Somerset Liberal Democrat Group

David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, has today called on the Somerset County Council to reverse its programme of cuts to bus services as it emerged that over 3,000 residents across the Yeovil Constituency have already signed a petition against the wide-ranging service cutbacks. The planned cuts would leave many villages, such as Merriott, Winsham,West Chinnock and Hardington without any bus services.

At today's Cabinet meeting the Liberal Democrats were astounded to hear that the County Council expects all services to under spend by a massive £10 million in the current financial year. This, after huge cuts have been already made to so many vital services.

Sam Crabb, Leader of the Liberal Democrat County Group, said "Not only are there massive under spends, but the Tory Administration are cutting more and deeper. We understood from the debate today that they are speeding up cuts to services to many vulnerable parts of our society. This will involve reductions to our bus services, highways services, gully clearing, and support for young carers, plus a host of other cuts that will affect young people, the elderly and rural areas very hard."

Somerset County Council sale of Quantock Land

It's official from Tory Cabinet member, Cllr David Huxtable "We want a smaller Council and will transfer this to others. That is the objective; it doesn't matter if it does not raise much money".

This was in response to a question of, how much money would be raised by the sale? In the case of some of these land sales there is very little competition and real concerns that the public interest has been ignored.

SOMERSET SERVICES WILL SUFFER FROM STAFF DEPARTURES

Somerset County Council has been rightfully making savings, and a lot of the staff have left as a result. However in the last year those leaving have turned into a flood of departures of highly qualified expertise.

Sam Crabb, Leader of the Somerset Liberal Democrat Group said, "We suggested reductions through vacancy management and selected voluntary redundancies. What is now happening is a haemorrhaging of highly qualified expertise that puts all services at risk."

The current 75% cuts are vastly greater than the cuts in County funding?

Why have the cuts been made without consultation with the very young people involved?

Large cuts have already been made to school support and in the number of PCSO's. Is there no joined up thinking or concern about the effects?

What has the the Tory administration of Somerset County Council got against Young People?

Dear Sir,

We should all be concerned that Somerset County Council appears to be ignoring its own planning policies.

The officers agreed that Somerset County Council's land bank was sufficient. Aggregrate Industry's proposal to deepen Torr Works Quarry to just above sea level and increase out-put from 6m to 8m tonnes a year was nevertheless agreed. Four members of the Regulation Committee voted for and four against. The casting vote of the Chairman decided the matter.

Dear Editor

'I write in relation to your article about the reduction in Speed Indicator Devices in the Yeovil area.

We have all applauded the reduction in the number of Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI'S) in Somerset since the introduction of the Road Safety Partnership and the efforts of all involved. These results must have made a difference to the NHS costs of dealing with these and will have made a real the difference to many otherwise bereaved families.

Sam Crabb, Leader of the Liberal Democrat County Group said today "I am dismayed at the plans agreed by the Conservative administration, to create 8 new Directors at County Hall. These changes will mean the people of Somerset will now be poorly served by having only one senior point of contact - who will be the new Customers & Communities Director."

Why should 16 - 18 year olds with no income now (no Education Maintenance Allowance - EMA) pay £535 to get to college? That was one the questions Somerset's Liberal Democrats asked at a County Council meeting this week.

At the meeting, Liberal Democrats reported how students and parents are concerned that the County Council could not guarantee the County Ticket Bus Pass scheme will continue after next year. This means, A level students starting their second year won't be able to get to colleges without paying and many may think twice before starting their chosen courses.

A new document has come to light that reveals most cuts should have been unnecessary at Somerset County Council

It states that savings in purchasing should have been made by the end of the budget period to the tune of almost £50m

This would mean that most of the proposed cuts would not be needed.

However the Conservatives at County Hall have not carried out the work to make these savings.