More Tories in trouble.

Tory Councillors Barry Yates and Jim Marsh (again!) appeared before the Council's Standards Committee recently to answer charges of misconduct. The charges related to a Grant Application which was considered by the Eastern Area Committee from a local cricket club. Both Councillors were found guilty of failing to declare an interest in the item, as they had connections with the Cricket Club, and then taking part in the vote which ensured that the grant was approved. This is the second time this year that Cllr Marsh has been found guilty of misconduct by the Standards Committee. His punishment? To undergo further training (again)! Cllr Yates, who has been a Councillor for 20 years and is a member of the Standards Committee himself, was ordered to undertake extra training as well. Perhaps he was away when the Standards Committee did their original training?

An Apology

It has been brought to our attention that Cllr Jim Hothersall didn’t say Kingsfold was like Beirut in his ill fated radio interview with Jeremy Vine on Radio 2. What he actually said was that one of the Councillors for Beirut, oops sorry Kingsfold, had made that comparison. We hope that it wasn’t the always sensible Cllr Best, so presumably it was Cllr Renee Blow. The very same councillor who admitted causing a breach of the peace following an altercation with some children in possession of a dangerous football! Our sincere apologies to Cllr Hothersall!

Councillor fluffs interview on national radio

Tory spokesman on Streetscene issues, Cllr Jim Hothersall, dropped a huge gaffe when he appeared on BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine show. When asked to explain the controversial 'No Carol Singing' scheme, he offered an opinion that living in Kingsfold was like living in Beirut!!! He also claimed that pensioners had been threatened on their doorsteps by Carol singing teenagers. According to Cllr Hothersall, these alleged youngsters, (no doubt wearing hoodies!), have been singing a couple of lines from a Christmas Carol and then demanding money with menaces. That may or may not be true, as yet there is no evidence to say, but that hardly reflects what life has been like in the Lebanese capital for the last 25 years. Nor does it do much to reassure the residents of Kingsfold that, whilst it may have its problems, it is a relatively safe place to live. Nice one Cllr Hothersall.....

Christmas Carols? Humbug!!

Top Tories at South Ribble have been struggling to justify a scheme in Penwortham to discourage the tradition of Carol singing. Residents have been issued with notices which they can stick in their windows advising doorstep carolers that they are not welcome. This despite being able to produce any evidence that any crimes where committed last year that were 'Christmas Carol related'. What next, an anti Valentines campaign!

Tory Councillor admits 'breach of the peace'

Tory Councillor admits 'breach of the peace'. Penwortham Tory Renee Blow certainly hit the headlines this month. Despite having a reputation as being an advocate for law and order and being known as someone who regularly challenges local police on the need to do more in her patch, it was Cllr Blow who found herself on the wrong side of the long arm of the law. Cllr Blow admitted a breach of the peace and was bound over for six months at the Magistrates Court following an incident involving children playing in the street. Cllr Matthew Tomlinson, Leader of the Labour Group at South Ribble said 'I am sure that residents expect better behaviour from their elected representatives. However, it seems the Tory Group on the Council are still happy to retain her as a member.'

Don't mention the Waste Plant!

South Ribble's Tory Cabinet will this week announce big changes to the way recyclable waste will be collected from next summer. Claiming that the changes are as a result of listening to residents Cllr Molyneux, South Ribble Councils Cabinet member for Environmental Issues, failed to mention that these 'significant improvements' are only possible because of the development of the Farington Waste Plant. A development he and fellow Tories were so opposed to that they offered £40,000 of taxpayers money to support a judicial review of the County Council's decision to build it.

Supporting Local Residents

Councillor Caleb Tomlinson and Cheryl Ledward Lee from our Leyland Central team have been out and about talking to residents concerned about proposed development on Bretherton Terrace in the town. After spending Saturday morning knocking on doors in the area, Caleb and Cheryl were able to arrange for over 30 letters of objection to be handed in at the Civic Centre. Caleb was also able to boost publicity for the locals campaign by arranging for some coverage in the Leyland Guardian.

Labour vote UP, Tory vote DOWN.

As results were announced for the recent by-election in Leyland St Mary's ward, Labour candidate Peter Holker reflected on a 'job well done'. Although the seat is a traditional Tory stronghold, Labour saw a small increase on the vote in 2007 and the Tory vote was down. Peter said "There is no doubt that the longer this Tory administration is in power, the less popular they become. I am grateful to all those people who took the trouble to go out and Vote Labour." The Lib Dems failed to even field a candidate.

Council is told to start “writing off” money invested in Iceland

The effects of having £5million invested in Icelandic banks are about to start hitting the finances of the Borough Council. Up until now, Government advice has been for Councils to assume they would get the money back at some stage. However, that advice has now changed and the Council has been told to start writing the money off in order to balance the books. Labour Councillors have been asking for months for the Tory Cabinet member to share his ideas for how this will affect Council Tax payers. As yet, we have received no answer.

New Councillor hits the ground running

New Labour Councillor Caleb Tomlinson has been showing the residents of Leyland Central how a really active Councillor can make a difference.

“ Since I was elected on June 4th, I have attended Two meetings of the Full Council and I asked questions of the Tory leadership at both meetings. I have also attended two Leyland East Area Committees, three Pact (Police and Communities Together) meetings, two Scrutiny meetings, one licensing committee and one meeting of the Leyland Working Group.” In fact, by our reckoning, Caleb has already attended more meetings in three months, than former Tory councillor Ray Woodburn (“Leyland’s Worst Ever Councillor”) attended in the last two years.

Council ‘loses’ £100k of taxpayers money

South Ribble Borough Councils planning committee seems to be making decisions that contravene planning law. The Planning Inspector has accused the Council of “acting unreasonably” as it turned down a series of planning applications for new housing in the borough. Of six applications which were originally rejected by the Planning Committee, the Planning Inspector found, after an appeal, that FIVE of them should in fact have been granted. Furthermore the Council was ordered to pay, not only for its own legal fees, but also for the costs of the applicants. The total cost of all this to the taxpayer of South Ribble? Around £100,000!!! Which seems a bit rich when we cant afford to support the Women’s Refuge to the tune of £9,000.

What now for Hulmes Mill land?

Following the withdrawal of the plans to build houses and a restaurant on the empty plot in front of Body Logic, it seems the Council have no new ideas for the use of the derelict site. However, they seem intent on selling off the green space on West Paddock. Labour Candidate Peter Holker is against the sale of the field on West Paddock. “Surely, the Council should be concentrating on developing a derelict Town Centre site rather than disposing of valuable green space?”

Shock as Tory comes up with “new solution”

The Tories new County Councillor for the Area has had his thinking cap on as he tries to solve the problem of student parking on the Mayfield Estate. “Lets make the estate ‘Access Only’ he says. He obviously hasn’t spoken to local police who have said “ Access Only restrictions are incredibly difficult to police and frankly are not high on our list of priorities.” Time to think again Councillor!!!

Money down the drain?

The Tory Cabinet recently spent £85 000 on consultants to draw up a bid for a Lottery Grant to spend on Worden Park. Unfortunately the bid was turned down, FOR THE THIRD TIME. Peter Holker says “ Just think what could have been done on the Park with £85,000. Why spend money on consultants when you could be spending it on our Park?”

Free Swimming for under 16’s? Not in Leyland there isn’t

The Labour Government announced a scheme last year to promote healthy activities for young people. They offered Councils across the country financial support if they would throw open the doors of their Leisure Centres to under 16’s. Local Councils in Preston and Chorley have done this willingly and now offer this concession to their residents. South Ribble Tories response ? “Thanks, but No Thanks!”