Reading Liberal Democrats

Reading’s Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East, Cllr Gareth Epps, and leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Reading Borough Council, Cllr Kirsten Bayes, started a new advice surgery for members of the town’s significant Polish community on Saturday 12 December.

The idea of the surgery came about following discussions with the Liberal Democrat Friends of Poland group. From discussions with the local community, concerns were raised that the language barrier and discrimination faced by many Poles left some struggling to cope with a variety of issues.

The surgery, held in the Gospoda bar/restaurant on Bedford Road, was very successful, going an hour beyond its scheduled time in order for all those attending to be seen. Polish translation was offered by community leader Mariusz Rapa.

Commenting, Gareth said:-

‘Liberal Democrats work for and support all residents, regardless of background or origin. I’m hoping to be able to talk to other Reading communities too through offering our help and support to get things done.

‘As EU citizens the Polish community can vote for their councillor though they are not entitled to vote at UK General Elections – but that doesn’t mean we should turn our back on them. They contribute hugely to the local economy – and they face the same kind of problems that many of us do. With the help of translators to overcome language barriers, we can help people look after themselves and get support to combat exploitation.’

Kirsten said:-

‘The need for the community to have access to advice was clear. Reading offers many excellent support and advice services, but at times residents need that bit of extra help. The issues coming up were varied, but highlighted the problems that people can face with employment and housing in particular.’

John Oakes, founding Secretary of the Liberal Democrat Friends of Poland (standing in photo) said:

“We aim to ensure that all EU citizens have full access to the local council and other services they are entitled to, so we hope that Polish-language surgeries like this soon become the norm across the country.”

The Royal Berkshire Hospital is among 80% of NHS hospital Trusts who have no idea whether they have treated any veterans under the Government’s priority treatment scheme, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

Freedom Of Information requests sent to England’s 170 Acute Trusts found that, of the 118 which responded, 94 had no records or did not collect information on the effectiveness or results of the scheme. This included the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

The research also found that:

• Five Acute Trusts were unaware of the scheme or did not have it in place
• One said they were still awaiting guidance from the MOD
• One said they had knowledge of only 1 veteran having been considered for priority treatment
• Just three were able to provide figures – 2 of these had recorded a single patient each, while the third had treated 15 under the scheme in 10 years

Requests were also sent to 146 PCTs, of which 84 replied. Of these:

• 67 (including Berkshire West PCT) had no records or don’t collect the information.
• Three were able to provide figures – of these two had recorded one patient under the scheme, the other had had two requests.
• One said they were unaware of the scheme.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East, Cllr Gareth Epps, said:

“Veterans who have put their lives on the line for this country deserve better. If this priority treatment scheme is to be more than meaningless spin, Ministers need to get their act together. They need to ensure that this scheme starts to deliver.

“These findings provide no comfort that the Government veterans’ treament scheme is functioning. How can anyone have any confidence that Labour takes veterans’ treatment seriously if our local NHS Trusts have no idea of numbers treated or results?”

Editor’s Notes:

1. A spreadsheet is available on request giving a full breakdown of responses by Acute Trust and by Primary Care Trust.
2. The first Annual Report on the Governments’ Command Paper on services provided to the Forces, their families and veterans, published on 19 November, reported that:
   • The Royal British Legion considers that ‘little effective progress has been made in the past year’ on the veterans’ priority treatment scheme, with delivery remaining inadequate and awareness low.
   • In England and Wales, 33% of GPs questioned knew nothing at all about priority treatment for War Pensioners
   • Of those GPs who had heard of priority treatment, most (58%) heard about it from the media, 7% from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency or elsewhere in the MOD, and 16% via the NHS
   • 10% of GPs who had heard of priority treatment had informed secondary care providers of a veteran’s entitlement to priority treatment in the previous 12 months See pp 23-4 of the 2009 report

3. Further information on the veterans’ priority treatment scheme can be found on the Government’s Veterans UK site
4. Berkshire West PCT’s response reads as follows:- ‘
   With regard to requests made to the PCT for funding of individual treatment that the requests we have recorded on our systems (which – to reiterate – would relate only to those treatments where the service is not routinely funded and therefore the case for exceptionality needs to be considered by the PCT) are not categorised to include war veteran status. It is therefore not possible to supply this information related to individual funding requests.’
5. The Royal Berkshire NHS Trust replied as follows:- ‘This information is not recorded on any Trust Information System.’

