Tory Council to write off £1m of Icelandic investments?

Your Labour Councillors have been trying to assess the damage caused to the Council by the decision to invest £5 million of taxpayers money in Icelandic banks. The latest news would appear to suggest that the Council could ‘write off’ almost £1m of that investment in the coming year. Councillor Matthew Tomlinson says “Many people will find it hard to understand that a Council who had £5m invested in foreign banks could’nt afford to give the Women’s Refuge a grant of £9,000. Now to add insult to injury, it would seem that almost £1 million of that money will be lost altogether.”

Shock as Turpin Green plan gets the Go Ahead

Councillor Caleb Tomlinson has told of his shock as a plan to build a convenience store on the old petrol station on Turpin Green was passed by Council staff. Caleb said “I handed in a petition of over 200 names objecting to the plan and was intending to stage a protest at the Planning Committee. However it would appear that no-one on the Committee thought it important enough for them to consider. The plan was passed on the say so of a member of staff without even being discussed in public. I am bitterly disappointed.” Two Leyland East Tories are on the Planning Committee, Cllr Mary Green and Cllr Michael McNulty

Two Tories found guilty of rule breaking

Two South Ribble Tories have been found guilty of failing to declare an interest in items on which their votes were crucial. Cllr Jim Marsh and Cllr Barry Yates (a former Mayor) were both found guilty of voting through a Council grant to a club which they were involved with. This was the second time that Cllr Marsh has been found guilty of an offence against the Members code of conduct.

Parking Fiasco

It seems that the Tories are in total confusion about what to do with parking in Leyland. They were elected on a promise to bring back free parking to the Town. When elected they made parking free on one car park, but not the others. Then they hiked the price up from 20p to 50p. Then, after a massive campaign supported by Labour Councillors, they introduced some more free spaces behind the market. Now they want to introduce some more changes, but wont tell anyone what they are!! Confused? You’re not the only one. Labour Leader Councillor Matthew Tomlinson says “No-one likes paying for parking, but what is even more annoying is being fined because the rules are not clear or constantly changing.”

Leyland kids forced to Chorley baths

As South Ribble Tories refuse to join the Governments free swims for under 16’s scheme, it would appear that local children are voting with their pockets and choosing to go swimming in Chorley where the scheme has been enthusiastically adopted. Whilst Chorley Council announced a huge increase in the numbers of people using their swimming baths, South Ribble were admitting that sales were down. Surprise, Surprise!

Council loses ‘Excellent’ Tag

South Ribble Council, rated ‘excellent’ when last under Labour control, has just been told that it is no longer up to the standard required to retain that rating. Just over two years of Tory control has seen the Council fall off the list of the best run Local Authorities. Interestingly, Chorley retained its place as an excellent Council.