Gurkha Justice Bill Third Reading in House of Lords
Lord Lee of Trafford (Lib Dem) will introduce the third reading of the Immigration (Discharged Gurkhas) Bill on Monday (12 October).
12 Oct 2008
Folkestone and Hythe News
No Shepway Council deposits in Icelandic Banks but impact on pensions unknown
In answer to questions from Lib Dem Councillor Tim Prater, Shepway Council have confirmed that, although they have no deposits in Icelandic banks, the potential impact on pension funds currently remains unknown. Shepway's pension fund is administered by Kent County Council, who have said that around one third of the KCC deposits that have been lost relate to the pension fund - around £18 million.
11 Oct 2008
Icelandic banks had been a concern for some time: Matthews
Commenting on the £50 million Kent County Council had deposited in now collapsed Icelandic banks, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Folkestone and Hythe, Neil Matthews, commented:
9 Oct 2008
Reassurance sought on Shepway Council Investments
Lib Dem Cheriton Councillor Tim Prater has written to Cabinet Finance Chief David Monk and Finance Director Kathryn Beldon at Shepway Council to ask what investments in Iceland, if any, the District Council has. Tim said:
9 Oct 2008
Getting Britain's economy back on track
When a ship is sinking, we must send out the lifeboats, not argue about who steered the ship into the iceberg. At Prime Minister's Question Time yesterday (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7659180.stm), I pledged my support for the moves being taken by the Government. Vince Cable and I have been clear that we must do whatever is necessary to halt the downward spiral of the British economy.
NCLLD
9 Oct 2008
You Can Run, Cllr Oliver, But You Can't Hythe
It is terrible state of affairs if a politician thinks the opinion of the people they represent is foolish. 1100 people (so far) have decided Cllr Linda Oliver's continuing absence is wrong and have asked her, and her Hythe Town Councillor husband, to stand down. Official figures show Cllr Mrs Oliver is still in receipt of her allowance - about £3500pa!
NM
9 Oct 2008
Kent's Iceland Bank Risk: Is £50 million at risk?
The Liberal Democrats are urging ministers to clear up the uncertainty"about hundreds of millions of pounds councils invested in Iceland's banks. Kent County Council is reported by the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7659783.stm) to have up to £50m in Iceland-based banks including Landbanksi or Heritable, which was run by Landbanksi.
8 Oct 2008
Former Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba welcomed to Shepway
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Folkestone & Hythe, Neil Matthews, joined Folkestone Councillors Dhan Gurung, Lynne Beaumont, Tim Prater and Peter Carroll in welcoming the former Prime Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba, to Shepway on Tuesday afternoon.
8 Oct 2008
Shepway Parking Strategy In Shreds in Tory v Tory Feud
Shepway's parking strategy where parking permit areas were to be introduced initially in central Folkestone and then across Cheriton, East Folkestone, Hythe and the rest of Shepway could be doomed. In a recent Shepway Council Scrutiny meeting, Conservative Shepway Finance Chief David Monk revealed that in recent discussion, Kent County Council had said that they would seek to take all income from parking charges, which would mean the scheme could not be introduced.
7 Oct 2008
Matthews welcomes approval of new Dover-Boulogne service as good for Shepway
The approval of a new ferry service from Dover to Boulogne to start from July 2009 has been welcomed by Neil Matthews, the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Folkestone and Hythe and formerly a Marine Engineer including on cross-Channel routes.
7 Oct 2008
RSPB: Final Lydd Airport consultation changes nothing
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Folkestone & Hythe Neil Matthews has strongly welcomed news that the RSPB have come out against Lydd Airport expansion plans, saying "Lydd remains one of the most inappropriate and dangerous locations to run a large airport".
7 Oct 2008
Standards Committee Complaint: No Further Action
Councillor Lynne Beaumont has been informed that Shepway Standards Committee have decided to take no further action on a complaint received from Mr T Philpott, saying that the complaint was "too trivial to warrant further action, was malicious, politically motivated or tit-for-tat and not serious."
7 Oct 2008