Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council will next week call on councillors to back a campaign aimed at driving forward cuts in the authority’s carbon emissions.

Councillor Irene Curr (Coatham Ward) has submitted a motion to the Council meeting on 15 October calling on the Labour-run Council to sign up to the “10:10 Campaign” to reduce carbon use.

The 10:10 campaign calls on individuals, businesses and other organisations to work towards a 10% cut in carbon emissions in 2010.

The campaign also aims to show world leaders that there is public support for dramatic cuts in global fuel consumption in the hope of encouraging an international agreement at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which meets in Copenhagen in December.

Councillor Curr said:

“The Council should be giving a lead on carbon reduction. 10% will be a tough target to achieve, but if the Council has the will to do it I am sure it will be possible.”

Her colleague, Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike Carling, seconded the motion, adding:

“I hope that many local residents and businesses will also sign up to the 10:10 Campaign.”

“In these tough economic times it makes sense, not only for the environment, but in cutting fuel bills too.”

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council is currently undertaking Statutory Consultation on its “Building Schools for the Future” plans.

The consultation which runs until Sunday 25th October, focuses on the following proposals:

*to discontinue Gillbrook College and expand Eston Park School

*to discontinue St Peter’s Catholic College of Maths and Computing, South Bank and expand Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided School – A Specialist Science College, Redcar

*to discontinue Freebrough Specialist Engineering College. An Academy at Freebrough is planned. This will be subject to a proposal by the Secretary of State. This will not affect the day to day operation of the College. A full and thorough consultation process about the Academy will take place next month.

Have your say at one of the following drop-in sessions:

Expansion of Eston Park School: Wednesday 23rd September, at James Finegan Hall, Eston, 4pm-6pm and Wednesday 14th October, at City Learning Centre, Eston, 5pm-7pm.

Catholic provision in Redcar and Cleveland: Wednesday 30th September, at James Finegan Hall, Eston, 4pm-6pm and Wednesday 21st October, at Sacred Heart RC School, Redcar, 5pm-7pm.

An Academy at Freebrough: Wednesday 7th October, at Freebrough Specialist Engineering College, Brotton, 5pm-7pm.

The full consultation document is available on the Council’s website www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk, follow the link from the homepage.

Liberal Democrats came within an ace of taking Labour’s safest seat on 17 September. 

Steven Abbott improved the Lib Dem vote, on a lower turnout in Labour’s safest seat to move within 88 votes of winning South Bank ward in the by-election.

The result:

Sue Jeffrey (Lab)…………442 (43.6%; -6.3%)
Steven Abbott (Lib Dem)……354 (34.9%; +12.8%)
Vince Smith (Ind)…………102 (10.1%)
Martin Gordon Bulmer (UKIP)..69 (6.8%)
Joan Bolton (Con)…………47 (4.6%; -0.1%)

Turnout 21.3%
Majority 88
Lab hold
9.55% swing from Labour to the Liberal Democrats
The result last time (by-election in 2008):

Marilyn Bramley (Labour)…. 652 (49.9; -0.6)
Toni Meir (Liberal Democrat) 288 (22.1; +12.3)
Bernard Collinson (BNP)….. 206 (15.8; +1.4)
Oz Sadiq (Independent……. 101 (7.7; -7.3)
Joan Bolton (Conservative .. 59 (4.5; -5.8)

Turn out 27.6%
Majority 364
Lab hold
Swing 6.45% Labour to Liberal Democrats
Percentage change is since May 2007
(Based on highest placed candidate for each party in 2007, when all three vacancies in South Bank ward were up for election)

Redcar Liberal Democrats completed a hat trick of sensational victories from Labour in less than twelve months when Eric Howden won the Dormanstown By-Election held on Thursday 23rd July.
 
The result was as follows:
 
Eric Howden - Lib Dem 805
Richard Green - Lab 515
Lynn Payne - BNP 145
Joan Bolton - Con 73
 
For the third time Labour has lost its overall majority on the Council. After the previous two by-elections Labour managed to persuade one of the Council’s seven independents to help them cling onto power.
 
Candidate Eric Howden said:

“I am delighted we have won. It was an extremely professional campaign by the Lib Dems. I will do my best to repay the confidence they and the people of Dormanstown have placed in me.”
 
Prospective MP for Redcar, Ian Swales, said:

“This is a terrific result for the Liberal Democrats. It’s clear that people have had enough of Labour both locally and nationally. This is yet another election showing that it’s the Liberal Demorats who can beat Labour here.
 
“We had an excellent candidate in Eric Howden and I’m sure he will do a great job for the people of Dormanstown.”
 
Councillor Chris Abbott, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the Council said:

“The cock has crowed three times for Labour and it is time they got the message. In the two years they have been back in control of the Council they have destroyed all the good work the previous Lib Dem led Coalition had achieved.”
 
The composition of the Council is now:
 
Labour - 25
Liberal Democrats - 16
Conservative - 11
Independents supporting Labour - 4
Independents – 3
Vacant - 1
 
In the town of Redcar Liberal Democrats now hold 10 of the 15 seats, to Labour’s 4 and the Tories’ 1.

Liberal Democrat councillors at Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have unanimously re-elected Councillor Chris Abbott as their group leader.

Chris, a self-employed electrician, represents the Newcomen ward in Redcar with his wife Glynis. He has been group leader since 1999.

The group has grown from 13 to 15 members in the past year with by-election wins in Kirkleatham and Dormanstown, and is the main opposition group at the Council.

