Lib Dems allocate extra pothole repair funding
The Liberal Democrat administration on B&NES Council is taking action on road repairs.
Our budget, which was adopted in February 2014, included a sum of £3.788m of funding for highways maintenance plus an extra £2m put in by the Liberal Democrats specifically to address road and footway surfacing. The programme of works is due to be discussed by Cabinet at its meeting on 9 April 2014.
Councillor David Bellotti (Lyncombe ward) has commented:
“Sound financial management by the Liberal Democrat administration means that we have been able to allocate this extra funding whilst still protecting key services, investing for jobs and delivering another year of the Council Tax freeze.”
Beyond this local allocation, B&NES has also won an extra £417,931 from a government fund for repairing local roads damaged by severe weather. A further £200m fund will be made available next year and we have already indicated we will make a bid for a share of that as well.
Liberal Democrats delivering in government
The Budget has confirmed victory for the Liberal Democrats in our campaign to deliver an £800 tax cut for people on low and middle incomes.
Cutting income tax by £700 – by raising the tax-free allowance to £10,000 – was the top priority on the front page of the Liberal Democrat manifesto. That comes into effect in April this year.
This week’s national budget announcement has confirmed that the Liberal Democrats have now been able to go even further. The tax-free threshold will now rise to £10,500 in April 2015, giving a tax cut of £800 for 25m working people since 2010.
Liberal Democrat policy is to continue to increase the threshold in the next Parliament to £12,500.
Don Foster MP has said:
“This tax cut is the real Budget boost for working people and, alongside how the number of unemployed claimants has continued to fall over the last year, demonstrates how Lib Dems in Government are creating a stronger economy and a fairer society.”
For more information about the budget, please see here: LINK
Making Royal Victoria Park even better
Royal Victoria Park in Bath is one of the country’s finest parks, serving residents and visitors for a wide range of leisure activities. The Liberal Democrats are committed to protecting and investing in this beautiful green space.
Councillor Andy Furse, Councillor for Kingsmead ward, which covers Royal Victoria Park commented:
“I’m really proud that our budget proposals for 2014-15 include dedicated investment in Royal Victoria Park. This funding will contribute to renewing the skate park; investing in facilities such as litter bins, seating and a BBQ area (to help stop damage to the grass from portable BBQs); and restoring the Great Dell Walkway. The Liberal Democrats are helping to make the Park a pleasanter, easier and better place to visit.”
The Liberal Democrats have also recently taken action to stop Royal Victoria Park being used as a long-stay car park. By introducing some parking restrictions, we help keep spaces free for visitors rather than long-stay parking. Furthermore, the Council agreed to reduce car parking in the Park way back in 2000, in line with the terms of the £1.8 million Heritage Lottery Award for the Park.
Councillor Caroline Roberts, Councillor for Newbridge ward and B&NES Cabinet member for Transport commented:
“There is a limited amount of parking in Royal Victoria Park and the priority should be for visitors wishing to make use the Park, not for commuters leaving their cars there all day.
“The parking changes were introduced last year and, as a listening Council, we committed to keeping the arrangements under review in accordance with the feedback we receive from residents and local businesses. We have now carried out a review and we will be making some changes to reduce the cost of parking and increase the time limit”
For more details about the update to parking in Royal Victoria Park, please see the Council press release here: http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/latestnews/parking-restriction-changes-royal-victoria-park
Green award for B&NES Lib Dems
B&NES Lib Dems have received an award recognising their environmental achievements in running B&NES Council.
Bath and North East Somerset Liberal Democrat Council Group was named “Green Council Group of the Year 2014” by the Local Government Association Liberal Democrats. The award was presented by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP at the Party’s Spring Conference in York this weekend (7-9 March 2014).
The citation for the award was as follows:
“This Lib Dem council is working hard on environmental issues – installing LED street lighting, extending and improving the cycle network, including a cycle hire scheme for council staff. They have worked hard on the Green Deal and a community energy strategy that tackles fuel poverty. They have invested in local bus services when so many other councils are cutting theirs and are leading the way on re-opening two railway stations. They are expanding a scheme to cut down on lorry deliveries to the centre of Bath. Less than a third of their waste now goes to landfill. So the Green Council Group of the Year goes to Bath and North East Somerset.”
Councillor David Martin (Bathwick), who is the Member Champion for Energy and Climate Change in B&NES, commented:
“Protecting the environment has been one of our key priorities as a Liberal Democrat administration. From encouraging cycling to increasing recycling, and from saving energy to generating electricity, we have been working to lead the way on environmental issues.”
Councillor Lisa Brett (Walcot), who is vice-Chair of the Council’s panel on Planning, Transport and the Environment, commented:
“I am thrilled with this award which is a credit to the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to promoting environmental values. I am particularly proud of the £1m Green Investment and Job Opportunities Fund which is part of our plans for 2014-15, as approved in last month’s budget vote.”
