Redcar Councillors were shocked this week when the Leader of the Council refused to attend a cross party scrutiny meeting to explain his budget.

The Scrutiny Board is the key way Labour Leader Cllr Dunning can be held accountable for his actions and can question him on his justifications the major changes he wants to make.

Leader of the Lib Dem group Councillor Glyn Nightingale said:

“Cllr Dunning’s failure to face the Scrutiny Board is another in a long line of actions by Labour Council bosses which do little to encourage open debate and democracy.”

“Councillors were unable ask him in person why he is refusing a Government grant to freeze Council Tax for another year and increasing Council Tax by 3.5%.”

“In light of his refusal to attend I can’t help but ask what he is trying to hide from the people of Redcar & Cleveland.”

Letter to the Evening Gazette

Dear Sir,

It has come to my attention that a leaflet on behalf of the Labour Party in the Newcomen Ward, Redcar, refers to Liberal Democrat councillors “laughing at the plight of Redcar disabled”.

I am disgusted at Labour’s totally unfounded allegation. I can assure people with disabilities in Redcar that neither I nor any of my fellow councillors behaved in such a manner.

Joyce Benbow, who was Lib Dem councillor for West Dyke with me until her recent retirement, is a wheelchair user. Coatham Lib Dem councillor Irene Curr is partially sighted. My father was in a wheelchair for the last ten years of his life. All of us have disabled friends, family members or colleagues and we all represent disabled people in our council wards. We would never dream of laughing at their situation.

Sadly such comments as this are not worthy of anyone wishing to represent local people, and indeed are not worthy of any decent person.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Mary Ovens

West Dyke Ward, Liberal Democrat

Labour today announced their Christmas present to the people of Redcar & Cleveland – a council tax increase of 3.5%.

This comes despite the Government’s offer of a 2.5% grant to all councils which freeze their Council Tax next year.

Refusing the Government’s offer means Labour have lost the area £1.4 million – that’s over £10 for every single person in the borough.

At today’s meeting of the Council the Liberal Democrats put forward an amendment which would have meant a Council Tax freeze. But Labour voted this down.

Lib Dem Leader Cllr Glyn Nightingale said:

“The 3.5% rise will be built in for future years – so this is not just a 3.5% increase for this year, it is forever.”

“Labour Councillors constantly complain about the impact of the budget on local people, but this Council Tax rise reduces people’s incomes all round. So it hurts the people they are claiming to protect.

“Less money in people’s pockets means less spending in the local economy, which in turn means less employment.

“It’s short-sighted, contradictory and politically motivated.

“It’s a good job that pensioners will be getting the biggest ever pension increase of £5.30 a week in April.

“The Council’s scrutiny revealed that many budget changes were reforms that were unrelated to any cuts. Many were sensible, overdrew or did what other local councils were doing already.

“If Council Tax rise made the Council smarter in its working, the Lib Dems would support this budget. But it doesn’t – so we can’t and we haven’t.”

Redcar & Cleveland Lib Dem Councillors say the third Cabinet Member to resign leaves the Labour administration all at sea.

Yet again Council Leader George Dunning’s leadership is in tatters as a third resignation since May leaves a key area of Council activity with no Cabinet Member.

By resigning Cllr Learoyd has walked away from his responsibilities to local people. He has clearly been unwilling to tackle the problems of the Adult & Children’s Services Department which is overspent by £6 million or respond to the independent Audit Commission’s damning Audit Letter on his portfolio and his competence.

Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Glyn Nightingale said:

“Cllr Learoyd has been more interested attacking the work of our hard-working local MP Ian Swales than to tackle his Cabinet responsibilities. He has repeatedly put his extreme views on national politics, often well out of tune with his own party, ahead of service to local people.”

“His decision to resign shows a failure to make a serious commitment to do his real job. He is clearly not prepared for the tough decisions and responsibility the job demands.”

“The Council Leader must sort out his administration, its priorities and do what’s right for local residents. The Council needs to do things smarter and get the basics right. I have little confidence this will happen with or without the distraction of Cllr Learoyd presence in the Council’s Cabinet. Cllr Dunning cannot afford any more internal Labour problems.”

A spokesperson for Ian Swales MP said:

“It’s disappointing when a local representative gives up the power to improve things just to try and score political points. Ian Swales keeps on working hard for the local area despite the very challenging times we are in.”

Lib Dem Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has outlined a £1 billion pound Youth Contract to tackle youth unemployment. The aim is to ensure that all jobless young people are earning or learning again before long-term damage is done.

• Over three years, the Youth Contract will provide at least 410,000 new work places for 18 to 24 year olds into work. Starting April 2012
• Including 160,000 wage subsidies and 250,000 new work experience placements.
• In addition, there will be at least 20,000 more incentive payments to encourage employers to take on young apprentices.
• A new programme to help the most disengaged 16 and 17 year olds – getting them back to school or college, onto an apprenticeship or into a job with training.

Local Liberal Democrats were greatly saddened to learn of the death of Councillor Glynis Abbott earlier this month.

Glynis was elected to represent Newcomen ward in Redcar in 1999, joining her husband Chris who was elected there some years earlier. Glynis also served on the Cleveland Fire Authority.

Lib Dem Group Leader Glyn Nightingale paid this tribute:

“The local Liberal Democrats will miss Glynis Abbott tremendously. She has been major part of our local party for nearly three decades. Her contribution in all aspects of our activities has been considerable. She will be missed in the Newcomen Ward and whoever follows her will need to match the highest standards. It will not be the same without her common sense and deep commitment to helping local people.”

Redcar Liberal Democrats have won their seats back in a by-election, with the people of Zetland ward have reaffirming their confidence in the party.

