Reading Liberal Democrats

Today Martin Salter MP failed the Gurkhas and this country. Martin Salter abstained from this crucial vote, however the Government still suffered a symbolic defeat when MPs voted by 267 to 246 on a Liberal Democrat motion to give all Gurkha soldiers equal right of residence in Britain.

Patrick Murray, Parliamentary Lib Dem candidate for Reading West, says, “I am delighted that this motion passed through Parliament. People who are willing to die for our country should be allowed to live in our country. However, it is a disgrace that Martin Salter abstained from this motion, and put party before principles. Reading West deserves an MP who will vote according to what is right not what is dictated to them, from their masters in Westminster.”

Commenting after the vote defeating the Government, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said:

“This is a historic victory for the Gurkhas who have served our country so bravely. This government has now lost its moral authority. From the first moment I challenged Gordon Brown on this over a year ago, he didn’t understand that there was a simple moral principle at stake.”

Editor’s Notes:

1. To give him his dues Rob Wilson MP Reading East in a written reply, this morning, to a question from the editor said, amongst other things… “We believe there are some technical problems with the motion before the House today but nevertheless we will be supporting it. I will therefore be voting against the government today.”
2. Martin Salter has yet to respond!

Liberal Democrats in Reading have warned, ahead of this week’s public unveiling of proposals of the new Station Hill development, that the plans could jeopardise a once-in-a-century chance to achieve a fully integrated transport interchange next to Reading Station.

The Liberal Democrats are concerned that rail users could be taking second place to development interests, and have criticised the drive to close Station Hill to buses in particular.

The Lib Dems on the Council have repeatedly advised against splitting the transport interchange, as it would cause confusion for passengers and encourage car journeys to and from the Station. As currently envisaged, there will be no fewer than three separate transport interchanges for buses, taxis etc, linked to the proposed new station building.

Commenting, Cllr Gareth Epps, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the Borough Council, said:-

“There is a huge danger that Reading loses an unrepeatable opportunity for a world-class transport interchange.

Labour Council bosses have had the chance to negotiate with developers to plan a development that enables high quality public realm and allow through bus travel past the Station.

Relegating many buses to Valpy Street hardly sends a positive message that we want to integrate public transport.”

Cllr Ricky Duveen, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson, added:-

“The Station Hill development plans appear to shift the buses further away from the station.

I am very worried that what I’ve heard about Station Hill 2 will shut the door on linking transport at the Station. We should be putting passengers first.

While it’s obvious the area needs regeneration, the Labour-run Council cannot allow that regeneration at any price.”

Council officers have decided to reject the application from Vodafone for a 14 metre high mast on the corner of Lower Elmstone Drive and Elmstone Drive.

Local residents, 229 of whom signed a petition against the mast application, are delighted with the news. Petition organiser and local councillor, Ricky Duveen said, ‘this is a good decision for Tilehurst where we have clearly demonstrated the depth of feeling about plans to erect this monstrosity in our residential neighbourhood.’

‘I would like to thank all the residents who signed our petition and I would also like to say a special thank you to Nerys and Andrew Wilkinson who helped with the petition and also provided a lot of excellent publicity for our cause.’

The council’s rejection is based on planning grounds in that the mast and its base cabinets would be obtrusive structures that do not fit with the surrounding environment.

However, Vodafone can appeal against this decision and they have three months in which to do so. Given the amount of time and money they have already spent on this case, an appeal is very likely. Any appeal will be heard by an independent Planning Inspector and both sides will be able to put their case.

Ricky added, ‘Despite this threat that will hang over Tilehurst for a few months yet, this is a splendid win for Tilehurst in Round 1.’

Local residents were appalled when they heard about Vodafone’s mast application, especially since they sent off a barrage of protest letters to Vodafone last July when the company first tried to consult local residents.

Reading’s Liberal Democrat councillors have said a call for further work on the proposal to appoint Askett-Hawk as preferred bidders for the refurbishment of King’s Meadow and Lock Island is a ‘do-nothing’ option – and called for the bid to be thrown out outright.

The Corporate, Community and External Affairs (CCEA) Panel voted for a Conservative “call-in” proposal for further work to be done on both bid proposals for King’s Meadow. Liberal Democrats – who have consistently voted for the rival bid by the King’s Meadow Campaign, subject to improvement of its business plan – point out that neither bid can progress until a decision is taken on which bid is preferred. Liberal Democrat Cllr Gareth Epps proposed an alternative call-in to ask the Cabinet to rule out the Askett-Hawk bid outright – but this was rejected by Conservative and Labour Councillors.

