Those kind-hearted Tories of Somerset County Council are putting £100,000 back into Youth Services! That's the £100,000 they planned to steal from this vital public service this year - but with no sign that they won't continue to strip down provision for our young people in 2013. It's like a shop-lifter who knows he's been caught red-handed, putting some stolen goods back on the shelves, then returning next week to continue his thieving spree!
An elderly woman was air-lifted to hospital following an accident on Doulting Hill on Saturday May 5th at about 6.30pm.
"I do hope that the lady is recovering and send my very best wishes. I have not yet received a report from County Council, but understand that the car smashed through a hedge at the bottom of Doulting Hill and rolled over, trapping the driver," said Gloria Cawood.
Response of LD Working Group to the Expert Panel on the National Curriculum
Headlines
- An overall framework for curriculum promoting breadth and balance to apply to all publicly-funded schools
- Support for diagnostic and sample testing, and internal testing moderated by 'chartered assessors': rejection of old-style SAT-type testing and league table publication of results.
Following the announcement, made earlier today that Cllr John Osman will take over from Cllr Ken Maddock, as the Tory Leader and Leader of Somerset County Council, Sam Crabb has requested an urgent meeting with John Osman.
Sam Crabb, Leader of the Somerset Liberal Democrat Group said, "I have sent John Osman my best wishes for his new role. It will be a very challenging year for him."
Ross Henley, Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council's Lib Dem group, has called on Somerset Conservative Councillors to drop their plans to introduce 'don't fly tip' signs at fly tipping hotspots around the County.
Councillor Henley said "The huge increase in fly tipping has been caused by the decision of Somerset Conservatives to close our tips two days a week and on Sunday afternoons, as well as the conservative decision to introduce a two pounds entry fee at some tips, like Crewkerne". Ross added "instead of cluttering up our countryside with pointless signs, why don't the Tories reopen the tips instead? That would do far more to reduce fly tipping".
The cross party Audit Committee at Somerset County Council once again debated the failures within Southwest One and IBM regarding the implementation of the accounting system SAP.
Out of 18 serious concerns last December, only 2 of them have been resolved. Work has started on 2 more, but the rest have not even been looked at by Southwest One.
"It is worrying that the two Eds don't understand the fundamental principles of our tax system, despite having worked in the Treasury for many years as Gordon Brown's backroom boys.
"It took them 13 years to introduce a 50p rate and then they only did so shortly before a general election. Now that the local elections are coming up, suddenly they care about it again and put down ill-thought through amendments that remove the top rate altogether.
"Labour's biggest tax change was to remove the 10p tax rate hitting people on low and middle incomes while Liberal Democrats are giving nearly 25m basic-rate tax payers an Income Tax cut and have lifted more than a million people out of paying Income Tax altogether. At the same time, we're making the rich pay their fair share by cracking down on loopholes and excessive tax relief."
Ross Henley deputy leader of Somerset Liberal Democrat County Group said "This is great news forSomerset".
"Sadly Tory Ken's legacy is one of destruction and disaster. He led the County Council to close all out tips two days a week and on Sunday afternoons and thanks to his policies, fly tipping has rocketed. Large parts ofSomersethave a £2 entry fee to a tip, thanks to Ken.
Despite the huge amount of protests at the proposed Tory sell-off of the Quantocks - they have gone ahead anyway.
The Liberal Democrats proposed a motion to stop the sale at the February full council meeting. This was defeated by the Tory Administration.
Ross Henley, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition on Somerset County Council, has expressed anger at the Conservative decision to sell a parcel of land at Great Wood on the Quantocks to the Forestry Commission. In all, a total of 1,550 acres has been sold to the Forestry Commission who have leased and managed it since 1927, for the sum of £250,000 - £162 an acre.
Liberal Democrat County Councillor for The South Petherton Division, Paul Maxwell, has secured funding to keep The Parish Lengthsman Scheme alive.
Paul was able to persuade The District Councils` Area North Committee to award a grant of £1500,at its meeting on 28th March, towards the scheme, having already secured £500 from The Area West Committee, making a total of £2000.
