Reading Liberal Democrats

Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr Daisy Benson said:

“This is terrible news for the people of Reading who will now be facing higher Council Tax bills and unnecessary cuts to services.

“It is also very worrying news for all residents who depend on the Council for help and support.”

“Labour’s pre-election promises were completely unaffordable and will put at risk key services.”

“Lib Dems in administration cut waste and kept Reading’s Libraries,  Children Centres and leisure services open.

“We will be campaigning to ensure they stay that way and to hold Labour to account.”

Commenting, Acting Group Leader Cllr Daisy Benson said:

“Whatever it’s political makeup the Council has a duty to set a legal budget so it is essential local politicians work together for the good of the town.

“Our top priorities are around continuing to protect services to the vulnerable, increasing the supply of affordable housing and increasing opportunities for young people.’

“We are willing to work with any political group that will help us to deliver this.”

Thanks to Reading Borough Council for producing this informative video on postal voting.

Paul Burstow MP, Minister for Care Services has helped launch Reading Lib Dems manifesto for the upcoming local elections.

Launching the Lib Dems to “Six to Fix” Cllr Kirsten Bayes, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Reading Borough Council said:

“This year the Council has been forced to live within its means as a result of Labour’s mismanagement of the public finances both locally and nationally.”

“Despite tough decisions as a result of having to make £19 million pounds worth of savings, unlike many Labour-controlled councils here in Reading we have kept libraries, children’s centres and leisure facilities open and increased funding to the voluntary sector.”

“Letting Labour run the Council again is not worth the risk. Only the Lib Dems can ensure that key services are protected”

Lib Dem Deputy Group Leader Cllr Daisy Benson said:

“The Lib Dems working in coalition have cut Labour’s wasteful spending of Council Tax Payer’s money on schemes that don’t deliver for local people ,and frozen Council Tax for the first time in many years.”

“But we recognise there is still much to do to improve services for people who live in Reading.”

“The Lib Dems will continue to focus resources on delivering better services and better outcomes for residents.”

“Six to Fix” in Reading

1. Cut waste, Protect services and keep taxes low

• We will work to cut waste in the Town Hall to get the best deal for local taxpayers.
• We will continue to promote to increase transparency in decision-making and spending.
• We will focus resources on protecting vital services valued by local people.
• We will continue to consult residents on key budget decisions.
• We will work to keep Council Tax as low as possible.

2. Protect services to the vulnerable

• We will ensure the most vulnerable children and adults in Reading get the support they need.
• We will invest in preventative services and intermediate care to help keep older people stay healthy and independent.
• We will work with the voluntary and community sector to help all residents get the most out of life.
• Carers in Reading are unsung heroes. We will prioritise respite care and services for carers to help them live fulfilling lives.

3. A cleaner & Greener Reading:

• This year 12 local centres will receive a deep clean after years of neglect by Labour. Going forward we will ensure that local shopping areas are not overlooked in favour of the town centre.
• Reducing fly-tipping, litter and graffiti remains a priority for the Lib Dems and we will use the tools and powers available to the Council to keep local areas clean and green.
• We will look to increase the range of materials residents can recycle on the doorstep wherever possible.
• We will promote schemes and initiatives that help residents cut carbon emissions and fuel bills in their own homes.
• We will actively promote walking and cycling to reduce carbon emissions and ease congestion.
• We will work and improve rail transport, including Reading Station upgrade.
• We will fix pot-holes and continue to invest in improving roads and pavements in Reading after years of Labour underinvestment.

4. Cutting crime in Reading

• We will work with local Police teams, Neighbourhood Action Groups and residents to keep cutting crime in our neighbourhoods.
• We will invest in the voluntary and community sector to build capable communities.

5. Giving children and young people the best start in life

• We will increase local apprenticeships to improve the life chances of all young people
• We will work hard to ensure all children achieve their full potential by investing funding via the Pupil Premium.
• 1 in 5 children live in poverty in Reading as a result of Labour’s failed policies while in government and at local level. We will prioritise activities at neighbourhood level which reduce the impact of poverty on children.
• We will protect services to vulnerable children and young people.

6. Better housing and decent neighbourhoods for all

• Increasing the supply of affordable housing, particularly family-sized homes will continue to be a top priority.
• We will maintain lifetime tenancies for Council Tenants and continue to invest in Council-owned homes.
• We will continue to invest in estate areas and neighbourhoods across Reading via our unique Decent Neighbourhoods Fund.
• We will work with landlords to improve standards and tackle poor standard in the private rented sector.
• We will continue to take action to reduce the number of empty homes in Reading.

Reading Borough Council is the only local authority in Britain to benefit from £100,000 worth of funding to develop an approach which will enable more innovative low carbon heating systems to be installed across Europe and save council tax payers money in future years, it has been announced.

‘Geo.Power is a European funded programme which enables partners to work together on the introduction of ‘ground source’ heat pumps.

This innovative low carbon method of heating buildings uses the constant heat which exists below the ground by capturing it, compressing it and distributing it to warm buildings. In Summer the process can be reversed, taking heat from the building and putting it in the ground. Considerable carbon, energy and financial savings can be made as a result.

Reading Borough Council has been selected as the only partner in the UK to benefit and is one of 12 partners spanning eight different countries – England, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary, Sweden, Estonia and Belgium.

The funding is worth just over £100,000, and will help further develop Reading’s pro-active approach in playing its own part in tackling Climate Change.

The council already has ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions while providing value for money for the local council tax payer. Now, over the next two years, it will be playing a leading role in the pioneering project which will eventually help cut carbon emissions across Britain and the Continent.

The innovative low carbon method of heating buildings has already been installed at the state of the art Avenue Centre, some council buildings and one of the buildings at Prospect School.

