Manchester Liberal Democrats have asked the District Auditor to investigate the loss of £421,000 of City Council funds due to Labour’s incompetence.

A report a meeting last Friday to Greater Manchester’s Council Leaders (AGMA) has revealed an astonishing accounting blunder. Local Councils fund “Marketing Manchester” to attract business and tourism to the conurbation. Manchester Council should pay 35% and other 9 Councils 65% between them. But since 2004, Manchester has mistakenly paid 65% and the other 9 Councils only 35%, meaning that Manchester has overpaid £421,000.

Worse still, at the AGMA meeting it was agreed that the overpayment would not be repaid to Manchester. The City’s leadership admitted that they will not be asking for the money back! Labour’s Deputy Council Leader Jim Battle (who attended representing Manchester) failed to call for the money to be refunded. The minutes of the AGMA meeting record that Manchester’s leadership “kindly agreed to waive the overpayment.” Manchester Labour’s deputy Leader said “It would be bureaucratic nonsense to chase a few thousands pounds”.

Manchester Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Councillor Paul Shannon said:

“This is a scandalous error. Manchester does not have spare cash to dish out to other more wealthy boroughs. With our high levels of poverty, deprivation and unemployment, Manchester needs every penny it can get. Frankly, Labour’s Richard Leese and Jim Battle are “Robin Hood in reverse” - they are robbing the poor to give to the rich! “

Councillor Shannon concluded:

“It’s bad enough to lose £420,000 in the first place, but to not bother to claw it back is disgraceful. We cannot afford to lose £421,000. We are calling for a thorough independent review to explain how this happened, and steps must be taken to prevent its repetition. The people of Manchester cannot afford Labour’s financial incompetence.”

Local Campaigner Bill Fisher added:

“Manchester Labour Party may think that it is not worth chasing after £421,000, but that money could make a massive difference to local services in South Manchester. Once again Labour are showing arrogance and incompetance in equal measure.”

A group of Greater Manchester MPs has vowed to vote against any increases in tuition fees in the next parliament as fears over student debt continue to rise.

Lib Dems John Leech (Manchester Withington), Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove), Mark Hunter (Cheadle) and Paul Rowen (Rochdale) have pledged to vote against any rise in tuition fees in the next parliament, amid growing concerns that the review of tuition fees due to be completed after the upcoming general election will lead to a further increase in fees.

Since the introduction of top-up fees four years ago, students have had to face the prospect of leaving university with an average student debt in excess of £20,000.

The MPs welcomed a group of students from the London School of Economics to Westminster this month, to discuss their concerns about the debt they are facing.

John Leech MP said:

“Education should be a right, not a privilege - if you’ve got the ability to go to university you should be able to irrespective of wealth. Students leaving university today are facing daunting levels of debt that they are struggling to repay at a time when finances are already overstretched.

“The Lib Dems remain the only party committed to abolishing student fees. If we want the brightest and the best to be going on to higher education we can’t afford to be frightening them off with the prospect of yet more debt.”

The rate of long-term unemployment has reached a ten year high across Greater Manchester, despite a drop in overall numbers claiming unemployment benefit, according to new figures obtained by Withington MP John Leech.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the number of people unemployed for more than 12 months has risen to 10,575, its highest level since March 1999. In Manchester there are now 2,400 long-term unemployed - the worst figures since March 2004.

John Leech hailed the news as a warning against any complacency, despite overall unemployment falling slightly from around 82,500 in September 2009 to 80,750 in December:

“More needs to be done to help all those who are getting caught in long term unemployment throughout Greater Manchester.”

The news comes as the Liberal Democrats unveiled plans to reduce long-term youth unemployment, by guaranteeing that all young people will get access to more training, education, an internship or a place on a work programme within their first 90 days of being on Jobseekers’ Allowance.

John Leech commented:

“In particular younger people are finding it more difficult to find jobs and many are graduating from school, college or university without first getting the right kind of training to take their first steps into the job market.

“We are promising training, education, or work experience to give hope to the nearly one million young people across the country who currently can’t find a job. We also pledge to redirect over £3.6bn of spending to create more jobs and invest in infrastructure, helping those of all ages who have find themselves trapped by the recession.

“While the economy begins to show signs of recovery, we need to act quickly and decisively to tackle long-term unemployment; otherwise those who are caught up in it will find themselves left behind.”

