Just a quick update to everyone know that the application to move the Unsworth Smile Clinic from its current Parr Lane location to 247 Sunny Bank Road has been considered by council officers and permission has been REFUSED. I've attached the council refusal notice, so you can have a look for yourself in case you have not yet seen it. 247 Sunny Bank Road Planning Refusal Notice Having had a good look at the refusal notice, it is clear that there is no likely possibility of planning ever being granted for a business premises at 247 Sunny Bank Road, particularly ...
The Guardian has the story – see link above Well this is a sobering analysis of the economic trouble we are in! Not sure whether to thank Roy Connell for spotting this one or not as frankly the Guardian article hardly made mt day and it will probably have the same effect on you! But Roy obviously feels we have to face up to it.
Story that 1% of new dads taking shared parental leave: nonesense. Survey asks employers for % of ALL male employees pic.twitter.com/I2J9foRDpO— Sarah O'Connor (@sarahoconnor_) April 5, 2016This morning's news was full of stories about the failure of Nick Clegg's pet policies when he was deputy prime minister: shared parental leave. Here is an example from the Evening Standard: Only 1 per cent of fathers have taken up the opportunity to share parental leave a year after the option was introduced, a survey of employers and parents has found. According to research by My Family Care - which advises businesses on ...
[IMG: Caroline Pidgeon and London Liberal Democrats 2016 Mayor election manifesto] Today saw the manifesto launch for Caroline Pidgeon and the London Assembly team ahead of May's elections. In it Caroline Pidgeon says: London is a great global city. We must strengthen and enhance its place as the capital city of the UK at the heart of Europe. But London also needs to work for everyone – not just the lucky few who can afford to isolate themselves from the problems facing most Londoners. The reality today for too many is a crisis in housing, cuts in community policing, crowded ...
"I know what irony is, but I can't explain it," a friend's bright young daughter once said to me frustratedly. This is the sort of thing she probably had in mind. I expect Cameron was told to attack Jimmy Carr because he was a "left-wing comedian". As I blogged at the time, he is nothing of the sort: Some on the right have been pleased to see Carr get his comeuppance, seeing the affair as confirmation of their belief that lefties are all hypocrites. But if anything, Carr was recruited to 10 O'Clock Life as a balancing right-wing voice. Certainly, ...
Inspector Neil Cook has been keeping us well-briefed on the work to tackle the recent surge of anti-social behaviour in Gatley. Friday 1st April: around 30 youths hanging around Walter Stansby Memorial Park were dispersed by the Police. Names and addresses were taken for some and their parents were visited (and were mostly supportive of the Police efforts). No further problems, all gone by 10pm. Saturday 2nd April: just six young people hanging around, were dispersed. An issue at the station was dealt with – no damage was done. Sunday 3rd April: one call to the Police from a resident ...
Popular local Councillor John Dodd has been asked to stand again in Sefton Council's local election in Meols ward on Thursday 5th May. He's a key member of the local Liberal Democrat FOCUS team.John Dodd gets things done in our area, and keeps in touch all year roundhe stands up for Marshside, Crossens and Churchtown on the Sefton CouncilJohn is proud to be a Sandgrounderhe listens to residentshe holds monthly Advice Centres with his fellow Liberal Democrat councillorsJohn Dodd is a hard-working, experienced and effective local councillor
Experts at the Wales Governance Centre have calculated that Wales is in deficit to the tune of £14.6 billion. This is the difference between public sector expenditure (£38 billion) and the contribution of Welsh taxpayers (£23.4 billion). To put it another way, that's the equivalent of 24% of Wales' GDP. This compares to 4.9% for England and 9.7% for Scotland. With control of Stamp Duty, Landfill Tax and 10p worth of Income Tax due to be devolved, Wales will take direct control of about £4 billion worth of taxation income. The report goes on to say: "There is no evidence ...
