Autism projects to receive £1.2 million investment

It has been announced by Liberal Democrat care and support minster Norman Lamb that Autism Projects across the country will receive a £1.2 million boost to help support adults with autism.

As part of the government’s initiative to make improvements to care standards for people with autism, 42 pioneering projects will be the benefactor of the funding. The schemes will use the funds to test new ways of supporting adults with autism, including in areas such as crisis prevention work and help with securing employment. The plan is for the projects to then be evaluated next summer.

When commenting on the funding boosts for the projects, Norman Lamb said:

“I am delighted that we have been able to contribute funding for the excellent work that these projects carry out.

“We want to ensure that young people and adults with autism have the right support and opportunities to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives.”

Following the investment boost, all local authorities will now be able to apply for funding to help make their community areas more autism-friendly. It is thought that this £18,500 could be used to improve or refurbish areas such as quiet rooms or buy electronic equipment which could benefit people with autism.

Reporting Back: October Full Council

Update from Lib Dem Councillor Tim Pickstone:

Last month was one of the regular ‘Full’ meetings of Bury Council – the once chance where all 51 councillors meet together.

Here’s a quick summary of what happened:

Questions
The rules have now been changed, which means that councillors who are not Labour or Conservative now have a (small) chance of getting a question answered at the meeting!

I asked questions on:
– the cost of implmenting the new three weekly bin collections – more information on Tim’s website here.
– access in Bury to publicly available emergency defibrillators (more information on this to follow)

We also get the opportunity to ask questions on ‘Joint Authorities’. I asked:
– on Transport, whether Greater Manchester was getting ‘real time bus information’ at bus stops any time soon (the answer was no, and again more information to follow on this)
– on Pensions Fund, on whether Greater Manchester Pensions Fund invests any money in ‘Payday Loan’ companies or companies which run ‘Fixed Odd Betting Machines’ (The answer was no, not directly, but there may be a small amount through funds which are invested in).

Motions and Debates
There were two debates:
– a Conservative Group motion on the changes to the bin collection, which asked for the issue to be referred back to the Cabinet Member for further consideration. This was actually the first time the ordinary councillors have had the opportunity to vote on this issue (the decision had been made by the Council’s ‘Cabinet’) and I voted to refer the issue for further consideration. This was defeated by Labour councillors who all voted to keep the three weekly system as it is.
– a Labour Group motion on Foster Carers. A number of councillors (including me) have been involved recently in an ‘Ask me about fostering’ campaign to highlight the need for additional foster carers in Bury. This motion supported the campaign and was supported by all parties.

Any questions please get in touch with Tim. tim@burylibdems.net

Cold Weather Payment increase for Millions

There will be an increase in Cold Weather Payments from £8 to £25 to help vulnerable people over the winter months.

The Liberal Democrats in Government have ensured that an estimated 4 million people will now be in line to receive extra Government support in order to help low-income households and less affluent pensioners during the colder periods.

This will mean that people under these categories, including children under the age of five and disabled people, could be due a £25 Cold Weather Payment for whenever a forecast indicates that temperatures are about drop below an average of zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days.

On the benefits that the payment increase will achieve, Liberal Democrats Minister for Pensions Steve Webb stated, “It is vital that pensioners and vulnerable people are given extra help to turn up the thermostat and keep warm when temperatures plunge.

“This help, combined with the Winter Fuel allowance and Warm Home Discount Scheme, is making a real difference to help the most vulnerable people in society.

“In most cases, Cold Weather Payments are paid automatically to those eligible. But I urge anyone, especially older people who might be missing out on Pension Credit, to call us.”

Reporting Back – Hospital Services Transport Consultation

Last week our Councillor Tim Pickstone attended a special meeting on transport issues for Bury around the proposed changes to hospital services in Greater Manchester.

Tim reports:
You may be aware from the media or from emails earlier in the year about the proposed changes to emergency services which are currently being consulted on by the NHS.

The proposals would be that for the most ‘severe’ emergencies, there would only be 3, 4 or 5 hospitals that would be ‘specialist hospitals’ that would be able to deal with the most severe of emergencies (broadly emergencies that might require emergency surgery).

None of the options being consulted on have either Fairfield or North Manchester as ‘specialist hospitals’ – so our nearest ones would be MRI, Hope or Oldham Royal.

For 95% of A&E attendances we would continue to use our nearest hospital (i.e. North Manchester or Fairfield), but for 5% of A&E attendances (broadly the ones you need an ambulance for) we would need to go to a specialist hospital.

