"Shared services are fine - but not this way". That's the cross-party reaction of Shepway Councillors on the East Kent Joint Scrutiny Committee in response to a paper on shared services across Shepway, Dover, Canterbury and Thanet Councils.
Folkestone Councillor Tim Prater has learned that it it unlikely the EDF will connect the new traffic lights in Shorncliffe Road near Folkestone West station before March, over 3 months after their installation. The new lights were designed to ease traffic congestion in the area, which was expected to increase after the introduction of the full high-speed rail service in December 2009.
Shock figures from the Liberal Democrats show that almost 3,400 pensioners across Shepway could miss out on Government cold weather payments this year, despite the dreadful weather conditions.
An email from Kent County Council Environment, Highways and Waste Cabinet member Nick Chard arrived with Tim Prater today, detailing the responsibilities of Local Authorities, individuals and businesses to clear ice and snow. Tim had always hoped the view that an individual could be sued for clearing snow if then someone fell was an urban myth. Seems not. Nick says:
Major improvements to Cheriton Rec are on the way after years of pressure from local residents, park users and your local Lib Dem team. The park has been agreed as a priority to development after resident consultation and projects are in place to improve the play equipment, facilities and general environment at the park.
Following the successful pre-Christmas launch of Farmers' Markets at Sandgate's Chichester Memorial Hall, dates have now been announced for markets through 2010. The markets sell locally produced food and crafts and run from 10am - midday on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month with refreshments available.
Please see below an update for the month of December, showing what we have been up to.
Today I launched the values and principles that will guide our manifesto. Everything our party will stand for at the next election will be based on our principles. You can read about them in more detail at www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/fairnessfirst/
Lynne Beaumont was selected by members as the new Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Folkestone and Hythe at a members meeting in Saltwood on Saturday night.
I have just watched with interest your interview on ITV Meridian TV this evening, where you described your £250k pa salary as being "less than that of some headteachers". I wonder if you could justify that statement.
Waste from the decommissioning of Dungeness A Nuclear Power station on Romney Marsh is to be stored on site. Storage is going to be built, on site, for intermediate waste to be stored from the decommissioning, and will no longer taken to Sellafield for storage.
Conservative proposals to cut inheritance tax for the richest families don't add up. In a press conference this morning, David Cameron stated that his proposed inheritance tax cut would be paid for by taxing non-doms, but research shows that there would be a shortfall of over £1.5bn a year on the Conservative proposals.