At 23, Josh Mason is the youngest councillor to be elected to Redcar and Cleveland Council, and said:

“I am delighted to have been elected to the council, and I am really looking forward to representing Zetland Ward over the coming years. I live in the ward and have strong ties to this area. I will work hard to make sure Zetland has a voice.”

Ron Harrison has been voted back in with the highest number of votes of all the candidates. Ron said afterwards:

“I am really pleased that the residents of Zetland have re-elected me. I am delighted to be back on the Council, and am looking forward to working hard for the area.”

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Glyn Nightingale said:

“The by-election result confirms that the Liberals Democrats remain the real and only challengers to Labour locally. I am delighted that Ron Harrison and Josh Mason have been elected. They will make an outstanding contribution to the Council and will work hard to catch up on Labour’s neglect of their ward. It is, also, gratifying that the residents of Zetland Ward have re-affirmed their confidence in the Liberal Democrats.”

“I am delighted that Ron Harrison has been re-elected. It vindicates everything he said about himself and Jim Rogers. They stood as candidates in May in all good faith, and now Ron with our new Councillor, Josh Mason, will, I am sure, fulfil the confidence that the residents of Zetland Ward have placed in them.”

“The Liberal Democrat campaign was entirely positive in the face of a negative Labour campaign full of personal attacks, misrepresentations and distortions.”

Ian Swales, MP for Redcar said:

“It is great to see that the Liberal Democrats have held onto the two seats that they gained in May in the Zetland ward, and I know that Ron and Josh will be excellent councillors for the ward. It’s especially pleasing to see somebody young getting involved in working for our community.”

Full result:

Ron Harrison (Lib Dem) 661
Josh Mason (Lib Dem) 633
Labour 531
Labour 512
Con 217
Con 142
UKIP 50
Majorities 130 / 102
Turnout 36.8%
Lib Dems hold 2 seats

• The Police say no further action.
• The Lib Dems always said they acted in “good faith”.

Cleveland Police have informed former Redcar & Cleveland Councillors, Ron Harrison and Jim Rogers that the Crown Prosecution Service has “carefully considered” the question of their election as councillors and has “decided no further action is to be taken in this case”.

The local Liberal Democrats believed that, as they were not employed by the Council, they were entitled to stand for election. The Council referred the matter of their eligibility to the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service’s judgment ends the prospect of criminal proceedings.

Commenting on the decision, Ron Harrison said:

“Now the Police have told us they are taking no further action, my family and I feel a great sense of relief.”

He added:

“The prospect of criminal action has dominated our lives for months. We stood for the Council in good faith. We never intended to deceive anyone. The letter from the police confirms what I’ve said all along that the situation was created and manipulated by Labour for their own ends. They will do anything to get their way and are totally unconcerned about innocent people’s feelings.”

Jim Rogers responded to the decision:

“I am delighted to be exonerated and to have the integrity of our actions acknowledged. Yet again the actions of this Labour local authority has brought the Council into disrepute, slurred the names of honest individuals and wasted public money: all to advance a fundamentally flawed political position.”

Local Liberal Democrat MP Ian Swales has promised to explore in Parliament ways of ending the legal minefield Ron Harrison and Jim Rogers found themselves. He said:

“No respectable people should have their reputations and integrity questioned in the way Ron and Jim have over several months. I will be using the facts of this case to try to prevent this happening to anyone in the future. There has got to be a better way to deal with situations like this.”

Local MP, Ian Swales, is disappointed that Redcar and Cleveland Council decided to forgo a fireworks display for the people of Redcar this year.

Every year, there is a fireworks display on the Stray in Redcar for young and old to attend.  This year, the Labour Council say they could not afford to pay for the Catherine wheels and rockets to brighten up the night sky.  A Council official has confirmed that they have known they would not be putting on a fireworks display since March of this year.

Ian said “I have had several constituents contact me in the last couple of days, all of whom are disappointed that they are not able to attend a display in their home town of Redcar.’’

“Had we known that this was not going to be funded, I am sure that other organisations in the local area might have clubbed together to provide people with an enjoyable evening.  I have had people tell me that they would have fundraised for the event if there had been some warning. As it is, people are left disappointed by the lack of an event.”

“Too many of these decisions are not being properly communicated to local people in a timely way.”

Labour councillors embarrassed themselves again last Thursday after attacking NHS efficiency savings.

At the meeting of Redcar & Cleveland Council Labour members attacked the Coalition Government on the NHS, including accusations of cuts in local provision.

However, Lib Dem Group Leader Glyn Nightingale pointed out that the previous Labour Government had announced a £20 billion spending cuts programme in 2009!

Department of Health figures show that Redcar & Cleveland NHS Trust is getting nearly £7 million more from the Government this year.

Glyn Nightingale, Leader of the Council Liberal Democrat Group, said:

“The Liberal Democrats left the meeting, because they are concerned that Council meetings have rapidly become dominated by Labour Party propaganda and political antics rather than getting on with the business of running the Council for local people.

Labour is not just wasting the Council’s time. They get their facts wrong. We have complained about this for months.

Last week Labour set up two factually incorrect questions on the NHS that had nothing to do with Council business.

A question from Councillor Massey speculating about the impact of the NHS bill was unnecessary, as the bill is still going through Parliament and is not yet the law.

Councillor Wendy Wall’s question blaming the Government for cuts in the Tees health budget was unbelievable. The Coalition is actually protecting NHS spending in real terms each year.

What the Government has been struggling to get on top of in the NHS is the previous Labour Government’s five-year programme of £20 billion spending cuts announced in 2009.

The Borough faces serious challenges over the coming years. It’s the business of Councillors to face these rather than waste time on party political stunts.”