Cllr Warren Swaine, the Lib Dem spokesperson for Culture and Sport, said: “The Culture and Sport scrutiny decision was not unanimous so looking again at the decision is the right thing to do. However, it is disappointing that the Conservatives, despite having taken part in the process to evaluate these two bids, have yet again shown that when it comes down to it they are incapable of making a decision and have chosen to procrastinate yet again.”

Lib Dem Group Leader and prospective Parliamentary candidate Gareth Epps commented:

“Tonight the Conservatives voted to further put at risk the chances of Kings Meadow ever being restored.

“Failing to back either bidder at this stage makes a mockery of the scrutiny process. If they felt strongly about neither bid measuring up, then that would have been the appropriate place to voice it. Instead we heard nothing until their position started unraveling at a public meeting, Their call-in now puts both bids in jeopardy.

“It is pure political expediency at its worst. The Askett-Hawk plans are massively out of scale with the listed Baths, to a point where they are undeliverable. The Conservatives have ducked a positive decision – and have ended up backing Labour over public opinion on this issue.”

Investigations by the Lib Dems on Reading Borough Council have revealed only one fixed penalty notices been issued by the Council in relation to illegal dog-fouling in recent times.

This is despite the fact that dog fouling is a regular complaint of local residents.

Cllr Kirsten Bayes, Redlands ward councillor who tabled the question commented:

“Recently we have received a number of complaints across the area from local residents fed up with the amount of dog mess on footpaths and public areas – particularly in South Reading including Cintra Park and Bede Walk.

“This problem is the result of a handful of dog owners regularly failing to act responsibly.

“Reading Borough Council must take tougher and more concerted action to prosecute dog owners who allow their dogs to mess in public places.”

Cllr Glenn Goodall, Environment spokesperson for the Lib Dems added:

“One Fixed penalty notice has been issued in recent times – this clearly does not reflect the scale of the problem across the Borough.

“If this public nuisance continues it will be necessary for Labour-run Reading Borough Council to review the amount of resources focussed on this area to see if it’s doing the job.”

Reading’s Labour administration sought all party support at a Council meeting on Tuesday 31 March for a reduction in Council house rent following the Labour government’s u-turn on guideline rents for 2009-10.

Margaret Beckett, Minister for Housing and Planning recently proposed that all councils reduce their council house rents for 2009-10 which was a complete reversal on their previous advice which had been to increase rents substantially above the rate of inflation.

Cllr Daisy Benson welcomed the rent reduction on behalf of the Lib Dem group and made the point that the above inflation rent rise Labour pushed for in January would have hit many tenants, particularly those in receipt of Housing Benefit (23%) hard.

In January, Labour councillors and officers had urged councillors to back a 4.9% rent increase.

Cllr Benson read from a letter issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government which confirmed that Reading Borough Council would be expect to meet the administration costs of bringing forward this rent reduction in full.

A formal question to Council submitted by Cllr Benson confirmed that officers estimate this figure will amount to in excess of £10,000 and will have to come out of Council coffers.

The Lib Dems proposed an amendment which was successfully carried requesting that the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council be instructed to write to the Minister of State for Housing and Planning welcoming the reduction in guideline rent increase for 2009-10 and the benefits this will bring Council tenants, but also expressing disappointment at the timing and handling of this decision, and the impact it is likely to have on the Council, drawing her attention in particular to:

• The costs which are expected to be incurred to the Council
• The impact on internal budget setting, Housing Revenue Account Balances and delivering quality housing services in Reading
• The brevity of the consultation process

Cllr Daisy Benson commented:

“While we welcome the rent reduction and the benefits this will bring tenants but we are angry at the inept way that this decision has been handled by the Labour government which we now know has cost Reading Borough Council at least £10,000 pounds.”

“The cost will include sending new rent demands to all tenants in the Borough – a second time – which many tenants are likely to find confusing.”

“It is shocking that in a recession, when many councils including Reading are desperately seeking ways to save money, that this Labour government is adding to the financial burden of already cash-strapped local authorities in this way.”

“We sincerely hope that this cock up will not impact on services for residents in Reading.”

Cllr Gareth Epps, Lib Dem Group Leader and Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Reading East added:

“It’s time Labour politicians stop treating Council housing as a political football. This rent reduction is not an act of kindness by Labour but an electoral bribe aimed to save council seats in other areas.

“We will continue to campaign for an end to the dreaded ‘tenant tax’ whereby a significant proportion of Council tenants rent is sucked back to Whitehall.

“Labour should know that reducing the amount stolen from Council tenants by the Treasury doesn’t make the theft any less wrong.”

Editor’s Notes:

More information about the government’s decision to reduce guideline rents for councils can be found here.