Tim Farron Responds to Orlando shootings

Following the tragic shootings in Orlando Tim Farron wrote this article for the HuffPost:

“”How do we find the words to reply to such a senseless crime?

For me; love, solidarity and togetherness are the first stage of the response. I agree with Theresa May that police forces should review security for large-scale public events, in particular LGBT+ events such as Pride. An attack on one is an attack on all, but the LGBT+ community in particular feels a real sense of vulnerability. Their security must be a priority.

Of course, this outrage also raises huge issues of US domestic policy. My colleague Alistair Carmichael has called on Theresa May to speak with the US about its gun laws and the need for reform.

 

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This is the most stark of reminders that even in liberal societies homophobia still prevails in some quarters; it must be challenged. We must continue the fight for equality across our societies. Even where important steps have been taken in changing laws there is more to do – equality is not delivered through laws alone. We must challenge hatred and discrimination wherever it is found.

What also touched me was the outpouring of so many people offering help in any way they could. From giving blood to giving the few dollars they have in their pockets. That outpouring, that support, that commitment is so important and will mean so much. Almost $3million (£2.1million) was donated within 48 hours of the page being created by civil rights organisation Equality Florida who are now working with a non-profit organisation set up to help victims of crime to distribute the funds.

When it comes to trying to find the words for barbaric, horrific and unimaginable crimes like this, I seem to fall back to the words of former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg who said, after the attack in Utøya, near Oslo in 2012: “We are still shocked by what has happened, but we will never give up our values. Our response is more democracy, more openness, and more humanity… we will answer hatred with love.””

Read the full HuffPost Article here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/tim-farron/orlando-shootings_b_10456696.html?utm_hp_ref=uk&ncid=tweetlnkushpmg00000067

Reporting Back: Bury Council Cabinet June 2016

Last week was the regular meeting of Bury Council’s ‘Cabinet’. This meeting brings together the ruling Labour Group’s Cabinet Members, and the thetwo opposition group leaders are now back on the Cabinet, after being thrown off two years ago…. Lib Dem Leader Cllr Tim Pickstone reports:

Review of Libraries
The Council is beginning a major review of Library Services across the Borough. The background to this is that continuing need for Council’s to save money over the coming years.

As a starting point the Council’s leadership is saying that it is “fully committed to retaining a high quality Library Service” but anticipates that there will need to be changes, including the possibility of a reduction in the number of libraries.

There is also a lot in the report about ‘new’ digital technologies digital technologies that could be used to develop and improve the Library Service. The Council also recognises the importance of libraries as community spaces and wishes to explore ways of working together with local communities to strengthen the role their local library plays in meeting community needs.

Residents are now being asked to take part in this first consultation on the ‘principles’ around libraries which are proposed as:

Principle 1 – To provide a Library Service across the borough which provide all residents with access to libraries and electronic services sufficient in number, range and quality to support reading for pleasure, lifelong learning, the development of new skills and the effective use of information.

Principle 2 – To ensure that the needs of more vulnerable residents and groups protected by Equalities legislation are taken fully into account in the provision of these services.

Principle 3 – To ensure that the resources committed to the library service are used as efficiently as possible by exploring options to reduce running and maintenance costs and to share premises with Council and other services.

Principle 4 – To explore options for investing in technology to improve access to the library service for example by extending opening hours, increasing our digital services and enhancing provision for those with sensory impairments.

Principle 5 – To welcome the contribution that members of the community can make to the Library Service as volunteers, supporting both traditional and digital services.

Principle 6 – To meet local aspirations for a network of community spaces across the borough in which the council and local communities can work together as partners in meeting local needs.

Local people who use or do not use Libraries are being asked for their views in a consultation that will start later this month. We raised concerns about the style of Bury’s ‘consultations’, in that we are being asked for our views on fairly uncontroversial principles, but then major decisions are being justified on the basis that we agree with the principles. Our view is that it would be better to ask people more openly what we want or need.

OFSTED Inspection of Services for Children in Need of Help and Protection, Children Looked After and Care Leavers and Review of Local Safeguarding Board
OFSTED have recently undertaken a full inspect of the above services in Bury.

