Sam Crabb, leader of the Liberal Democrat Somerset County Group has criticised the leadership of Somerset County Council in their "failure to manage" Southwest One (SWOne). Somerset County Council's Leader, Conservative Councillor Ken Maddock, outlined during last Wednesday's Full Council meeting that Procurement Savings due from the SWOne contract were still not being met.

During the Full Council meeting Of Somerset County Councillors held on Wednesday, the Conservative-led authority refused to adopt a fair and sensible approach to the County Library Service.

The Liberal Democrat County Group put forward a motion requesting that no library should have funding withdrawn without consultation with the local community and that libraries should be regarded as public spaces for the whole community.

The Tories of Somerset County Council are putting back £175000 into Youth Services for 1 year only!

Whilst applauding any extra funds, let's be realistic and put this into context. Using County figures, the original cut of £19.710m has been reduced by 0.9%!! Cllr Osman now says he is listening and has lauched a consultation excercise, does this include the other 99.1%? Or is he still not listening?

Somerset County Councillors during Wednesday's Full Council Meeting agreed to a massive investment into the infrastructure of Somerset. There was cross-party agreement on the need to invest in Somerset, including the installation of Superfast Broadband to be delivered by 2015, more investment in schools and specific projects with our roads.

Somerset Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservative County Council's decision to "rush the sale" of public woods and moorlands including Great Wood, Custom Common at Over Stowey, and Thorncombe Hill near Crowcombe. Councillor Ross Henley, Shadow Cabinet member for Resources on Somerset County Council, called on the Conservative administration to "halt their decision" and "keep areas of outstanding natural beauty in public hands".

Somerset Liberal Democrats have slammed the decision by the Conservative administration at Somerset County Council to reject further savings of £4.4 million that were outlined in an Opposition Alternative Budget, presented by the Liberal Democrats at Wednesday's Full Council Meeting. Liberal Democrat County Councillors have said that the 'back office' savings would have reduced the impact of Conservative cuts to front line services.

Dear All,

In tough times, I believe you should keep more of the money that you earn. That's why the Liberal Democrats want to see the tax-free threshold raised to £10,000 - giving you a tax cut when you need it most.

Liberal Democrat plans would save working people £700 a year -that's an extra £60 in your wages every month. And more than 3.5million older and low-paid people will be freed from paying any income tax altogether.

Imagine a fine Autumn day. You are looking out of your window, watching the council mowers cut the grass verges for the 8^th time this year, checking that it all looks neat and tidy……..No, wait. That was before the Tories got control of Taunton Deane and Somerset County Councils. Thanks to cuts from both councils, this year you will only be seeing the second and final grass cut of the year in Autumn. The first was 6 months ago ! The grass is now knee high. Each cut is much more expensive and they have to buy new equipment (flail cutters) because the grass is so long. In streets without pavements, the long grass could be dangerous and messy for pedestrians. You won't be able to see the dog's mess you are about to step in.

Savage cuts by Somerset Tories will leave bus services in our area decimated. Some villages like Batcombe, Trudoxhill, Upton Noble, Wanstrow and Witham Friary could be left with no buses at all.

The Council has to ensure school and college transport by Law, but the reduction in buses in rural areas and the possible withdrawal/rise in cost of the County Ticket will affect many.

Somerset MP Tessa Munt today welcomed the decision by the County Council to extend its public consultation period to allow proper examination of its proposed cuts to the Somerset Young Carers' Project budget.

However, Tessa has insisted "we must all keep the pressure on".

The decision, announced at yesterday's Scrutiny Meeting, is the result of protests against the Conservatives who had attempted to impose stringent cuts with the barest minimum of public consultation.