Many people have been concerned about the impact on people in Bury of these changes around travel to the hospitals. I attended a special meeting with the NHS on Monday about this and wanted to report back.

Ambulances
Obviously if we are being taken to Hope, MRI or Oldham in an ambulance, this is a longer journey than a journey to North Manchester. I asked about whether this would mean that ambulance times met minimum standards, and also whether we would need MORE ambulances.

At the moment the ambulance service is not monitored on its performance in an individual borough (e.g. the % of journeys for Bury people that get to hospital in x minutes) – only for the Greater Manchester average. A good idea was that they should have to deliver on Bury targets too which would ensure that we continued to get the service we needed.

Travel to Hospital
Other issues around around getting to the specialist hospitals – e.g. if you need to visit a relative or close friend in hospital.

Screen Shot 2014-10-22 at 08.32.02

One very big issue that I raised is that public transport from almost anywhere in Bury to either Hope Hospital or the Oldham Royal is dreadful. We do have an occasional bus from Prestwich to Hope, but this isn’t a frequent service. Tram travel to Hope and Oldham both take a long time because of the need to go via the city centre and change.

There is also the issue of parking at hospitals. I know hope have just built more parking, but certainly Oldham has some significant parking problems.

Please get in touch if you require any further information. tim@burylibdems.net

Welcome to our new Organisers

Last week we welcomed our new Organisers for Bury Liberal Democrats: Ellie Hudspith and Michael Powell.
NewOrganisers
Ellie and Michael will each be working for Bury Lib Dems for one day a week each, as part of an internship programme organised through the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors (ALDC).
Victor Chamberlain, who has been our organiser through the internship programme since January has now left for a job with the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party in Westminster.
You can get in touch with both Ellie and Michael at organiser@burylibdems.net

Lib Dems Choose Team for 2015

Liberal Democrats in Bury have announced their team for the General and local elections in 2015.

Party members across Bury have met to adopt Parliamentary Candidates for Bury North and Bury South constituencies, and key local election candidates have been selected.

BuryPPCs

Bury South and Bury North PPCs Paul Ankers and Richard Baum

 

Richard Baum will once again be fighting Bury North constituency. 33 year old Richard, who was brought up and lived most of his life in Bury, fought Bury North for the Liberal Democrats in 2010.

Richard works for the NHS and is married to with two young daughters.

Paul Ankers has been chosen to represent the Party in the Bury South constituency. Experienced campaigner Paul has previously been a Manchester Councillor and Parliamentary candidate, and now works for British Gas as a Data Analyst.

Paul is 38 and lives with his wife. He is due to become a father for the third time just after Christmas.

In the local elections that happen in the same day the Lib Dems have chosen former councillor Mary D’Albert to fight in Holyrood Ward, where she hopes to join Councillor Tim Pickstone who won the ward this year. Mary is well known in the ward as her husband Vic represented Holyrood for 23 years. Former councillors Donal O’Hanlon and Steve Wright will once again contest St Mary’s and Sedgley wards.
More information: Tim Pickstone 07976 831 686

Message from Ann and Andrew Garner

Ann and Andrew Garner have asked us to pass on their thanks, now that they have moved near to Marple in Hazel Grove Constituency, for your Lib Dem support and for the many friendships that they have made.  Ann & Andrew have been Bury Activists, Bury Exec Members, Prestwich Councillors on Bury Council and School Governors.  Their two grown-up children have ‘flown the nest’ leaving them free to downsize to a small country cottage in Charlsworth, just outside Marple. They hope that Bury Members can help as much as they can in order to ensure that voters appreciate that Lib Dems continue to lobby and campaign for a fair society where everybody gets the opportunity to get on in life and fulfil their potential.

Lib Dems re-affirm their opposition to a Snooper’s Charter

Responding to the speech by Home Secretary Theresa May, Liberal Democrats have again re-iterated their opposition to any kind of Snooper’s Charter.

key_digital-bill-of-rights.jpg

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said:

“We utterly reject the allegation that the blocking of the Communications Data Bill has put lives at risk.

“Police already have the ability to obtain data in urgent cases where lives are in danger.

“The real problem is the availability of IP address data, where we have always accepted there is a need for action, and indeed publicly committed to legislation last year.

“Frankly, it is woeful inaction on the part of the Home Office that solutions have not been identified to deal with this issue.

“If failure to act on the IP matching problem has put lives at risk, the Home Secretary must explain why her department has not acted.

“Theresa May is peddling misinformation in a vain attempt to get the so-called ‘Snooper’s Charter’ back on the table.

“Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose the Tories’ obsessive intrusion into people’s lives.”

