Council Tax is Unfair

Liberal Democrats are proposing an amendment to the Tory budget at Shire Hall. They have reduced the unfair council tax that residents will have to pay. It still means that by 2027 that over £65 million pounds will come out of the organisation. The Government is failing to support local authorities and has only given 12 month settlement.

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Warwickshire County Council said

“The Liberal Democrats are presenting a balanced budget that reduces the burden on the taxpayer, increasing costs to individuals as highlighted by the Resolution Foundation will see families hit with at least £1,200 hit. Council Tax is unfair and should be scrapped and local government given the investment needed not 12-month handouts from the Government, clearly inflation, national insurance hikes and increasing costs wipe out the extra resources that are needed. Liberal Democrats have put together a set of proposals that invests more into fixing our broken pavements and introduce a Highway action fund for 20mph speed limits, adult social care and children services including tackling long covid . We are calling on the Tory administration to join with us and ensure that we see a Fairer, more Caring and Greener Warwickshire”

Warwickshire Liberal Democrats are investing more funds into Adult Social Care including the commissioning, Children & Families, customer support, specific projects include the following,

Investing £3 million capital monies into improving the worsening state of Warwickshire pavements targeted at delivering improvements to pavements and footways in Warwickshire.
Investing £0.400 million over the five years to deliver the Council’s Outdoor Education Strategy (https://democracy.warwickshire.gov.uk). The strategy is a key component of a “Child Friendly Warwickshire”; supporting young people in their development. We see this as part of the day to day business of the Council, especially after the administration closed Marle Hall.
Increase investment over the next five years to £0.500m in support for those with Dementia and Alzheimer’s and their carers. We recognise that Dementia and Alzheimer’s will be increasing as the demographics towards a larger older population. The investment will support the development and implementation of dementia-friendly communities alongside the developing ‘Living well with Dementia’ strategy providing carers support for adults and young carers.
Invest £0.250 million a year in early intervention and prevention; supporting families and children especially in the early years. If levelling up is to work it need this investment back into early years.
Invest £0.100 million to accelerate the work in communities around long covid as identified by the Director of Public Health in the Annual report 2020/21.
The creation of a Highways Action Fund to support the implementation of 20mph speed limits.
Increase Community Councillor grants from £6,000 to £8,000 in 2022/23 to help boost local communities after covid, with at least £2,000 being awarded towards supporting young people and youth activities.

Liberal Democrat Amendment link Revenue Lib Dem 8/02/22 Capital proposals Lib Dem 8/02/22

Living Streets

We support Living Streets and they are doing some really good stuff. This past year and a half our street space has come under more scrutiny than ever before. This is due largely to the pandemic and our changing habits. And then there’s the small matter of an unfolding climate emergency.

Meanwhile at Living Streets we are listening. This is what we’ve heard.

First our Space For Walking and then this year’s Cut the Clutter campaigns revealed the value of street space when it’s provided and then taken away.
Our Local Groups have shone a light on how local streets are so precious – have a look at what campaigners learned from teenage girls in Croydon.
And our own research told us that more than a fifth of our supporters are disabled and that inaccessible streets affect their pleasure, safety and independence.
Read more at https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/

Your Buses

The County Council is conducting its survey for the Warwickshire Bus service Plan.

Warwickshire Bus Service Improvement Survey via the following weblink:
https://ask.warwickshire.gov.uk/insights-service/bus-service-improvement-plan

Paper copies can be downloaded and returned as well

The public engagement exercise will run until Sunday 19th September 2021.

Action on Buses

Call for action by Liberal Democrat Cllrs at Warwick Cllrs Sarah Boad & Bill Gifford will present a motion to County Council July 1st that calls for elected members to work cross party to support local bus services.
The motion states that It is noted that the provision of local bus services in the County
have suffered during the pandemic with a reduced frequency
of the service and a large drop in the number of passengers.
It is also noted that a good and regular service is essential to
achieve the modal shift required to reduce the number of car
journeys.
This Council resolves to set up a cross party working group to
work with officers to draw up a fully costed Bus Service
Improvement Plan for approval by Cabinet by the end of
October 2021:
The plan should

include an aim to deliver a comprehensive service for
Warwickshire;
encourage greater use of buses;
encourage greater uptake and use of bus passes;
investigate the use of electric and hydrogen buses
Proposer: Councillor Sarah Boad
Seconder: Councillor Bill Gifford

Amendments by both the Conservative & Green groups are being made to the motion

More information can be found Campaign for Better Transport

Council Tax up and highways maintenance funding slashed by Government

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Eastlands) has expressed his dismay as Warwickshire County Council is set to lose over £5.7 million for local road maintenance.

The Department for Transport has announced capital funding of £1.385bn for local road maintenance and pothole filling across the country for 2021/22, a £400m reduction on last year’s allocation of £1.783bn.

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse who is Vice Chairman of the County Council Network is calling on the Government to do more and set a long-term plan for investing in our local road and transport networks.

Commenting. Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Eastlands), said:

“The bad weather recently has not helped our aging infrastructure and Councils rely on this capital funding to ensure our road and footpath networks are kept in good condition. Warwickshire’s allocation from Government is a fraction of what’s needed when you consider the investment required to maintain and keep everything up to standard. With Council Tax increases being set by the Conservative administration at Warwickshire County Council, this is a slap in the face for residents.”

Warwickshire

24,428,000

18,828,000

– 5,600,000

Set to loose over £5 million

Local road maintenance and pothole funding 2021/22: CCN response