Chester

Lib Dem pension rise brings pensioners in from the cold

Mark Williams — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:20:47 +0000

Liberal Democrats in Cheshire West and Chester have welcomed the Government’s decision to increase the State Pension by £5.30 in April. The rise is a result of a new guarantee to increase the pension each year. The guarantee – a key Lib Dem election commitment which they brought into the Coalition – ensures the State Pension will rise by the rate of increase in average pay, the rate of inflation or by £2.50, whichever is the highest.

“Under the previous Conservative and Labour Governments, the State Pension fell in value compared to average pay,” said Mark Williams. “Liberal Democrats have put a stop to that. The State Pension is now guaranteed to rise at least in line with the average increase in earnings. And when that increase is low, as we have at the moment, we will increase it by at least the rate of inflation. And if inflation is low, we will increase it by at least £2.50. “Labour promised to do this in the 13 years they were in power, but never delivered on this commitment. Within 13 weeks of coming into Government, the Liberal Democrats carried out this key election commitment.” The rise in April will come on top of an increase in the State Pension of £4.50 that took place last year.

Chester Lib Dems back income tax cuts

Neil Christian — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:20:29 +0000

With household budgets being squeezed in Cheshire West and Chester local Liberal Democrats have welcomed calls by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to speed up income tax cuts to help families through the spending squeeze. Last year, local residents saw an income tax cut of up to £200 when the Coalition put into action the first stage of the Liberal Democrat election pledge to raise the amount of money people can earn before they have to pay tax to £10,000. This April residents will see another tax cut, of £130, when the tax threshold is raised further. Liberal Democrats are arguing that with the Euro crisis slowing the economy down, faster income tax cuts would help to stimulate growth and get more people back into work.

“Household budgets in Cheshire West and Chester have been squeezed over the past three years because of the financial crisis,” said Neil Christian. “The Coalition has agreed that by the end of this Parliament in 2015, no one will pay tax on the first £10,000 they earn. That was the top Lib Dem commitment at the last General Election. “Bringing forward the income tax cut will not only help households it will help local shops and businesses as people will keep more of the money they earn to spend as they think fit, rather than have it taken away by the Government.” “The tax cuts can be paid for by increasing taxes on the richest. In Government, Liberal Democrats have increased

capital gains tax paid by the wealthiest. We have introduced a tax on banks and we are targeting tax avoiders. “These measures will help to cut the Deficit and give us the money we need to cut taxes for hard working people on low and middle incomes. But clearly we need to go further. That’s why I am pleased that Liberal Democrat ministers are pressing for the income tax cuts to be speeded up.”

A theatre for Chester: why the Odeon conversion is a poor choice

Lynne Russell — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:50:56 +0000

At the end of 2011 the Council chose the Odeon as the site of the new theatre. When the Council chose the Odeon as the option, the Latham / Gibson / Woods theatre option was disregarded. As with any major decision, a number of factors had to be taken into consideration. These being finance, feasibility and, in this instance, a third party.

Financially, the Odeon option is blue-sky thinking. The projected cost is £43.4million. That is £5.4million over the theatre project budget of £38million. In fact the Councillors are after an Arts Council grant of £5.million (The Chronicle 02.02.12) to make up the difference between the budget of £38.million and the projected cost of the Odeon option at £43.4.million This means that the Council is seriously considering embarking on a project that isn’t fully funded. There is a very good chance that the cost of this Odeon conversion project could spiral hopelessly out of control and we could end up with nothing.

By contrast, the Latham / Gibson / Woods theatre option is actually priced at £25 million. Well within the £38million budget.

The Council must have had a good reason to ignore this salient point.

A second factor which needs to be taken into consideration is the sheer feasibility of the project, the actual sizes of the buildings under discussion.

In any theatre the auditorium is 30% of the total size. Then the social space has to be an equal 30%, plus a little bit more for a bar, bar staff, tables, chairs, and general ‘milling’ space. The remaining 30%+ comprises backstage, theatre mechanics, dressing rooms, administration offices and front of house.