So, I got wondering the other night, what is the longest run of episodes in which the Doctor a) doesn't visit Earth and b) doesn't leave? Possible answers to the first question: The biggest gap between two episodes set mainly on Earth is 36 - the nine four-part stories between City of Death and Logopolis. Even if we break that run for the Tardis's brief visit to Brighton in The Leisure Hive, that's still 23 consecutive Earth-free episodes. Close behind is the 22-episode, five-story interval between Image of the Fendahl and The Stones of Blood. There are 18 episodes between ...
[IMG: Kafka statue Prague] I'd heard the word "Kafkaesque" being bandied around for years, but only had a vague idea what it meant. So, upon recently renewing my local library card, I was emboldened to take out their copy of "The Trial" to try to find out what "Kafkaesque" really means – or should mean. (Often words, which are misused, metamorphisise officially to their misused meaning. "Literally" is now accepted as often meaning "used for emphasis while not being literally true".) A friend commented: "Ahah! Starting with the light reads, eh?" In fact, I was greatly impressed by the attractive ...
Tue 5th
16:55
Now available to pre-order: Nick Clegg's Politics - The Art of the Possible in an Age of Unreason
Here is the official blurb for Nick Clegg's Politics – The Art of the Possible in an Age of Unreason: Five years ago Britain had a coalition government built on compromise. Now the Conservatives rule unchallenged, a chasm has opened up between Left and Right and the centre-ground is deserted. Nick Clegg knows the volatile state of modern politics better than anyone else. Here he offers a frank and honest account of his experiences - from his spectacular rise in the 2010 election, through his tumultuous years as Deputy Prime Minister, to a brutal defeat in 2015 - in order ...
Remember how the 5p plastic bag charge has to go to charity? Well, Tesco are working with charity Groundwork UK to provide grants of up to £12,000 for green space projects. You can see more information on the scheme and how to apply here.
Commenting on new figures revealing a 13% increase in homeless children living in temporary accommodation as of 31 December 2015, Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesman Jim Hume said: "Temporary accommodation provides an important safety net for children and families who would otherwise be on the streets but it is not a long term solution to Scotland's [...]
It has been announced today that Muse Developments has signed an agreement with the owners of the Longfield Shopping Centre (Hollins Murray Group) to "advance plans" for the future of the site: currently comprises a mix of retail units, the Longfield Suite and a car park. Phil Mayall, development director at Muse Developments, said: "We are excited to be appointed to work on a scheme that has so much potential for improving the retail and leisure offer in such a prominent, central location. At this stage all options will be analysed and considered and we will be working in close ...
The BBC has the story on its web site – see link above [IMG: Fighting for Southport's Libraries] Fighting for Southport's Libraries If you type in 'Sefton' in the box on the BBC web site article to gain information about your own local authority the following comes up:- In Sefton since 2010 seven libraries and/or mobile libraries have closed. In 2010 there were 137 paid staff in libraries, compared with 58 now. The council had 80 unpaid volunteers in 2010 and has 164 volunteers today. [IMG: Now then the interesting and probably astounding thing here (assuming the BBC ...
By an amazingly successful piece of perception management our government has succeeded, since 2010, in convincing us that the government's internal deficit, or excess of current expenditure over current income, is way out of control and that our most important political objective must be to reduce it and, indeed, run a surplus of £10bn year by 2020. This is to be achieved by "austerity" which in practice seems to mean cuts in expenditure, particularly to the poor, and cuts in grants to local government. "Britain must pay its way," says Gorge Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, again and again and ...
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie today pressed Nicola Sturgeon on whether she was aware that the parent company of a Chinese firm involved in a £10bn Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Scottish Government had been blacklisted by Norway's oil fund. Mr Rennie was speaking after media reports that China Railway No. 3 Engineering [...]
The first part of this review can be found here Many things from the classical liberal tradition have been absorbed into the Radical Liberal agenda: individual liberties, suspicion of monopolies and the opposition to the excesses of state power promoted by the likes of Blunkett, Reid and Straw. Sloman points out that 'Gladstone was as concerned about the integrity and autonomy of the state as about its size. It is difficult to find the same concern among today's 'economic liberals Radicals need to be robust in rejecting neo-liberalism- a C 20th heresy of the New Right. Another strand of Liberal ...
