Lib Dems to Use Freedom of Information in Fight To Save Post Offices
October 23rd, 2008 by johncameron
The Labour-controlled executive of Manchester City Council have agreed a disappointing report into the feasability of the Council intervening to keep the 5 Post Offices shut this year in Manchester, including Parrs Wood Post Office on Wilmslow Road and Ladybarn Post Office on Mauldeth Road, open. After voting in favour of a Lib Dem Motion at a meeting of the full City Council two weeks ago which called for every effort to be made to reopen these 5 Post Offices, Labour seem to backing down from that promise.
Commenting on the Post Office agreed by the Labour Executive, Lib Dem Leader Simon Ashley said,
“This report does not do what the Council motion I proposed asked for. The Liberal Democrats will be calling this report in for further Scrutiny. The Post Office made the Council sign a non disclosure agreement, which meant that Councillors have not seen any detailed figures for how much it would cost to save these Post Offices.”
During questioning, Labour Councillors confirmed that a subsidy in the order of £1million over three year would be needed, and that the Post Office had specifically excluded the Parrs Wood Branch, as its reopening would affect nearby Post Offices.
Lib Dem finance spokesperson Cllr Simon Wheale added,
“The Post Office, in stopping the Council even considering re-opening Parrs Wood, has acted outragously. The Liberal Democrats are going to use Freedom of Information requests to try and get more detailed figures. Once we have that, we will do all we can to find the money in the Council’s budget to save these Post Offices.”
Lib Dems to use Freedom of Information in Fight to Save Post Offices
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008 by johncameron
The Labour-controlled executive of Manchester City Council have agreed a disappointing report into the feasability of the Council intervening to keep the 5 Post Offices shut this year in Manchester, including Parrs Wood Post Office on Wilmslow Road and Ladybarn Post Office on Mauldeth Road, open. After voting in favour of a Lib Dem Motion at a meeting of the full City Council two weeks ago which called for every effort to be made to reopen these 5 Post Offices, Labour seem to backing down from that promise. Commenting on the Post Office agreed by the Labour Executive, Lib Dem Leader Simon Ashley said,
“This report does not do what the Council motion I proposed asked for. The Liberal Democrats will be calling this report in for further Scrutiny. The Post Office made the Council sign a non disclosure agreement, which meant that Councillors have not seen any detailed figures for how much it would cost to save these Post Offices.”
During questioning, Labour Councillors confirmed that a subsidy in the order of £1million over three year would be needed, and that the Post Office had specifically excluded the Parrs Wood Branch, as its reopening would affect nearby Post Offices.
Lib Dem finance spokesperson Cllr Simon Wheale added,
“The Post Office, in stopping the Council even considering re-opening Parrs Wood, has acted outragously. The Liberal Democrats are going to use Freedom of Information requests to try and get more detailed figures. Once we have that, we will do all we can to find the money in the Council’s budget to save these Post Offices.”
Re-open Our Allotments!
October 9th, 2008 by johncameron
Manchester Labour Party have been slammed for refusing toallow the former allotment site at Parrs Wood to be returned to use as allotments, even though the council have not been able to sell the land.Before they were closed the Parrs Wood allotments were used by many in Burnage and Didsbury.
Councillor David Sandiford, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Didsbury East, proposed a motion at a packed meeting of the full City Council in Manchester Town Hall, calling for the Council to reverse their previous decision to sell the 3 acre site and instead revert the land to house 50 allotments.
However, the Labour Councillor in charge of leisure refused to agree to do this.
Councillor Sandiford said:
“There is a large and unfilled demand for Allotments in South Manchester. According to Council officers, the waiting list for Manchester’s allotments is greater than 700. People waiting for an allotment can and do wait over three years for an allotment in their own area.
“Everyone accepts the positive aspects of allotmenteering - keeping healthy because of the physical work that one does in growing crops, contributing to a sustainable lifestyle, the social aspects, the educational aspects, and being able to have access to a fresh supply of good food.”
Councillor Sandiford, who used to have an allotment in South Manchester when his family was younger, added:
“This three-acre site is big enough for 50 full size allotments. It would make an excellent contribution to the needs of the local community. The decision to sell the site was taken by the Executive of the Council. That is why the motion calls on the Executive to rescind that decision.”
The motion was seconded by Councillor John Cameron, who represents Burnage Ward, which is near to the Parrs Wood allotment site.
Councillor John Cameron said:
“Land owned by the City Council should not be seen simply as a potential sum of money to be realized through its sale. It should also be seen as an asset that belongs to the people of Manchester and which should be used for their benefit now and for many years to come. Selling off assets such as this land may appear to offer a quick buck, and we all recognize that the Council needs money for the provision of services. However, like the sale of school playing fields, this also represents a short-term gain at the expense of a long-term loss. When you consider that the Council has not even managed to sell the Parrs Wood allotment site, the argument for removing it from sale and returning it to use as allotments becomes even more compelling.”
Government must help thousands on verge of repossession
October 9th, 2008 by johncameronThe Liberal Democrats have set out proposals to help families who are unable to pay their mortgages and are facing the threat of homelessness due to the downturn in the housing market. The plans, which aim to reduce repossessions and increase the stock of social housing, include: · Introducing regulated Mortgage Rescue Schemes to allow families struggling with repayments to sell all or part of the equity in their house and rent it back from a housing association or private firm to help keep them in their home· Allowing councils and housing associations to borrow money to buy up land and empty new homes for use as social housing · Courts to be given guidelines to only allow homes to be repossessed in extreme circumstances, making the mortgage lenders’ voluntary code binding on all lenders Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: “The Government seems obsessed with fighting a losing battle to artificially prop up the housing market, rather than finding ways to deal with its worst effects. “Ministers must act to help the thousands of families struggling to keep a roof over their heads. “The Government should allow councils and housing associations to buy up land as well as empty homes to help replenish Britain’s much depleted stock of social housing. “Ministers must also tighten up repossession rules, to ensure that people’s homes are only ever repossessed as a last resort.
Lib Dems welcome Council Post Office pledge
October 9th, 2008 by johncameron
Manchester Liberal Democrat have welcomed a pledge by Labour Council Leader Richard Leese that the Council will investigate the viability of the Council subsidising Post Offices closed in the city since 2003, as well as 5 Branches earmarked for closure by the Post Office in August in Levenshulme, Didsbury, Ladybarn, Harpurhey and Crumpsall.
The Labour Group supported the Liberal Democrat motion on Post Offices at October’s full City Council Meeting.
Manchester Lib Dem leader, Cllr Simon Ashley said:
“I am happy that the Labour Group supported our motion. It offers a lifeline to the 5 Post Offices earmarked for closure in August, and the chance to re-open 23 branches closed by the Post Office across the city since 2003.”
Burnage Councillor John Cameron added:
“Our motion doesn’t write a blank cheque. It allows Council Officers to investigate how much subsidy is needed to keep these Post Offices open, and come back with a plan. This is good news for those campaigning to keep local Post offices open.”