Commenting on the release of the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) and Organisational Assessment report on Reading Borough Council, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat group spokesperson on Communities & Neighbourhoods and prospective MP for Reading East, said:

“The Assessment’s findings on crime and neighbourhoods are very worrying. It shows that Reading Borough Council is still doing far too little listening. The work on the Thriving Neighbourhoods programme to tackle inequality in Reading’s most deprived areas is absolutely critical to get right.

“Much work remains to be done both to tackle crime itself and residents’ perceptions and fears about crime. Warnings about joint working are not new: they just serve to emphasise that work with Housing Associations and other bodies could be much strengthened.”

The CAA report shows a satisfaction rate of only 40% with Reading Borough Council – below the 47% national average. The Council is also scoring below average on residents feeling they have the ability to influence decisions in their area.

Liberal Democrat campaigners are calling for Reading University and Reading Transport to work together to restore a vital bus link for students cut earlier this Autumn.

Working with Reading University’s Liberal Democrats and Woodley’s Liberal Democrat Councillors, Lib Dem prospective MP for Reading East Gareth Epps has handed in a petition signed by hundreds of Bulmershe students demanding a restored affordable shuttle bus after a petition-signing session on campus. This followed the withdrawal without consultation of the shuttlebus connecting Bulmershe with the main Whiteknights campus.

In a private meeting with Reading Buses chief James Freeman in November, Gareth sought confirmation that the reconfigured Reading Buses routes would restore a link, but asked whether the University was prepared to consider a subsidy to make the fare affordable for students. He was told the University had refused to consider a subsidy.

Gareth says:-
“There is overwhelming support among Bulmershe students for our campaign to restore the bus link. This is just another front line service that has been axed by Reading University. Along with PCSOs and departmental staff, the wrong people are being targeted by University bosses as they respond to Government cuts. The new bus services could – if the will is there – result in at least this service improvement, in spite of the other cuts faced by Woodley residents.”

“Bulmershe students have been left lingering in the dark once again” said Mark Whiley, President of Reading University Liberal Democrats Society. “We’ve collected petitions from almost two-thirds of Bulmershe students, wanting a voice to bring back an efficient, affordable and convenient bus service.

“There is a commitment to safety here; a commitment to promises made by the University upon the arrival of Freshers in September; and for students that paid for their course to be able to get to lectures on time and use the services available on Whiteknights Campus.”

Bulmershe JCR President, Liz McCarthur backed the campaign: “It’s understandable that the University is facing hard times and therefore is forced to make significant cuts… however, it is simply unfair, inappropriate, and most unacceptable for Bulmershe students to be left unprovided for, especially as the five hundred-odd Freshers find themselves in an already disadvantaged position upon arrival.”

“It is my view that as long as lessons are taught there and Bulmershe houses students, there must be a shuttle service, irrespective of whether or not the University makes a loss on providing it. The fact will always remain that those students on principle deserve equal opportunities and access to the facilities that all of Reading students have available to them.”

Reading’s Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East, Cllr Gareth Epps, joined hundreds of Reading residents in London for Saturday’s [5 December] Stop Climate Chaos demonstration called ‘The Wave’ – but not before doing his bit locally.

Gareth joined Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg MP, shadow Secretary of State Simon Hughes MP and Reading MEP Catherine Bearder on the march. Before Gareth caught the train for London he helped plant dozens of trees on Longbarn Lane Rec in his Katesgrove ward. This formed part of the BBC ‘Breathing Spaces’ initiative – an attempt to break the world record for the number of trees planted in one hour. Dozens of residents and local schoolchildren took part on the Rec which is being upgraded after pressure from Cllr Epps and local residents.

Gareth says:

‘The Copenhagen talks are probably the most significant political event this decade. The science is clear beyond reasonable doubt that climate change is man-made, and that radical action is needed to stop it. No mainstream voices believe the spin of the climate change deniers.