Kindred Wood is on the edge of Sunniside, the village where I live and which I represent on Gateshead Council. The wood is popular with walkers and as a play area for kids. So you can understand the anger I felt - shared by many residents - that someone had taken it upon themselves to drag their wheelie bin to the woods and dump its contents there. Having spoken to constituents, I know a number
100 signatures and £5000 deposit later and my PCC nomination has been accepted. I went to Sunderland Civic Centre this morning to hand it in with my agent Cllr John McClurey. We will get the full list of candidates on Thursday afternoon.
Councillor Tony Dawson and I have supported dozens of parents and students during the past four years of KGV College's troubles. This is the statement Tony released yesterday: "When I saw this in the paper, I thought it was an April Fool item. After all, we were assured by the Funding Council at the end of last year that things were getting better. One does wonder if the Funding Council is really fit for purpose, also. "KGV College is in a managerial mess and has been for a number of years. There is a continuing culture of secrecy which means ...
Embed from Getty Images I had a chance to read this recently updated book while on holiday in West Africa. It is a remarkably fine volume. Painstakingly researched and impeccably sourced, it offers a skillfully balanced portrait of a remarkable and inspiring man. As the title suggests, the author does not hold back on the human frailties of its subject but these are, nevertheless, presented as part of a rounded, fair and endearing commentary. I feel this book helps us to inch forward a little further in understanding the rather enigmatic Charles Kennedy, while deconstructing a few myths along the ...
Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon has moved into a clear third place in the race for Mayor of London after some good recent performances in debates and hustings. The poll of 1,049 people by ComRes for LBC/ITV shows Pigeon moving up to 7%, two points clear of UKIP and now three clear of [...]
Liberal Democrat Party leader T m Farron MP has strongly criticised the Government on its priorities for school education, and the decision recently announced that ALL schools must convert to being an 'Academy'. Tim wrote an Open letter to teachers at Easter, on the eve of their main teaching union conference. The full letter can be found here. Ensuring every child has the opportunity to make the most of their talents and be anything they want to be is at the very core of what we believe The Government think that converting a school to an academy will automatically drive ...
[IMG: David Laws Coalition] I wrote here recently on the claim by Iain Duncan Smith that he had been unhappy with the extent of cuts that George Osborne was demanding from the welfare budget. Some light has been thrown on this by David Laws' book Coalition, written before IDS's resignation but published since. Largely it seems to confirm Duncan Smith's position. Not that he is a welfare dove by any means – for example when a complete welfare freeze for 2012 was proposed, while inflation was running at 5 per cent (p102) Iain Duncan Smith argued that the amounts were ...
Ros is away for a week on business and, rather than join her and (to be honest) get in the way, I thought that I'd go for a train ride. And so, on Sunday evening, I reported at Euston Station to catch the 20.57 departure to Inverness (as you do). It has been a very long time since I rode a sleeper train, so I was intrigued to find out what the experience is like. So, here are some thoughts... The first class lounge at Euston is alright, no more, no less, although I'm sure that the cookies are very ...
There seems to be a bad state of fly-tipping in recent weeks, with three major incidents currently being dealt with by your local councillors and the Council. Hastings Close Hastings Close, the road which goes along the side of the motorway between Barnard Avenue and Kenilworth Avenue, seems to be the victim of repeat flytipping, with Council staff undertaking complete clear-ups twice in the last few months. Most recently a whole bed has been fly-tipped which in the process of being removed. [IMG: IMG_0351] Baguley Crescent Fly-Tipping has again hit Baguley Crescent, with people illegally dumping household equipment between some ...
An operator has been chosen to bring a tree-top attraction to Heaton Park - which is aimed at offering a new attraction in the park, as part of long term and ongoing improvements. The team behind a Lake District-based company, Tree Top Trek Ltd will bring their know-how to Heaton park, creating 16 full-time equivalent jobs and two annual apprenticeship opportunities. The company, who run Brockhole National Park Centre in the Lake District, will invest in the park. The proposals include a mini Trek, a High Ropes Course and Zip Safari, alongside the newer Treetop Nets experience. The proposals are ...