Reading Borough Council will now be working closely with the other partners on the two-year European funded programme to share technology and experiences of installing and using ground source heat pumps. At the end of the two years all the work will be pulled together to set out a way forward as to how more ground source heat pumps could be installed to help reduce carbon emissions across Europe and benefit from the new Renewable Heat Incentive from the Government to be announced next year.

Warren Swaine, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Environment and Sustainability, said: ‘Winning this bid shows that our Council is prepared to take a lead in developing a sustainable future - not just for Reading but for the rest of the country. Congratulations to the sustainability team for their hard work putting together this successful bid.’

Ben Burfoot, Sustainability Manager at Reading Borough Council, added: ‘This project gives us the opportunity to pave the way for using this technology in new and existing buildings in Reading, as well as enabling us to maximise the use of ground source heat pumps nationally to provide the low carbon heating systems of the future.”

Reading Lib Dems today welcomed the announcement by the Council of the new car park charges for the coming year. Short stay car park charges are being frozen and long stay charges are being significantly reduced despite requests to raise charges from NCP who run the car parks under contract to the Council.

Transport Spokesperson Cllr Ricky Duveen said, ‘this is a good deal for Reading motorists and I think the council has done well to keep the car park charges down.’

Ricky was particularly pleased that the recently introduced charges for car parks in Tilehurst and Caversham were being frozen as in each case they were essential to local shops. Tilehurst and Chester Street shoppers can still park free for the first hour, something that is vital for local traders especially during tough economic times.

A report to Reading Borough Council’s Community Care, Housing and Health Scrutiny Panel this evening (7 December) has revealed that following concerns initially raised by Cllr Daisy Benson and anti-fraud officers, the Council is  taking a more robust approach to identifying and reducing housing tenancy fraud in Council housing in Reading.

This is already paying dividends with 21 potential frauds investigated and a number of properties re-let.

Endorsing the findings of the report, Cllr Daisy Benson, Lead Member for Housing on Reading Borough Council said:

“I raised serious questions in 2009 about the robustness of the Council’s procedures in relation to tracking and cracking down on potential housing tenacy fraud after nationally it was revealed that illegal tenancy fraud is rife in many towns and cities.”

“I am pleased to see as a result of the concerns I raised the Council is now taking a more robust approach including raising awareness with staff and Council tenants to identify fraud and get action taken.”

“People who fraduently sub-let Council properties are defrauding the public purse and putting additional, unwanted pressure on Council housing in Reading which is already  in high demand.

“The cost to the Council of every fraud is estimated at £11,000 which equals the cost of putting up families in temporary accomodation.”

“This is wholly unacceptable and the Coalition Administration of Reading Borough Council is committed to taking further steps to identifying potential fraud and action against offenders.

“This is in stark contrast to the complacent approach of the previous Labour administration which could have cost taxpayers dear.”

For more details about the actions taken by the Council since March 2010 please view the housing fraud report.

Cllr Daisy Benson outside a former empty home

Cllr Daisy Benson, Lead Member for Housing on Reading Borough Council has welcomed the Coalition Government’s announcement that it plans to reward councils that bring empty homes in their area back into use as part of the New Homes Bonus.

• The Department for Communities and Local Government has launched a consultation on the proposed New Homes Bonus.
• Through the New Homes Bonus, the Government proposes to strengthen the incentive for local authorities to identify empty properties and work with property owners to find innovative solutions that allow these properties to be brought back into use.
• The Government is proposing to reward local authorities for bringing empty properties back into use through the New Homes Bonus
• The measures include counting refurbished empty houses as additional housing supply, the same as new build.

Cllr Benson commented,

“I am pleased that in line with the Coalition  Agreement the Government is putting policies in place which will help councils not only build more much needed affordable and socially rented housing, but will also tackle the important issue of empty homes.”

“Homes that are unoccupied for long periods  are a blight on our neighbourhoods and represent an unnecessary waste of resources when demand for housing in our area is high.”

“Locally the Lib Dems led the campaign to get Reading Borough Council to bring long-term empty properties back into use after Labour neglected the problem for years.”

“In recent months  long-term empty properties across the Town have been brought back into use by the council working in partnership with landlords – including properties in prominent positions in London Road (Alexandra House) and Christchurch Road (pictured).”

“It’s right that councils should be incentivised for every home they bring back into use in this way as the system set up by the previous Labour government provides no real incentives for councils to act.”

“Tackling the problem of empty homes is one of the things we must do to help meet the demand for housing in our Reading.”

Carers are family members, or neighbours, who care for a sick wife or husband, an Aunt or Uncle, or a sister or brother, usually unpaid. It is estimated that there are at least 11,000 people in Reading providing unpaid support to vulnerable adults or children with additional support needs.

It is not well known that there are Direct Payments available for carers, to be spent in any way they wish, to alleviate the strains of caring. It could, for example, be a hundred pounds to organise a day out. So if you think you qualify, as a carer, to receive a Direct Payment grant, download the information pack, “Caring in Reading” which will tell you how to apply for a grant. Alternatively, you can contact Janette Searle or Iftkhar Ahmed at Reading Borough Council on 955 3600, or one of your local Councillors for more details.

Here are just a few figures on carers in Reading:

67% of carers are female, 50% are over 65, 73% provide more that 50 hours support a week.

341 payments have been issued or are pending since April this year, so if you think you might qualify for help – don’t delay.

We are delighted to have reached agreement on so many important areas. This is a great start to our coalition that aims to deliver better value for our residents, better services to our residents, instill a sense of pride in our town and have ambition for its future. Our coalition team is already working hard towards these goals.

The people of Reading asked their politicians to work together to address the dire financial mess left by the last Government. This is exactly what the Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups are doing; working together for the good of our town.

Click here to download the agreement in full (Adobe PDF format)