Unemployment falls again

The latest unemployment figures from the ONS have been released showing a fall by 146,000, lowering the total unemployment count to 2.02 million.

The figures released today show that unemployment has fallen to 6.2%, the lowest rate in six years.

Business Secretary Vince Cable called today’s positive labour market figures “no accident” and said that the Liberal Democrats in Government were delivering the recovery fairly.

Creating jobs is central to the Liberal Democrat plans to build a stronger economy and a fairer society and we have worked to create over 1 million jobs for people across the UK.

key_vince_jobs.jpg

Vince Cable commented:

“The Liberal Democrats have taken steps to ensure our labour market is fair and flexible – delivering opportunities for everyone and preventing exploitation of the most vulnerable.

“The employment growth that we are now witnessing is one of this Government’s key achievements.”

The Office for National Statistics figures also showed that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in August fell by 37,200 to 966,500.

And average weekly earnings, excluding bonuses, in the May to July period, rose by 0.7% from a year earlier.

Vince added:

“Today we’ve had another remarkable set of labour market figures, which show that the recovery in the labour market has been broad based.

“In the past twelve months alone, employment has increased by 774,000, with private sector employment rising by 794,000 on the year.

“This has led to an almost record share of the UK working age population being in work.

“The fall in unemployment is the largest in over 25 years with the number of people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance below one million for the first time since the recession.”

The Lib Dem difference in Stockport

Liberal Democrats in Stockport are investing in their area: building and investing while protecting the environment – and giving residents a say, writes Councillor Iain Roberts, Deputy Leader of Stockport Council.

England, 2014. All of the urban North is under Labour control except for one town of indomitable Lib Dems that still hold out against the socialists. Stockport is now the only Liberal Democrat-led urban council in the North.

One of the ten Greater Manchester metropolitan councils, its population as big as Newcastle. It’s a diverse borough: average life expectancy in deprived Brinnington is 14 years lower than in leafy Bramhall just four miles away. Two of its four MPs are Lib Dems (Mark Hunter and Andrew Stunell).

So what’s the Lib Dem difference?

First, the Lib Dems are investing in Stockport. The Council’s capital programme has grown to over £700 million pounds – bigger than ever before. In tough times when our revenue budget is being squeezed, Council Leader Sue Derbyshire and her team are investing in the borough.

We’re spending £100 million to resurface every poor road and pavement: working hard to fix the issue our residents say concerns them most.  We’re investing more than ever in cycling: millions constructing a network of cycle routes to allow people to make entire journeys avoiding busy roads.

We’re building. A new cinema, two multi-storey car parks, retail units, grade A office space, transport interchange, new public realm, a new hotel and housing.

We’re constructing a much-needed relief road in the south of the borough: planned since the 1930s!

All that investment is prudent. Unlike a certain previous government, we’re not in the business of ransoming our children’s future for short-term gains.

Second, Stockport is open for business. Industrial space is being snapped up and we’re working hard to keep supply up with demand. The Lib Dems believe in councils shopping locally. Over 60% of Stockport Council spending goes to locally-based companies – nearly double the national average.

Third, Stockport is an environmentally friendly borough. Our residents recycle over 60% of their waste, putting us in the top five authorities in the country.

We spent £9 million installing solar panels on public buildings and social housing. We’ve installed biomass boilers and external wall insulation in tower blocks. We’ve got one of the few economically sustainable hydro schemes (set up by a Lib Dem councillor) and we’re working on a heat exchange network in the town centre.

Fourth, we work to empower residents and devolve responsibility. Far more planning decisions are taken by local councillors in their communities than by the central Planning committee. We’ve run “You say, we pay” events for several years, with funding allocated by local residents voting on which community organisations should receive it. Recently we ran “You say, we pay for businesses” – over sixty local businesspeople allocated money to start-ups after Dragons’ Den style presentations.

When the “bedroom tax” came in, we were concerned about the implementation. Whilst many Labour councils chose to punish their residents to score political points, Stockport has made it work. If a Stockport Homes tenant is willing to move, we wipe out any arrears they build up due to the bedroom tax. Over 170 households have already chosen to downsize, freeing up larger properties for those who need them. Not a single Stockport Homes tenant has been evicted due to bedroom-tax related arrears. Naturally, Labour opposed our scheme.

Since 2010 Labour have defeated a sitting Lib Dem councillor just three times. One defeated Lib Dem councillor re-gained his seat at the next opportunity and one of the three Labour victors has since joined the Lib Dems. At next years elections we’re aiming to hold our two parliamentary seats and make council gains from both Labour and Tories, and to keep Stockport Lib Dem.