Cheshire West and Chester Liberal Democrats

Last revised:
19 October 2009

£20 million on smart new offices, with views over Chester racecourse. The Conservatives want to sell County Hall and move to open plan offices, and they think it’s worth the extra money.

£12 million on establishing and rebranding new council and creating a modern image. Lib Dems believe much of the expenditure was unnecessary and driven by an obsession with image.

“It’s now clear that the Conservatives are much more concerned about image and looking after themselves than about maintaining the quality of services,” said Lib Dem Cllr. Malcolm Gaskill.

19 October 2009

On June 4th, Lib Dem Janet Fitzmaurice won a handsome victory in the Winsford Town Council by-election, taking the seat from the Tories. Janet joins her father, Cllr Charlie Parkinson, on the Council: it is the first time this council has had a father-daughter combination. Janet said: “Once again this victory shows that, when the electorate gets a chance to see that Lib Dems actually get things done locally, they are prepared to support us, rather than be seduced by Mr. Cameron’s smooth words. I’d like to thank everyone who supported me.”

Dramatic By-election Victory:

Lib Dems Gain Seat from Tories in By-Election

New Father-and-Daughter Team on Winsford Town Council

Council staff were shattered to discover that the new Conservative Administration had airbrushed out the proud history of the old council. One of the first acts of the new administration was to remove all the awards for excellence, old photographs and other memorabilia.

Lib Dem Cllr. Malcolm Gaskill said: “I too am keen that the new council establishes a new identity, but to rob staff of these mementos is an act of sabotage reminiscent of the old Soviet Union. Malcolm is trying to get the council to reverse this decision but so far the Tories have dug their heels in.

14 June 2009

Last autumn Lib Dems were concerned that Chester’s economy was very dependent on the banking industry and other recession-prone businesses. They succeeded in getting Chester City Council to pass a motion which called for the Council to take steps to diversify Chester’s economic base. We have now learnt that no action was taken following this motion.

Cllr. Bob Thompson said: “It is very sad that we are now getting wave after wave of job losses in the banking sector. I am appalled that the Tories did not take our motion seriously. It gives us no pleasure at all to say that we saw this coming and the Tories didn’t.”

Disgraced Tory Unitary Councillor

Two of the three Tory City Unitary Ward councillors have now been expelled from their Party because of their behaviour. Cllr. Max Drury seems to have claimed to be above the law because he was a city councillor and Cllr. Richard Lowe thought it was funny to make jokes about the missing Madeleine McCann.

David Mead, former City Councillor for College Ward, called upon them to resign, but they have not done so. In fact, they still seem to be working harmoniously with their Tory Party colleagues, as if nothing had happened. David Mead says: "It would not surprise me if they were soon re-admitted to their Party, as I believe their expulsions were more symbolic than real. The electors who put their trust in the Tories to select suitable candidates have been treated with contempt."

April 2009

Chris Davies, Northwest Euro MP, visits Chester
Chris Davies, MEP, paid a flying visit to Chester on Thursday 14 May to collect signatures for his petition calling for greater transparency of Euro MP’s expense claims.

Read more . . . .

14 May 2009

Collection of bulky items: Lib Dems push for fair treatment

In Chester it’s free, in the old Vale Royal you have to pay. Inevitably the new council has some inconsistencies. But while others are happy to let these continue, Lib Dems are pressing for fair treatment across the council area. Lib Dem Winsford Town Cllr. Des Worthington was recently able to arrange for a Winsford resident to have an old mattress collected without charge.

20 July 2009

Lib Dems secure fair allowances for foster carers

In the last few years of its life, cash-strapped Cheshire County Council attempted to save money by paying less than the market rate to foster carers. As the supply of foster carers dwindled, the council was forced to dump children on neighbouring councils which proved to be a very expensive process. “It was a nonsense policy”, said Lib Dem Cllr. Charlie Parkinson, “Everyone lost out – the children and the council tax payers.” Cllr. Parkinson has succeeded in getting the new council to pay the recommended rates and already new foster carers are coming forward. It is Lib Dem policy to ensure that each child gets the opportunity of a stable family life and a good education.

20 July 2009

Alley Gates now Lib Dem policy for West Cheshire

If you have an alley at the back of your house you will know that they can be a blessing and a curse. But Lib Dems have found that alley gates are an effective way of preventing problems such as vandalism, littering and a host of illegal activities. Cheshire West and Cheshire Lib Dems have decided that all residents experiencing problems should be offered lockable alley gates and are now pressing for this to become council policy. Cllr. Bob Thompson, who succeeded in getting alley gates for parts of Hoole said: “The pilots have worked well and are appreciated by residents. This has to be the way forward to reduce crime and increase residents’ sense of security.”

20 July 2009

It’s long been recognised that among the council-owned buildings, there are some with very high environmental standards, like Kingsmead Primary School in Northwich and some that are appallingly energy-inefficient, like the Forum Offices, Chester. Lib Dems have called for a review of all council properties to identify cost-effective measures to bring them all up to a modern standard. Lib Dems are also pressing for the new Academy school in Ellesmere Port to be designed to a high environmental standard.

20 July 2009

Lib Dem councillors have made the new council see sense over special responsibility allowances. Both Labour and the Conservatives were wanting to create a raft of new allowances and to allow councillors to pick up multiple allowances. The Conservatives even proposed having allowances for two deputy whips. The Lib Dem Group, however, recognised all this as excessive and the Independent Remuneration Panel agreed. Now, no councillor can have more than one allowance and proposals for some of the more trivial allowances have been withdrawn. Cllr. Malcolm Gaskill said: “I am pleased that we have stopped this behaviour and saved the council tax payer many thousands of pounds each year.”

20 July 2009

Dirty street signs and overgrown trees. There is no money for cleaning street signs. Many of the council’s trees are overgrown and there’s no money for general maintenance.

Closed schools and bulging primary school classes. The Conservatives have been closing primary schools even though he birth rate is now rising. Some primary schools now have class sizes of more than thirty.