat County Councillors, Cllr Barry Aspinell & Cllr David Kendall, have joined the growing demand for a full, independent investigation into the financial affairs of the organisation after Lord Hanningfield (Paul White) was, according to the BBC, arrested for matters relating to fraud at the county council just days after his release from prison after serving nine weeks of a nine month sentence after his conviction for fraud at the House of Lords.
Former Conservative leader Lord Hanningfield has been arrested again, shortly after leaving prison only nine weeks into a nine month sentence for defrauding the taxpayer. Police now want to investigate his time leading Essex County Council. Said Cllr. Tom Smith-Hughes (Liberal Democrat leader at Essex CC): "The Liberal Democrats knew that there were very serious allegations against Lord Hanningfield which had been referred by Essex County Council to the Police. Justice must be done and seen to be done."
Cllr James Sapwell, Brentwood North, has expressed his sorrow at the death of Ernie Clarke MBE, founder of Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, and vowed to do all he can to ensure a positive future for the organisation.
Local MP Tim Farron has written to the Prime Minister and other members of the Government today, calling on them to make Kendal the site of the new Green Investment Bank.
At the Confucius Institute National Congress hosted by the All Party Parliamentary China Group at Portcullis House today, we heard of how the organisation has grown from scratch in 2004 to having 350 institutes in 104 countries.