Reading Liberal Democrats

Figures obtained by Reading Lib Dems from Reading Borough Council show that during the municipal year (May 2007 – Feb 2008), Reading’s Lib Dem councillors have reported a staggering 578 local issues to the Council for action.

Two Liberal Democrat councillors between them have reported more issues to the Council than the entire 14-strong Conservative Group.

The statistics reveal that Redlands Cllr Daisy Benson has reported the most issues of any councillor: 266 issues, compared to her Labour counterpart, Cllr Riaz Chaudri, who only managed to report 4 issues via the Council’s casework reporting systems during the past 9 months.

Cllr Gareth Epps (Katesgrove), elected last year, reported 181 issues for action from RBC: more than four times as many issues reported by Labour councillors David Sutton and Richard Stainthorp.

Cllr Daisy Benson said:

“Bitter members of other parties attacked me when I was elected two years ago saying that because I have full time job in addition to my Council duties I would be a ‘part time councillor’. I think these figures reveal these criticisms were totally baseless.”

“These stats show that Lib Dems work hard all year round not just at election time getting things done for local people”

Cllr Gareth Epps, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Group said

“These facts speak for themselves. If the residents of Reading want to elect councillors to represent their neighbourhoods who work hard and get things done in the May 1 elections there is only one choice at the ballot box: Liberal Democrat”

Editor’s Notes –

• Data obtained by the Lib Dems shows that during the municipal year (May 2007 – Feb 2008) Lib Dem Councillors in Reading have almost half the number of councillors compared to the Conservatives, but handle 12 % more casework.
• Lib Dem councillors in Reading so have been dealing with the highest average number of casework ‘pieces’ per councillor – almost twice the average for Labour and almost 3 times the average for the Conservatives.