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie last night announced a £17 million extension of his party's pupil premium, to make sure looked after children in Scotland get the support they need during their journeys through school. As part of a discussion on disadvantaged children at a Church of Scotland hustings in Edinburgh, Mr Rennie said [...]
Lib Dem Voice reported before on the trial at Southwark Crown Court of Peter Skinner (Labour MEP 1994-2014). He has been found guilty by the jury of around £480,000 of fraud. The essence of the fraud was misusing funds assigned to him as am MEP for the employment of staff to assist him in his duties as an MEP. There was clear evidence before the jury that a large part of these funds were diverted for personal expenditure or paid to people who were his family members (and cannot be employed) or did not work for him. It appears that ...
Leaders debates in Scotland are underway. Early noise on them is what you'd expect: Nicola Sturgeon dominant, Kezia trying hard to make Labour still sound relevant to Scots, but not quite making it; the Lib Dems and Greens struggling for relevance as well; Ruth Davidson looking like she should be the leader of the opposition in a few weeks time, while being weighed down by her party over and over again. The Tories are screwed as a brand in Scotland. Everyone who knows anything about UK politics has known that for a long time – it seemed weird to even ...
One Canadian Liberal idea I suspect Liberal Democrats will be less keen on: Justin Trudeau is pushing a proposed new constitution for the Liberal Party of Canada aimed at transforming the federal party from an exclusive club into a wide-open political movement. The proposal, adopted Saturday by the party's national board during a three-hour meeting with the prime minister in Halifax, would do away entirely with the long-held principle that only dues-paying, card-carrying members are entitled to take part in party activities. Indeed, there would no longer be any party members. Instead, anyone willing to register with the party — ...
After an interesting Church of Scotland hustings in Edinburgh last night, in which I scored Willie Rennie and Patrick Harvie the clear winners and John Swinney the clear loser, the action moves to Edinburgh Southern on Sunday afternoon and the seat that actually needs the smallest gain in the country for a Lib Dem victory [...]
[IMG: clocktower] Last year, I didn't stand for re-election to Colchester Borough Council having represented Castle Ward for eight years. (I wrote about the reasons why I wasn't standing again here) Since then, I've had lots of people asking me if I would stand again in the future, and following lots of requests from many different people, I have decided to stand again this year. So what changed my mind and got me to put my hat back in the ring this year? For a start, my situation has changed and a lot of the things that were causing me ...
I have expressed disappointment that Stagecoach is to withdraw its relatively new Service 26 - City Centre to Camperdown Park via Lochee - from the end of May. The City Council has advised councillors that : "Please note that the Council has been advised by Stagecoach Strathtay that they plan to withdraw Service 26 (City Centre to Camperdown Park via Lochee) in its entirety after 29 May 2016. This was a short-lived bus service, that only started operating in November 2015. Service 26 was operated on a 20 minute frequency with distinctive yellow buses and was marketed as a bus ...
The UKIP campaign for the Welsh Assembly has been thrown into chaos as their NEC endorsed the candidature of the controversial Gareth Bennett in South Wales Central. As the BBC reports, this decision was taken despite a formal complaint from 16 fellow candidates. Mr. Bennett had linked rubbish problems in Cardiff to Eastern European immigrants only for the party to be embarrassed when it emerged that their activists have been fly-tipping leaflets in the Cardiff area. The consequences of this decision became immediately apparent. UKIP Wales head of media Alexandra Phillips stepped down as the number two list candidate in ...
What's Behind the Flare-up in Nagorno-Karabakh? Magdalena at @Crisisgroup writes. (tags: armenia azerbaijan nagornokarabakh ) Paul Ryan Is Running for President Yup. (tags: uspolitics ) Top Republicans talking up Paul Ryan as nominee Yup. (tags: uspolitics )
