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Northumberland County Council - Ulgham Division
The elections in May 2008 were to choose Councillors to oversee the transfer of functions from the existing County Council
to the new unitary authority in April 2009, and to take that new council forward into the next decade.
The Council currently comprises 1 non-affiliated Liberal Democrat member, 5 Independent members, 17 Labour members, 19
Conservative & Independent members, 25 Liberal Democrat members. Northumberland Conservatives are therefore the main opposition
group, to the Liberals' minority Administration.
Although the Liberals had a succesful election (in Northumberland) in May, I feel that the Liberals' choice to form an
exclusive Administration was a mistake. A coalition Administration rescued Castle Morpeth Borough Council from ruin, and I
feel that the best solution for the new Council would be a similar coalition.
Of course, the Liberals did end up as the largest group. However, they did not achieve an overall majority and cannot
claim to have been the peoples' popular choice.
Although I am an Opposition Councillor, I can still use my position to achieve great results for the Ulgham Division.
When elected, I hit the ground running, but there is a lot to do in our area, and I promise to do my best to deliver the best
for us all.
Castle Morpeth Borough Council - Stannington & Mitford ward
Castle Morpeth Borough Council is now in its final year of existence. It, along with 5 other Borough / District Councils,
will be abolished and its functions assumed by the new Unitary Authority in April 2009.
Until that time, Councillors of all parties on CMBC must work hard to ensure that the final projects of the Council are
completed successfully and the transition to the new Council goes smoothly.
I am a member of the Executive Committee of CMBC, although I have spent the vast majority of my time as a CMBC Councillor
helping people in the community. Since May 2007, when I was elected, I have assisted local people to object to (or support)
planning applications and helped keep our area clean and tidy by ensuring regular grass-cutting and the swift removal of fly-tipping
(a major problem around Tranwell and Whalton especially).
In addition to this, I have successfully protected public rights of way by making applications to the County Council
for legal footpath status.
Northumberland Conservatives' Alternative Budget for the New Council
NORTHUMBERLAND residents should only get a three percent rise in Council Tax, not
a 4.8% rise as proposed by the Liberal Democrat Council.
Our alternative budget shows that extra efficiencies in addition to what is proposed by the Liberal
Democrat administration will save £4.5m during 2009/10.
Another £4m could come from the Government scheme to allow
redundancy revenue costs to be paid using capital receipts (proceeds of property sales).
We believe this will enable
Council Tax to be equalised across the County and set to the lowest levels in Northumberland at Blyth Valley.
Our plans would
restore £6m worth of cuts to the highways capital budget to make it £18m as opposed to the cut to £12m in the proposed Liberal
Administration budget, this being the one additional borrowing amount it put forward.
And the efficiency savings would
also be used to ease cuts to highways maintenance, street cleaning and repairs and the warden service, with a delay in the
increases in day care charges for some elderly residents.
The Liberal Administration is proposing to increase Council
Tax by 4.8 percent and funding to services will be cut as part of efforts to achieve a required saving of £25.5m.
Northumberland Conservatives know that further savings can be made by job reductions and
better working practices in 'back office' areas, including a £1.45m cut in the policy and partnerships department and a £1.25m
cut in corporate support services.
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