By contrast the auditorium in a cinema is 90% of the total size. There is no social space. There is no backstage, there are no dressing rooms or theatre mechanics. The remaining 10% houses the ticket office, concessions, projection mechanics and administration.

It has always been accepted that the Odeon is too small for this theatre project. But realistically, It won’t have to just double in size, it will have to triple in size. This is one of the reasons why the Latham / Gibson / Woods project should have been the preferable option.

James Latham (architect) has liaised with Ken Martin (architect) who has already designed and built a theatre, the Floral Pavilion at New Brighton. Ken Martin has drawn the plans – the actual to-scale plans, not an artist’s sketchy impression – which has encompassed all the specifications for the new theatre that the Council insisted upon.

The proposed Latham / Gibson / Woods building would reach from Princess Street to Hunter Street behind the library, with entrances on both streets and through the library to the Market Square. Ken Martin did not have to try to “ find more space “, he designed the theatre the right size to begin with.

Having three major entrances on three different streets also means that, from a health and safety aspect, emergency vehicles and personnel can access the building from all four sides. (Whilst there is no formal public entrance in the back wall, there would be working entrances and stage doors.)

However, on the positive side, the grade II listed Odeon building has been saved. This was the objective of the Save the Odeon Action Group. The Council now owns it. Although to save the Odeon building and not restore it as an art deco cinema does seem a trifle perverse. The artist’s impression of this projected theatre option shows the Odeon as just one side of a totally different looking building. The indication being that, having ‘saved’ it, the intention has been to chop it up anyway.

A further point to be taken into consideration is that the Council has recently expressed a wish to have a multi-screen cinema. When last in use the Odeon was a multi-screen cinema. Or does the Council mean it wants to build a new one? A bit pointless and profligate when there already is one in the Council’s possession.

It would seem obvious to have proceeded with the Latham / Gibson / Woods option of an 800-seat main stage, plus studio, purpose built theatre, behind the library, with entrances on Princess Street, Hunter Street and Market Square (known to the newcomers as Town Hall Square). At £25 million, well within the budget.

The Odeon could then have been renovated as a cinema, which is what it was, at, say, £5million, although that is probably a bit excessive. That would then have given Chester a purpose built theatre, an enhanced library and a multi-screen cinema for under the projected budget of £38million.

The Council must have had good reasons to have ignored all these aspects.

The final factor impacting on the 2011 Odeon theatre site decision was the Council’s partnership with ING. This ING partnership was purported to be a reason why the Council couldn’t choose the Latham / Gibson / Woods theatre option.

However, for the past 12+ years ING had done nothing except change the composition of the projected Northgate Development a number of times.

In February 2012 the Council split from ING. With the Council’s separation from ING the obstacle preventing the Council from accepting the Latham / Gibson / Woods theatre option has been removed. The dynamics have now shifted.

We are in a recession. Families are losing benefits. Cestrian taxpayers are the people who are going to pay for this theatre development. It seems pointless to squander £43.4+million on a cobbled together job, not fully funded, which may, or may not come to fruition, particularly when there is a far better option.

The Latham / Gibson / Woods theatre option is based on sound research, architect’s plans, professional expertise and experience. The Latham / Gibson / Woods option is real. It is planned, viable, affordable and deliverable. This option will work.

This was the option the Councillors chose to disregard. They must have had pertinent reasons. There is still time for the Councillors to change their minds.

CWaC Pay & Cuts

Mark Williams — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:27:23 +0000

I would like to make a few points to give perspective to the cuts and pay ‘harmonisation’ that ‘Cheshire West & Chester Council’ are currently busying themselves with.

To make cuts, Salford Council recently announced that it is axing some its top bosses to save £1 million in wages. In comparison, CWaC have 13 staff paid over £100,000 last year, which comes to a staggering £1,684,426, and an average of £129,571 each!!!

Another example is Stockport Council which, in contrast to CWaC, only has four staff paid over £100k and only one over £130k. I use Stockport as an example as it has a similar population to CWaC, with a population of 280,000 and the West Cheshire area is about 320,000, so comparison of size of council and senior management levels is fair.

So CWaC seems top heavy with high paid managers, which should be no surprise to anyone. But that is our council tax money that they are spending.