‘It’s absolutely right that politicians should take the strongest possible lead in this. That’s why I was out with Nick Clegg and other leading Liberal Democrats as part of “The Wave”.

‘And that’s why I played my part locally in helping to make Katesgrove green. There were dozens of people in Longbarn Lane Rec on Saturday morning planting trees, young and old. It was a really great piece of community action to see and I was proud to be part of it.’

Well they have been a long time coming but we can now report that our local Neighbourhood Police Team in Tilehurst now have access to the speed guns purchased by the Council after Ricky Duveen, backed by the rest of the Lib Dem Group managed to get them included in this year’s budget. Not bad for a minority party that had to fight both Labour and Tory opposition to get this measure adopted.

Tilehurst Lib Dem councillors Ricky Duveen and Chris Harris have already been out with local PC Ashley Smith to see the speed guns in action in Westwood Road.

Up till now there has been no real way of enforcing 30mph speed limits and it has been ignored on many of our roads. Now we have a way to crack down on speedsters and get them to understand the need to stick within the speed limits in the interests of our safety. The speed guns are now available to all the local neighbourhood police teams in Reading.

PC Smith has already used the guns, issuing several tickets and pulling over a few more motorists before giving them a warning to control their speed.

We did notice that the Tories have produced a leaflet for Tilehurst proudly announcing the purchase of the speed guns. What they did not mention was the fact that they voted against our budget proposals which included money for speed guns. It was the Lib Dems that forced Labour into accepting this proposal whilst the Tories sat on their hands.

We know from being out with Ashley that residents do appreciate the presence of speed guns and the effective deterrent to speeding motorists that they can provide. We have received numerous calls over the years for help to stop speeding traffic which is why we pushed through Ricky’s idea of buying speed guns. We are keen to spread the word round Tilehurst and indeed the rest of Reading that it is no longer ‘safe’ to roar round our streets and ignore the speed limits. We would like all motorists to drive safely and keep within the limits.

You have been warned!

Liberal Democrats in Reading have slammed the contents of today’s Queen’s Speech as a ‘self-serving charade’.

Commenting on the legislative programme, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East, said:-

“The Queen’s Speech has been shamelessly turned by Labour into a self-serving political charade. At a time when Parliament has lost its authority following the expenses scandal, all it can do is give its successor a fresh start. Confidence and trust in the political process and faith in the Government’s capacity to change things has never been so low.

“An emergency programme of political reform is the duty of this Parliament, in order to clear the way for its successor. Instead, we see Bills proposed that in most cases will never see the statute book and in some cases are political posturing of the most vacuous kind.”

The Liberal Democrats are putting forward a programme of emergency political reform:-

1. Recall power for MPs suspended for misconduct – so we never again have to wait months and years to get rid of people who have betrayed the people they represent
2. Code of conduct for candidates in the next election, including declaration of financial interests – so everyone elected can command full public confidence
3. House of Lords reform – so only elected representatives have the power to make our laws
4. Party funding reform in time for this election – so big money and the whiff of corruption it brings are removed from politics for good
5. Fixed term Parliaments – so the voters can never again be toyed with by a Prime Minister planning an election timetable to save his own skin
6. Legislation to establish a 100-person Citizens’ Assembly, on the Canadian model, to agree a new voting system for Parliamentary Elections
7. Changes to House of Commons procedure to reduce executive power – so never again can a government use the power of the whips to ride roughshod over the views of Parliament.

Reading Lib Dems have posted objections to the Traffic Orders advertised by Reading BC for closing Station Hill as part of the planned Sackville development opposite the station.

The traffic orders would allow the permanent closure of Station Hill/Station Approach, preventing through traffic following a transfer of Council land to Sackville Properties as part of the Station Hill development. The publishing of the Orders – done in a way that failed to make the public aware of this major change – has been slammed by the Lib Dems.

Transport spokesperson Cllr Ricky Duveen objected as the station area plans did not include facilities for bus passengers.

“Bus passengers will be queuing in the streets around the station rather than at any new bus station with facilities like an information desk, public loos etc. They will also have to walk in the open quite some distance to get to and from the station.