The outcome for Bury was:
The outcome in terms of grades for Bury is as follows:
– Overall Effectiveness – Requires improvement to be good
– Children who need help and protection – good
– Children Looked after and achieving permanence – require improvement
— Adoption – good
— Experiences and progress of care leavers – requires improvement
– Leadership, Management and Governance – good
– Effectiveness of the LSCB – good

There are many good things that the report said about Bury, and to some extent it seems a little unfair that the overall rating was ‘requires improvement’ when four out of six of the individual aspects were rated as ‘good’.

However it is very important that we undertake the services for children who need extra support from the council to a very high standard, and there will be a full action plan developed to make sure that the authority improves in these areas.

Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any queries. The full papers for the meeting are here.

Leaders for Europe

Yesterday in London Paddy Ashdown, Ming Campbell, Nick Clegg and Tim Farron came together to make the case for Europe.

Tim Farron made a pitch to young people to vote. He advised younger people not to let those older people who have gripes against modern life determine the outcome: “Do not let those who are grumpy throw away your future.” Nick Clegg said: “The Conservatives are inflicting their family row on us but it is not their families’ futures at stake. It is not their jobs at stake. Indeed, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove probably regard it as a chance for promotion in their own party.”

Paddy Ashdown accused Johnson and Gove of posing as “working class revolutionaries”: “Boris Johnson and Michael Gove driving around the country in a German bus claiming to be Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels does stretch rational credibility.” Ming Campbell argued it was vital that EU countries worked together: “Nigel Farage is a man of privilege, pretending to be on the side of the under-privileged, while dressed from the pages of Country Life”.

Carers Week 2016

This week (6-12 June 2016) is National Carers’ Week.

The theme of the week this year is to encourage all of us to create ‘Carer Friendly Communities’- and the organisers are asking all of us to RECOMMEND organisations, services and employers who are already carer friendly and INVITE other organisations to use our checklist to COMMIT to becoming carer friendly.

Bury Liberal Democrats have formally signed up and pledged what we can do to help create carer friendly communities in our area.

There is more information about what you can do to invite and suggest organisations here.

The Bury Directory is a great resource to find support and information for carers provided in our area.

A Carers Week Special Coffee Morning is being provided this Friday (10 June 2016) at Bury Carers Centre where carers and the cared for are invited to come and have a cup of coffee and piece of toast and mingle with other carers. The Carers Centre say: “It is very popular and newly registered carers are welcomed, if you are not already registered we will be happy to take your details and send you our newsletter, give you advice and support you. At the carers week we have a variety of activities on going, the Friday coffee morning is extra special in addition to toast we have cakes and pampering hand massages and guests speakers too.”

More information here.

Last Chance to Register to Vote – EU Referendum

If you want to have your say at the EU Referendum, you must be registered to vote.The final deadline is 7 June 2016.

You can register to vote online anytime at gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Anyone who was already registered to vote (or recently registered) before the 18 April deadline for the elections taking place across the UK on 5 May will also be registered to vote at the EU Referendum and will be able to cast their vote. You do not need to re-register.

If your circumstances change, for example you move home between now and the EU Referendum registration deadline on 7 June, then you will need to re-register at your new property.

If you’re going to be away, or just want to vote by post, the deadline to apply is 8 June 2016. Apply here.

Transport Authority Welcomes Bus Services Bill

New powers could enable a London-style transport network in Greater Manchester

​Transport leaders in Greater Manchester have welcomed the publication of the Bus Services Bill, a new piece of legislation which will enable an elected Mayor to franchise bus services.

The Bill, which proposes powers to allow Combined Authorities with an elected Mayor to franchise bus services, would enable Greater Manchester to create an integrated, London-style transport network with a simple fares and ticketing system and consistent quality standards.

Bus franchising, a model used in other global cities, including London, Sydney and Amsterdam, would enable Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to take control of bus service planning with private operators contracted to run routes under a franchise agreement.

Greater Manchester currently has a deregulated bus system, where 80 per cent of services are provided on a commercial basis by bus companies. For these services the routes, fares, frequencies and quality standards are decided by the bus operators.

Under a franchised system the elected Mayor for Greater Manchester will have the ability to decide the routes, frequencies, timetables, fares and quality standards for bus services in the city-region.