Landlords will no longer be able to convert properties into shared rental accommodation without planning permission, following new rules announced this week.

The changes, which will come into effect in April, mean that landlords who want to convert family homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) will now have to apply for planning permission from their local authority. The moves come after a concerted lobbying campaign by residents’ groups nationwide, which included the Manchester-based Withington Civic Society which covers a part of the Burnage Ward.

Lib Dem MP, John Leech, who backed the residents’ groups in their campaign, commented:

“These changes will help residents’ groups to maintain a sense of community, which is sometimes lost with a spread of shared rental properties. They should also help to ensure that students don’t fall victim to rogue landlords, as there will be more checks and balances in place to make sure that work done to properties to convert them to student houses is of a suitable standard.”

Burnage Ward Councillor, and Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, Cllr Iain Donaldson stated that “Two years ago John Leech MP and Roger Smith, Chair of the Withington Civic Society met the then-Housing Minister, Iain Wright, firstly in Westminster and then in Withington, to lobby for a legal requirement for planning permission to be sought for all conversions to Houses in Multiple Occupation.”

“The excellent campaigning by local residents to get these planning rules changed has received the full support of Liberal Democrat Councillors and John Leech MP. We are extremely pleased by today’s ruling. It’s now essential that Manchester City Council incorporates these changes into their Core Planning Strategy, which they are preparing at the moment.’

Labour Councillors this week voted to close Ewing School, ignoring the pleas of local campaigners from Parents against the Closure of Ewing (PACE), Lib Dem Councillors and an 11,000 name petition. The Lib Dem have campaigned with parents from the start, argued against the closure, and have done everything in their power to stop it happening. However, there is a Labour majority on the Council.

Withington MP John Leech said,

“I am amazed about the breathtaking ignorance of Labour Councillors, who clearly don’t know about the excellent work Ewing currently does on inclusion. This is the wrong decision for my constituents, who will see an excellent school close without any guarantees that what places it will be better.”

Lib Dem Education spokesperson Marc Ramsbottom said,

“Labour have ignore the views of parents and pupils. Closing Ewing reduces choice for Manchester children. It is the wrong decision. The Lib Dems guarantee we will reverse it if we take power in May.”

John Leech MP has launched a great new blog. It is packed with news on what he has been doing in parliament and South Manchester and his thoughts on everything from the economy to Manchester City’s latest match. Well worth a look at www.john-leech.co.uk/blog.

The local Liberal Democrats have condemned thieves who broke into the Burnage Multi Agency (BMAG) building recently.

BMAG is a voluntary organisation that provides much needed youth work in our area. Thieves broke
into the building on Burnage Lane, stealing bikes and equipment.

John Leech MP said, “This burglary is terrible news. I will work to help BMAG find funding to replace some of the lost equipment.”

Lib Dem Cllr John Cameron, who is also the chair of BMAG, added: “These thieves are heartless and
mindless. BMAG does invaluable youth work in our area, helping young people and the community
as a whole.

“If anyone has any information on this burglary, or any other crimes in our area please ring the Police
on 0161 856 5050 or Crimestoppers (anonymous) on 0800 555 111”

The Liberal Democrats have been told that the new Kingsway Medical Centre will be finished before Christmas, possibly in November.

Local campaigner Bill Fisher said, “The new medical centre will see improved facilities for the thousands of patients of the practice. It is good news that it will be ready this year”

The Lib Dems have slammed the government after new figures revealed a doubling of 18-24 year olds seeking help for cocaine abuse last year.

John Leech MP said, “Labour is obsessed with trying to look tough on drugs while failing to deal effectively with the problem.”

“We need to target resources into cracking down on dealers while making sure the treatment and rehabilitation facilities are available to those who need them.”

The closure of Ewing School has drawn closer as a result of Labour members of the Children and Young Persons Scrutiny Committee voting through closure plans. Lib Dem members of the Committee voted against the plans.

Lib Dem John Leech MP said, “Labour councillors have towed the party line and should be ashamed of themselves. Local parents, pupils and the 11,000 local people who signed the petition opposing closure will never forget how they have been ignored and betrayed by Labour.”

Local Lib Dem campaigner Bill Fisher added, “The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight this ill thought out closure. The Council should be giving more Choice to parents and pupils, not taking choice away by closing Ewing School.”