Liberal Democrats in Reading have called into question Council figures showing that bus lane fines have sky-rocketed under the latest Labour administration.
Labour’s assault upon Reading motorists was recently revealed in a Council report showing that the amount of bus lane fines issued under the Labour-run Council has risen by as much as 277%.
Reading residents have also expressed alarm to local Liberal Democrats over the level of contempt shown for voters by the Labour Lead Councillor for Transport after he called motorists “stupid”.
Whilst in coalition locally, Liberal Democrats tried to create a sustainable and fair budget, not one built upon punishing motorists as an easy target and in effect introducing congestion charging by the back door.
What Labour refuse to admit is that they are using exorbitant fines for motorists – already hit hard with rising petrol prices – to plug gaps in a balanced budget which they inherited from the previous coalition, but have since squandered after coming to power. One example being their hesitation to implement our adult social care changes, more out of an ideological desire to discredit Liberal Democrats, rather than an evidenced-based attempt to address real problems in our community. This inaction has already cost Reading tax payers thousands of pounds in delays, and this is on top of the costs of their review of our proposed changes.
Members of Reading Borough Council’s Council Group have backed calls by Reading’s Gurkha Community for pension parity.
Former Mayor Cllr Peter Beard who has actively campaigned alongside local Gurkhas and their families and is heavily involved with the Reading-Based Forgotten British Gurkha Charity spoke strongly in support of the motion declaring support for the Gurkha’s canpaign for pension parity at the Council meeting on 18 October.
Cllr Daisy Benson has written to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP and Lib Dem Defence Minister Nick Harvey MP calling on them to back the Gurkhas.
Residents are urged to sign the petition on the Direct Gov website.
Lib Dems on Reading Borough Council have spoken out in support of plans for a support centre for LGBT community in Reading.
Speaking in the Council debate on 18 October, Cllr Daisy Benson, Group Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Reading Borough Council said:
“I would like to thank Lorna Macardle Chair of Reading Pride for the work she and others including have done behind the scenes on taking these ideas forward
“We in Reading value our diversity. It is therefore important that we value diversity in all its forms and make everyone feel they are welcome in Reading.”
Jamie Wake, local LGBT campaigner and previous Liberal Democrat candidate for Whitley, said:
“The LGBT community is one that usually feels under-represented and it was a great pleasure to see such a needed project receive full support from all parties on Reading Borough Council.”
Jamie launched the OK 2B GAY campaign at the 2011 Reading Pride Festival in September and received an award from the Reading Pride Charity for the campaigning he does for LGBT Equality.
Jamie added “Whilst this is a step forward for the LGBT Community in Reading, there is a still a lot of work to do to ensure full equality for LGBT people but the cross party support on Reading Borough Council demonstrates how by working together, this can be achieved.”
Commenting, Cllr Daisy Benson, Liberal Democrat Group Leader and Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson said:
“Just months into their administration Labour are planning cuts to sheltered housing services which will hit some of the most vulnerable people in Reading.
“This will come as a nasty shock to many elderly people living in RBC sheltered housing as Labour kept their plans for sheltered housing hidden in the run up to the election.”
“Proposals including the number of support staff and support provided and making changes to night time services.’
“This is not about improving services it’s about saving money.”
“Labour councillors should rethink this decision.”
“We are urging tenants and families affected to respond to this consultation and for local residents to sign our petition to help fight this needless cut.’
“We think these cuts are wrong and totally unnecessary.
“Our top priority remains to protect the most vulnerable childrens and adults in Reading. We would not have made these cuts.’
At a meeting of Reading Borough Council’s Cabinet on 26 September, Cllr Daisy Benson, Lib Dem Group Leader urged Labour councillors to support plans to reform Business Rates to enable the Council to retain and spend a proportion of business rates.
Cllr Daisy Benson, Group Leader of Reading Liberal Democrats commented:-
“At the moment 100 % of business rates raised in Reading go back to Whitehall coffers and are spent elsewhere.”
“This reform would mean Reading Borough Council could keep a proportion of local Business rates, invest in Reading and help make it a better place for residents to live.”
“It will also give the Council a real incentive to drive economic growth locally- helping promote business and jobs.”
“The Council should get behind these reforms which will mean more taxes raised locally are spent locally”
Responding to the news that Reading Borough Council will be consulting residents about HMOs, Lib Dem Group Leader and Housing Spokesperson, Daisy Benson said:
“It’s positive to see the Labour administration continuing with the work the we started last year, following the scrutiny review I led in 2008 Reading’s private rented sector.”
“However, this move will do nothing to reduce the number of existing HMOs in Reading which in some streets outnumber the number of family homes.”
“Therefore the Council needs to continue to work with closely with landlords to ensure that residents living in areas with high-numbers of HMOs do not suffer from parking problems and waste-management issues.”
Speaking at a meeting of the Council’s Cabinet on 26 September Cllr Daisy Benson, Lib Dem Group Leader highlighted the fact that the Labour administration is banking on bus lane fines to get themselves out of a financial black hole.
Cabinet budget monitoring papers revealed yesterday that £575k is being budgeted from an increase in bus lane fines to plug the growing gap in Labour’s finances although officers acknowledge that this income ‘is not guaranteed.’
‘Four months since Labour took control of Reading Borough Council there is a growing black hole developing in the Council’s budget which Labour politicians plan to fill in part by fining unsuspecting motorists including visitors to Reading’
‘It is wrong to gamble services on people being forced to pay fines – this money shouldn’t be use to cover up bad budgeting.’
“Demand for services for vulnerable people is growing and the Council has a duty to provide for Reading’s neediest people not just now but in future years.”
‘We set a fair budget which protected services to vulnerable children and adults – these same services are now in peril due to Labour’s inability to manage a budget’
“Labour promised residents they would be fully-involved in decision-making, yet they are clearly being ‘fobbed-off’ by this sham exercise.
“This superficial consultation ignores the true budget situation. It’s about time they started being honest with the electorate and fully involved them in the difficult decisions this council has to take.”
Reading Lib Dems have warmly welcomed the announcement today by the council of the list of roads being re-surfaced in the annual summer operation. Transport Spokesperson Cllr Ricky Duveen said, ‘this is a welcome use of the extra cash given out by the Coalition Government following two severe winters. Reading received an additional grant of £400k for road repairs this year over and above the normal budget.’
‘There is never enough money to repair all the roads that need mending at any one time but this extra funding will make a big difference to road users in Reading.’
The list includes many of the roads that local Lib Dems have campaigned about over the last six months.
Local Lib Dems have welcomed the news that Labour-controlled Reading Council has organised a public meeting to gather local views on community facilities.
Local campaigner Dave Warren commented:
“I’m delighted the Labour administration has responded to our local campaign for better facilities for residents in Southcote.”
“So far over 200 people have signed our petition which I launched a few weeks ago calling for a new community facility to be built as part of the redevelopment of the Happy Prospect Pub.”
“With the loss of the local pub many residents have told us that a new community hub is needed to allow local people to get together close to home.”
Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr Daisy Benson added:
“We will continue to campaign for real resident involvement across the Borough.
“For too long Labour councillors have taken local residents for granted on decisions that affect them.”