“The council’s use of the word ‘interchange’ is a misnomer when you look at the details of their plans.”

Reading East PPC, Gareth Epps, agrees and added:

“The poor facilities for bus passengers, taxis and private hire vehicles will lead to more traffic pressure on roads around the station. The lack of passenger facilities is being pushed forward for the benefit of the Sackville development and will produce chaos for travellers rather than provide a 21st century transport interchange.

“The way the Council have given minimum publicity to this massive change is a disgrace. This decision could forever shut off through bus travel outside Reading Station – but Reading’s Labour bosses do not want to breathe a word about it.”

Reading East’s Liberal Democrat prospective MP and one of the leaders of the Jollydarity campaign to reopen Newtown’s Jolly Anglers, Cllr Gareth Epps, has hailed as a ‘massive victory’ the news that Enterprise Inns has lifted the restrictive covenant on the community pub, closed in brutal fashion in June – permitting it to reopen.

Gareth has been heavily involved with negotiations with the pub’s new owners and prospective publicans on behalf of Jollydarity. He has been in regular contact with the owners, their agent and others, and has led attempts to persuade them that the Kennetside pub can reopen and be viable as a pub. The news was confirmed last night (Thursday 5 November).

The news has national implications as this is possibly the first time Enterprise Inns has agreed to lift a restrictive covenant it has imposed. The news will be welcomed by CAMRA and groups campaigning for an end to restrictive covenants that see often viable community pubs forced to close. The all-party Commons Business & Enterprise Committee in May urged the Government to outlaw this use of restrictive covenants – the Government is due to respond to the Select Committee report.

Gareth has campaigned for changes in the law to give publicans a fair deal. He conducted a pub survey across Reading East in the summer and has worked with leading pub campaigner Greg Mulholland MP (Lib Dem, Leeds NW) on taking action on the conclusions, published in September. The survey gained national coverage for the picture it gave of life working for Enterprise Inns and other ‘pubcos’.

Commenting, Gareth said:-
“This is a massive victory for the local community in Newtown. From the night the Jolly Anglers closed, it was clear people wanted their pub back and were prepared for a community campaign like no other. That campaign has been a spectacular success, and I am delighted to have been part of it. Every Newtown resident and every CAMRA member who helped Jollydarity should be feeling really proud, and I thank them all.

It is a victory of national significance. Enterprise Inns’ about-turn in lifting its restrictive covenant will give pub campaigners hope all across the country. The covenant should never have been imposed in the first place.

Now we just cross our fingers and hope we will be able to celebrate news of a new tenant shortly. There remain many issues to be addressed for publicans to get a fair deal. Wholesale price rip-offs, aggressive rent reviews and other pubco behaviour puts pub tenants working for pubcos in a situation where they’re running their pub with both hands tied behind their back. In many ways the news for Jolly Anglers is even better than expected, as it looks like the pub will be free of the pubco cosh.”

Gareth also commented on the actions of Reading East’s Conservative MP in prematurely announcing a deal before it had been signed – leading to much anger being directed against the MP for potentially placing the deal in jeopardy:-
“The Conservatives, notably, did got get involved in Jollydarity events. The way their MP has behaved – announcing a deal had been signed when those involved told him and me that it had not – was tawdry and unacceptable. The behaviour of the Conservatives, sadly, potentially put the deal in jeopardy; it does them no credit.”

Commenting on the publication of the Kelly report proposing radical reform of MPs’ expenses, Cllr Gareth Epps, Liberal Democrat prospective MP for Reading East, said:-

“MPs must accept this report in full. We need MPs of all parties to come together and agree them without argument, and we need the new independent Parliamentary standards body to implement them without delay. The public must see action taken before the forthcoming General Election.

Gareth continued “I have pledged not to take a second home as Reading East’s MP, and to publish all my expenses in the interests of transparency. I back Kelly in full, and want to see results well before next May.

“There is still a need from David Cameron and Gordon Brown to take action against their MPs who have benefited substantially in financial terms at the taxpayer’s expense. David Cameron in particular must stop picking and choosing who is disciplined.”