Bus services play a significant role in Greater Manchester’s transport network with over 210 million journeys in 2015. That accounts for 79 per cent of all public transport journeys compared to nine per cent by train and 12 per cent by tram. Despite a growing population and increased demand on the transport network, overall bus use in Greater Manchester has flat-lined in recent years.

The option to implement bus franchising powers was requested by GMCA as part of the Greater Manchester Devolution Agreement signed with the Government in November 2014. The power for an elected Mayor to choose to implement bus franchising has benefited from cross-party political support amongst Greater Manchester’s Leaders.

Warm Welcome to Electric Bus Trials

Liberal Democrats across Greater Manchester have welcomed the announcement earlier last week that officials from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have met with the Volvo Bus Corporation to discuss proposals to replace the current bus fleet with a new electric fleet run on rechargeable batteries.

A spokesperson for the Lib Dem group on Transport for Greater Manchester has welcomed the move:

“I am pleased that Volvo have indicated that they would like to start a trial of up of thirty new battery-powered buses in Manchester city centre in 2017, and that they would also like to back this with an investment in charging points.”

“The Liberal Democrats firmly believe that making our public transport system greener must be seen as a priority. We need to move away from fuel-guzzling, carbon-emitting vehicles to clean, quiet electric vehicles. We have already made progress with hybrid vehicles but this represents the next step. We look forward to the day when passengers can ride on any bus knowing that they have made a green choice for their journey.”

Council Group Report to Members

An update on the work of the Council Group since the last members meeting.

Obviously our main piece of work since the last meeting has been around the local elections on 6 May 2016. We were very pleased to welcome an additional Lib Dem colleague in Holyrood Ward, but gutten to just miss out this year in next door St Mary’s Ward by just 19 votes.

The Council Group has had its Annual General Meeting and the following appointments have been made for 2016-17:

Election of Group Officers 2016-17
Group Leader – Tim Pickstone
Group Deputy Leader – Mary D’Albert

Appointment to Council Committees 2016-17

Cabinet (without portfolio) – Pickstone
Overview and Scrutiny – Wright
Health Scrutiny – D’Albert
Planning – D’Albert
Licensing – Wright
Audit – Wright
Standards – D’Albert

Other Committees
JCC – Pickstone
JCC Teachers – Pickstone
Member Development – Pickstone
Democratic Arrangements – Pickstone
Youth Cabinet – Wright
Corporate Parenting – D’Albert
LGA General Assembly Delegation – Pickstone

Tim is also a School Governor at St Margaret’s CoE Primary, Steve is also a School Governor at Prestwich Arts College.

An additional verbal update will be given at the meeting.

European Union Referendum – Make Sure You Can Vote

Voting takes places across the country on Thursday 23 June 2016 in the important referendum to determine whether the country will remain in, or leave the European Union.

Many people may be on holiday or other commitments on this additional polling day.

Anyone can sign up for a postal vote. The votes arrive in the post for you just under two weeks before the election and you just need to return them in postage paid envelope.

The deadline for applying for a postal vote for the EU Referendum is Wednesday 8 June 2016, so you don’t have that long.

You can do this online, by filling in and printing out this form and sending it to the Town Hall. If you would like a form but cannot print one out please just let us know and we will drop one round.

Please note that if you have already signed up for a postal vote, you don’t need to re-register again. 

 

Local elections – We’re getting there…

We are the third party of British politics and last week’s result shows that clearly.

Our percentage vote has almost doubled since last year. Contrast that with 2010 when we lost 411 seats.

We are the only party to gain a council (Watford, where we wiped out the Conservatives) and in places such as Eastleigh and Cheltenham we made gains.
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We have won in areas which commentators would see as not favourable areas for the Lib Dems, taking seats in Sunderland, Manchester and Knowsley.

In Scotland, we gained NE Fife and Edinburgh Western. And despite the full onslaught of the SNP machine we increased our vote share in both Orkney and Shetland. For all the SNP spin, they actually lost control.

The Liberal Democrats are fighters and our members up and down the country have fought an incredible campaign.

The job of rebuilding was monumental, and there is still masses to do. But the job is now underway and we move to the EU referendum and ultimately 2020 with a new spring in our step.