And now CWaC are busy ‘harmonising’ staff contracts across the borough (over 4 years after taking over I might add), ie making real term reductions in pay for lower paid staff by getting rid of overtime allowances for weekends and out of hours working. This puts those poor staff in an untenable position, accept the cut or lose your job.

So how about CWaC setting a real example and getting rid of some of its top heavy team of 13 senior managers who all earn over £100k a year? But it won’t, because it’s Tory controlled so they will happily cut lower paid staffs pay but won’t cut the top paid as they are all chums together. CWaC staff are clearly not ‘all in this together’.

Two Hoole Surgeries to Close

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:20:57 +0000

Two of Hoole’s popular doctors surgeries (71, Hoole Road and The Elms Medical Centre) will move to a new planned NHS centre on George Street in Chester.
Hoole Liberal Democrats have objected because:

Both surgeries currently offer essential services to Hoole residents. Why should residents have to trek into Chester to see their doctor? Local services are best provided locally.
The new centre is not easy to access: situated on a busy main route into the city: there will inevitably be safety issues as people dash across the road to get to the centre.
Some users will make their way to the new centre by car. Do we really need yet more cars on the roads into the city? Have the roads affected got the necessary capacity?
Some will make their way by bus. Those with young children or those who are perhaps not as mobile as they once were will face an awkward trip into town and what was once a half hour nipping out for an appointment will become a 2 or 3 hour outing.
Hoole shops will lose business. Currently, many who attend the Hoole surgeries will combine their visit with a little shopping in Hoole or will collect their prescription from the Hoole pharmacy. If the surgeries go, that business will go too, and the famous Faulkner Street shops will be a little weaker as a result.
If a new centre is required why not site it at Lightfoot Lodge on Lightfoot Street and give that building a new lease of life providing essential local services at the heart of the Hoole Community?

David Mead says: “The council says it supports localism, but this proposal would strip local communities of essential local services.”

Cllr. Bob Thompson says: “At a consultation event last year, the NHS manager in attendance acknowledged there would be transport issues for patients from Hoole to the proposed centre and that closing two surgeries in Hoole would have a negative impact both on the social and economic health of Hoole.

It’s time to challenge the plan.

Let’s keep the surgeries in Hoole.

Please sign our petition, contact Cllr. Bob Thompson, (Councillor for Hoole):
5 Ashwood Court, Hoole, CH2 3FD. Tel: 342920
robert.thompson@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Twitter @cllrbobthompson

New directive will help Brits abroad know their rights

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:17:53 +0000

Lib Dem European justice and human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford has welcomed a new EU Directive guaranteeing all criminal suspects information about their rights and the evidence against them.

The Directive, now endorsed by Parliament, would ensure that all people arrested or detained in an EU country would be given information about their legal rights in an easily understandable form.

London MEP Sarah Ludford commented: “The core of the new measure is that everyone arrested will be handed a ‘letter of rights’ setting out their entitlements such as the right to have a lawyer, have consular authorities informed and get urgent medical care. This already happens in the UK so we will not have problems complying, but it will be of major benefit in raising standards for Brits arrested abroad or extradited under a European Arrest Warrant.”

“Being arrested abroad can be a frightening experience. Nobody should have their right to a fair trial denied.”

Leaving EU would leave Britain to pass 300 laws without debate

North West Region Liberal Democrats — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:06:36 +0000

As MPs prepare to debate an in/out referendum on EU membership, the North West’s Lib Dem MEP is warning that Britain could be forced to adopt 300 new laws every year with no say from MPs.

The European Commission has confirmed that Norway, which has twice voted not to join the EU, last year adopted 300 laws as the price of staying in the European Economic Area (EEA). While British Ministers, MEPs and civil servants helped to shape these laws, Norwegians had no say whatsoever and passed them into Norwegian law without question.

There are 27 countries, including the UK, within the EU. Another three countries, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are members of the EEA. Together the thirty countries make up the Single Market that is supported by all three major UK political parties.

Lib Dem MEP Chris Davies said, “No serious politician wants the UK to leave the Single Market with the economic disaster that would cause.

