May 2009 Focus

Car Parking Charges

The Liberal Democrats proposed the LOWEST level of car parking charges at the Borough's budget meeting on March 4th. We proposed 20p for the first hour and 50p for the second hour with a high charge after that. This was intended to stop people, many from outside the Borough, who are parking and riding (into the City). Their cars are taking up spaces needed by shoppers. Labour proposed no car parking charges, but only for 2009/10. After this year they proposed the same charges as the Tories. In other words, car parking charges after this year's elections. The Tories are claiming that the public voted for the charges, but we all know the consultation exercise was a sham.

Gedling 'Goodies'

Liberal Democrats recognise that these days everybody must be prepared to make savings, particularly local councillors. At the Gedling Borough meeting in February the Liberal Democrats proposed a freeze on Councillor pay. The Conservatives supported it but Labour's 'full-time councillors' voted against. It passed. More should have been done. At the March meeting Liberal Democrat councillors wanted to eliminate two of the council 'portfolios' and end extra payments to 8 Councillors - 6 from the Conservatives and 1 each from Labour and Liberal Democrats. Now that the Council's 3,500 housing stock has been transferred away from the Council, Liberal Democrats see little point in keeping a separate Housing Portfolio. Gedling Tories voted to keep it. In 2008 Gedling's Tories created an extra portfolio for their Deputy Leader who receives nearly £6,500 for spending a budget of just £60,000 a year. The Liberal Democrats never agreed to that post, but the Gedling Tories voted to keep it. If the Liberal Democrat plan had been followed, £30,000 would have been saved this year. Liberal Democrats wanted further savings on Councillors' expenses for twinning trips, hospitality and expenses for the Mayor. In total nearly £70,000 of Council Tax money could have been saved. Once again the Tories said NO, preferring to hold on to their "goodies" for another year.

Local Policing

The recent armed robbery at Burton Joyce Post Office is a worrying reminder about Policing in Nottinghamshire. Even the Government accepts that Notts Constabulary is under funded by £7 million a year and has been under funded for years... However, putting that right means taking money from other Police forces or increasing the overall national Police budget. It seems the government isn't prepared to do that. As a result Notts Constabulary is understaffed by 38 Officers, 24 Police Community Support Officers, 9 Specials and 125 civilian staff. Yet the Chief Constable has recently apologised for not spending £2 million of last year's budget. They've taken your money but have failed to spend it on fighting crime. Now the Police Authority has just added an inflation busting 4.94% to your Council Tax. Commenting, Richard Berry said, "The first priority must be recruitment to replace the 78 Officers lost last year. The time has come to give Nottinghamshire citizens the Police Force they deserve and pay for."

Did You Know?

Both the Government and the County Council should be fully aware of the policing situation in Gedling. Gedling's MP is the Minister for Police. The funding of police forces is his responsibility. One of Gedling's Labour County Councillors is Chair of the Nottinghamshire Police Authority. The spending of your police Council Tax is his responsibility.