Chris’s Deputy will be Councillor Mary Ovens, also from Redcar (West Dyke ward). The Lib Dem Group will be again chaired by Councillor Irene Nightingale, who represents Ormesby ward.

Cllr Chris Abbott, said:
“I am delighted to be re-elected as leader of the growing Liberal Democrat group.”
“Council Tax bills are going up whilst Labour drags the Council down from 4-stars to just 2-stars, and is branded “negligent” for its irresponsible investments with Icelandic banks. Our Borough needs to have an effective opposition they can turn to hold Labour to account.”

Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have condemned former Independent Councillor Liz Beadle for joining the Labour group.

Following the Liberal Democrat success at the Dormanstown by-election, Labour and their Independent colleagues lost their majority on the Council.

But today it appears that Cllr Beadle, elected as a “True Independent” in Eston in 2007, has now joined the Labour group.

Lib Dem Group Leader Councillor Chris Abbott said:

“I am disappointed that Cllr Beadle has joined Labour.”

“Another so-called “True Independent” is now propping up a failing Labour administration which has dragged the Council down from 4-stars to 2-stars and which has been called “negligent” by the Audit Commission for putting £4 million of public money into failed Icelandic banks.”

“Labour has now lost three out of four by-elections since last September. It’s time they got the message.”

Liberal Democrat Ken Lucas has stormed to victory in the Dormanstown Ward By Election on Redcar and Cleveland Council, which could put an end to Labour control.

The result was as follows:

Ken Lucas (Lib Dem) - 809 (42.4%; +17.3%)
Marion Fairley (Lad)- 667 (35.0%; -17.1%)
Lynn Payne (BNP) - 305 (16.6%; +16.6%)
Barry Hughes-Mundy (Con) - 125 (6.6%; -16.2%)

Majority 142
Turnout 36.83%
LD gain from Lab
Percentage change is since May 2007

Composition of the Council now is:

Labour - 26
Liberal Democrats - 15
Conservative - 11
East Cleveland Independents - 2
Independents - 2
Independents supporting Labour - 3

“How can Redcar and Cleveland Council be an ‘improving Council’ when it has gone down from four to two stars?” asks Liberal Democrat Councillor Glyn Nightingale, former Cabinet Member for Resources.

“The Liberal Democrat-led Coalition in 2007 achieved a Four-Star Excellent rating from Government inspectors. Now the Labour Rulling Group has relegated the Council down to Two Stars. It’s only one step away from inadequate.
 
“What a difference 22 months of Labour rule makes. Labour is quite good at talking, but fails to do what needs doing. People want a cleaner, tidier borough where they are safe from crime and anti-social behaviour. Like all previous Labour administrations it’s is now presiding over local job losses and a situation where families are cutting back on spending.
 
“Labour’s use of resources is in a mess. It has produced the riskiest possible budget where it relies on luck to save £2.2m on staff vacancies, puts more money into its “back office” bureaucracy and takes £8 million out of front line services. Just one example illustrates this - Labour is taking £1m away from urgently-needed school building repairs in Nunthorpe and Guisborough.
 
“It’s cutting back on “clean and green” improvements, closing care houses for the elderly and putting off employing more wardens.”
 
Lib Dem Group Leader Councillor Chris Abbott said: “How can people trust Labour when they go back on their promises and can’t even get the basic needs of people right?”

Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Council today opposed the Labour Council’s plans to increase Council Tax by more than inflation.

The Council today voted to raise Council Tax by 3.75%, taking Band A bills above £1000 a year for the first time ever.

Local Liberal Democrats voted against the rise, calling it “excessive” during a recession.

Councillor Chris Abbott, Leader of the Liberal Democrats at the Council, commented:

“When people are losing jobs, struggling to make ends meet and the country is in the deepest recession for 60 years, a Council Tax rise above inflation is insulting and will do nothing to help struggling households. Money in people’s pockets is the best way out of a recession.”

“It is also unnecessary. Gordon Brown’s Government should be making sure no council is forced to put up Council Tax this year by giving councils  enough money to provide the services people need.”

Councillor Glyn Nightingale, Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson, added:

“The budget is highly risky and speculative. To make savings Labour are relying on staff vacancies not being filled, but how can they be certain that the vacancies will arise? Can they be sure that services will not be affected? It’s a dodgy budget.”

Even Labour’s Cabinet Member in charge of finance admitted the budget was “a big ask”. The Lib Dems think it’s too big an ask. At some stage during the next twelve months Labour will be forced into a re-think. Then local people will be called upon to pay the bill for Labour’s risk taking.

Liberal Democrats on Redcar & Cleveland Council have condemned a proposal to raise the pay of the Council’s Labour leader by 33.8%.

The recommendation to raise the Leader’s special responsibility allowance from £12,550 to £19,710 comes in a report from the Independent Remuneration Panel, to be discussed by the Council on 2 March.

But local Liberal Democrats are horrified by the proposal to increase allowances so much during a recession.

Councillor Chris Abbott, Leader of the Liberal Democrats at the Council, commented:

“At a time when people are losing jobs, struggling to pay bills and the country is in the deepest recession for 60 years, we should not be even considering giving the Leader of the Council such a massive pay boost.

“If Labour vote this recommendation through next week it will be highly insensitive and a slap in the face to hard-working families in our borough.

“It is also particularly galling that the Labour leader himself was such a critic of increases in Councillors’ allowances when in opposition and now in control he wants to almost double his own special allowance.

“Reading the report it is clear that this was more than a recommendation from the Independent Panel. It was, in fact, requested by the Labour leader himself and his colleagues on the cabinet.”