Ambulance

The questions that I will be putting to the West Midlands Ambulance Service at Rugby Borough Council Scrutiny meeting 4th October. Cllr Jerry Roodhouse said “We need to see greater engagement and openness by WMAS, Rugby is a major town and expanding we should not be seen as an outpost of the West Midlands”

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse has sent the following questions in for answering when the WMAS turn up for the meeting as follows

  • Could they confirm that Ambulances services are assessed by response times, they must reach 75% of category 1 calls within 8 mins and so on. If so, how does WMAS achieve this figure? is it fair to say that the larger urban areas have more ambulances, so if you get to the Category 1 calls in Birmingham, Stoke, the Black Country and Coventry you meet the criteria needed. 
  • What is the impact of the Clinical Validation of Cat 3 & 4 patients
  • How do Rugby’s figures compare to Coventry’s? for cat 1 calls and for cat 3 and 4 
  • It is recognised that the huge demand on the NHS has resulted on crews being stuck at hospital and hence not in Rugby. What brought about the change away from the practice that was being developed 20 years ago by Warwickshire Ambulance Service where training paramedics to become Emergency Care practitioners with the goal of treating and managing patients in the community and not transporting them to hospital unless necessary. This plan was to help ease the demand on hospitals.
  • When WMAS say that the Rugby Ambulance is hardly ever in Rugby, what will happen to the people of Rugby if we ever do return to the historical demands on the NHS as the Health Secretary claims. Ambulances won’t be in the area or even at UHCW but at the Ambulance hub 17 miles from St Cross and 20-30 miles away from Rugby’s villages and Southam.
  • Could WMAS confirm how did the review take place and how can they justify the decision to remove the complete service from a large town in such a short space of time. What were their considerations, was the final decision taken by the WMAS board in an open and transparent way if not why not?
  • Could WMAS state how downtime will be avoided in Coventry? The crews still have to return for breaks and to finish and without an ambulance in Rugby they will be covering larger distances to do this?
  •   In the west Midlands which Hospital Trusts have the longest handover periods
  • Could WMAS confirm that this change has nothing to with its financial position

Change Direction

Battery’s from electric cars, need to look at recycling now

Liberal Democrats are calling on Warwickshire County Council to change direction on the economy. Cllrs Jerry Roodhouse and Bill Gifford are proposing a motion to the County.

Proposed motion for Council

This Council supports the UN sustainability goals as part of its corporate plan and notes the good work that has been taking place regarding Climate Change so far and welcomes the Green Shoots initiative along with other actions that have been taken.  

This Council also recognises the increased scientific evidence that we need to act more quickly, as confirmed by the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (sixth assessment). The UK is hosting the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 and holding the Presidency for this critical conference, and there is an ever-increasing focus on net zero carbon.  

In light of these facts, Council requests that it establishes a framework by which all decisions made by WCC are checked against a climate change assessment. WCC should also use its unique position to bring forward strategic proposals on further developing the direction of Warwickshire’s economy. For example, this could include greater investment towards green skills as indicated in the latest growth hub report. With the increase in electric vehicles and the greater reliance and use of batteries, we as a county should also seek to work with innovators and lead in developing the recycling actions that will be needed to make Warwickshire a circular economy.


Policy information innovation-deal-for-a-circular-economy

Marle Hall

The County Council Cabinet have announced that Marle Hall in Wales will close. The Liberal Democrat Group on the County Council did call in the decision, as the Cabinet had ignored the 7,000 strong petition to keep Marle Hall open and examine the business case put by those who wanted Marle Hall to continue.  Sadly, the decision remained to close Marle Hall.  

The Liberal Democrats were hoping that the much loved venue in North  Wales, that has welcomed generations of Warwickshire students to explore the Welsh countryside, experience courses from biology, art, climbing and much more, could find a way forward.  It is indeed regrettable that Marle Hall did not get the necessary maintenance and investment by the County Council over recent years. 

Councillor Jenny Fradgley said, “The Liberal Democrats will try and ensure that the County Council keeps to its promise that arrangements will be made to accommodate parties booked in other venues, and we hope that in future the County Council will help schools to find new providers for similar residential courses that are so important for personal development.” 

Climate Change We Must Act Now, Countdown to COP 26

The earth is in our hands


Save our environment

Britain must lead the way in cutting emissions, protecting nature and cleaning our air – back the green recovery plan.

This autumn, world leaders will meet in Glasgow to agree the next steps to address the climate crisis. Britain must lead the way by acting now to protect our natural environment, clean up our air and cut our carbon emissions. United Nations COP26 web site for details https://ukcop26.org/

But the Conservatives are taking us backwards in the fight against climate change. Liberal Democrats have a plan for a green recovery, creating jobs and tackling the climate emergency

The Liberal Democrats Green Plan https://change.libdems.org.uk/green/

Cllr Jenny Fradgley leads on Climate Change on the County Council for the Lib Dem group.

We have produced the “Little Green Book” for residents download a copy https://warkslibdems.mycouncillor.org.uk/files/2021/07/The-Little-Green-Book-2021-1.pdf.

Cllr Sarah Boad has progressed the debate on buses in Warwickshire.

Green Energy Switch

Britain to get 80% of its electricity from green energy by 2030.

Green Every Home

Upgrade insulation in all existing homes by 2030 and require all new homes to be eco-friendly.

Clean Air for Kids

Safe walking, cycling and public transport routes to school as part of a £20 billion Clean Air Fund.

Lib Dem Green Recovery Plan

Transport Revolution

Investing £40 billion in rail, buses, trams and electric vehicles.

Save British Countryside

Double the UK’s natural environment by cleaning up our waterways, restoring peat bogs and planting tree

Bursary Needed

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse

Outdoor Learning is important. The definition that we use is that Outdoor Learning is a broad term that includes discovery, experimentation, learning about and connecting to the natural world, and engaging in environmental and adventure activities.

The debate in Warwickshire about this subject is alive and politically active. The Liberal Democrats recognise this debate and the proposed actions that the Conservative administration want to take in regard to this important matter. Cllr Jerry Roodhouse who leads the Liberal Democrats is calling for action to be taken in the development of an “Outdoor Learning Strategy” he stated that “It needs to have resources and any strategy should be funded the liberal Democrats also want to see a bursary scheme to enable individuals to go on outdoor learning experiences”

Jerry Roodhouse asked a question of the Portfolio Holder Cllr Morgan at Children’s Overview & scrutiny Committee 20th July on this matter, Cllr Morgan responded in a positive manner, let us hope words can turn into action.

The Outdoor Institute explains in more detail the type of experience that Warwickshire needs to be able offer its young people https://www.outdoor-learning.org/ it is the next generation we need to be investing in.

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

  1. include an aim to deliver a comprehensive service for
    Warwickshire;
  2. encourage greater use of buses;
  3. encourage greater uptake and use of bus passes;
  4. 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

Action needed on buses