“The truth is that pulling out of the EU would leave Britain with no say in the making of laws that we would have to obey.”

Iceland recently applied for full EU membership and Croatia is set to join next year so the MEP claims that the EU is still seen by many countries as the best trade bloc to be a member of.

“Far from making us stronger and independent, leaving the EU would leave the UK weak and at the mercy of 28 countries who would no longer have to take notice of our opinions.”

While Davies agrees with the principle of an EU referendum at the appropriate time, he says that dealing with Britain’s economic woes must be the priority for the Government right now.

The EU veto

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:56:55 +0000

The City of Chester Liberal Democrat Executive is deeply disturbed that the Prime Minister chose to exercise a veto in the early hours of 9 December 2011 and thereby side-lined the UK from the crucial negotiations on the European financial strategy.

We are very concerned that senior Liberal Democrats have given political commentators the opportunity to present our party as shifters and equivocators on a subject as important to our parties views on Europe.

The deputy Prime Minister’s initial support for the Prime Minister and confirmation that he had supported the negotiating strategy changed with each revealing news item to a dismay at the outcome!

The Chester Executive believe that the party should be resolute in explaining why Europe is so important to our country’s future economic health to the public and why we believe working with our European partners is in the long term best interests of our country. We are dismayed that on such an important subject the party has been presented as marginalised ( i.e. not at the negotiating table at all ), at odds with our beliefs and shifty

And here’s the good news…

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 11:50:09 +0000

Nick Clegg at the Resolution Foundation (Photo by the Cabinet Office)

The Liberal Democrats believe you should keep more money that you earn. That is why we believe the tax-free threshold should raise to £10,000, saving working people £700 a year and making sure millions of the lowest paid workers don’t have to pay any income tax at all.

Between now and the Budget, Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats in Government will be arguing for faster tax cuts for hard-working families, promoting work and growth, and rewarding innovation, paid for by increasing the amount paid by the richest.

Every politician has a simple choice: do you support a tax system that rewards the hard-working many? Or do you back taxes that favour the wealthy few?

And the Liberal Democrats in Coalition are already making the difference:

More than 800,000 working people no longer paying income tax
23 million working people have been given a £200 tax cut
In April this year every worker will be given a further income tax cut of £130
And by the local elections in May this year, 1.1 million of the lowest paid workers, will no longer be burdened by income tax
The Liberal Democrats are committed to delivering a fairer economy, turning our tax promise into cash in your pocket. It was on the front page of our manifesto and is being implemented because of Liberal Democrats in Government.
As part of this Coalition, Liberal Democrats are calling time on our unfair and out-of-whack tax system.
We’ve clamped down on tax avoiders – targeting an extra £7bn every year
We’re taxing the banks by an extra £2.5bn every year
We’ve stopped inheritance tax cuts for millionaires
We’ve put up Capital Gains Tax, raising £925m a year by 2015
We’re ending the scandal, under Labour, of a hedge-fund manager paying less tax on their shares than their cleaner paid on their wages
We’ve reduced tax breaks on pension funds for the super-rich, raising £4.4bn a year by 2015
We have retained the 50p rate

And our overall priority is freeing the lowest-paid from income tax altogether and cutting income tax for millions of ordinary workers

You can read Nick’s speech to the resolution Foundation here: http://www.libdems.org.uk

“A Sensible Drugs Policy”–Chris Davies (7:30pm 3rd Feb, Bishop Lloyd’s Palace)

Jean Evans — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:42:44 +0000

If you’re anything like me, there are two reasons to be looking forward to Friday 3rd February:

1) the visit of a senior party figure;

2) a good old debate on a controversial topic everyone has an opinion on.

Chester Liberal Democrats invite you to join us as Lib Dem Member of the European Parliament for the North West – Chris Davies MEP – pays us a visit.

Chris will be leading a discussion on ‘a sensible drugs policy’ from 7.30pm at:

Bishop Lloyd’s Palace,

51-53 Watergate Street Row,

Chester

CH1 2LE

Chester Lib Dems are grateful to Chris for taking time out of his busy schedule and would like to give him a warm welcome on 3rd February – guests are welcome too – so please come along and get involved in the discussion!