Mark Jewell

Just a few months ago the Labour government was telling everyone that they would have to cut spending and put up taxes. VAT was just one of the tax rises planned by Labour. But all that was before they lost the general election.

Now Labour are in opposition, they have changed their tune.

The Leader of the Labour group on Lancashire County Council put forward a notice of motion condemning the VAT rise announced by the coalition government.

Local County Councillor, Mark Jewell said, “Labour created this crisis. They spent and spent and spent even though they knew the money was running out.

“Now Labour is opposing the same measures they were proposing just a few short months ago.

“This is the kind of two faced hypocrisy that gives politics and politicians a bad name.”

See CC Mark Jewell speaking against Labour’s hypocrisy on VAT at County Council here:

Go to ‘index points’ and select Notices of Motion

In a cynical move Conservative controlled County Council have launched a ‘consultation’ on charging pupils who qualify for free transport to church schools, just as schools break up for the summer holidays.

CC Mark Jewell said, “Charging students who currently get free transport for going to a church school is appalling.”

Copies of the consultation document and response form are available from the Lancashire County Council’s website at the following link here

Responses should be received by 17th September 2010.

Larches is one of three areas across Lancashire to have an experimental 20mph speed limit on a residential estate. Other areas include estates in Burnley and Morecombe.

CC Mark Jewell said, “The LibDems locally have campaigned strongly for 20mph speed limits without the need to pepper our estates with speed humps.

“This area will now be monitored to assess whether this scheme can be put into place across all our residential estates.”

Leader of the Preston LibDems, Councillor Danny Gallagher added, “This is a key part of making our roads safer for everyone.”

Liberal Democrats on Lancashire County Council have criticised Conservative proposals as an “attack on democracy”.

At a full Council Meeting on Thursday 20th May, the Conservative run County Council, with the support of the BNP, approved a radical reduction in the scrutiny function of Councillors.

Scrutiny committees enable opposition Councillors to hold the decisions of the Conservative administration to account.

Leader of the LibDem group, CC Bill Winlow said, “This Conservative run Council has reduced the powers of opposition Councillors so as we cannot effectively scrutinize the sweeping cuts the Tories are raising their axe for.

“Not only does this reduce the quality of decisions made, but also strips back bench Councillors from holding the leader to account. It is a sad day for Democracy in Lancashire and demonstrates the abuse of power when one party has such a massive majority.”

County Councillor Mark Jewell posed the following Question to the Leader of Lancashire County Council at the Full Council Meeting of 20th May 2010;

“In a week in which David Beckham submitted the England bid for the 2018 World Cup, does the leader of the Council share the immense disappointment of thousands across the region at the closure of the National Football Museum here in Preston and does he feel he did all in his power to keep it open?”

You can see the Leaders response and subsequent debate at the following link (click on Index and choose Mark Jewell in Question time to go straight to the question). 

http://www.lancashire.ukcouncil.net/site/player/pl_compact.php?a=39413&t=0&m=wm&l=en_GB#the_data_area

County Councillor Bill Winlow has been elected as the new leader of the Liberal Democrats group on Lancashire County Council. Upon being elected, CCWinlow said, “I thank my group for their unanimous support. Whilst we have a coalition national government, the facts are we will continue to hold this Conservative administration at County Hall to account.”

CC Bill Winlow was elected leader following CC Charlie Briggs stepping down. CC Briggs explained, “Following the success of the Liberal Democrats in electing Gordon Birtwistle as the MP for Burnley, I have been elected to lead the LibDem group on Burnley Council. To give this position the time required I have stepped down from being Lader of the Lancashire LibDems.” Councillor Briggs has also recently been elected as the Leader of Burnley Council.

CC Margaret Brindle was elected as the deputy Leader, with CC Alan Knox elected secretary and CC Mark Jewell elected as Group Whip.

Local Councillor Mark Jewell has called for the Larches Labour Club to be demolished. County Councillor Mark Jewell said, “Since the beginning of the year I have been urging Preston City Council and the owner to get this place demolished. It has attracted gangs of youths and anti-social behaviours costing dearly in police and fire service time”.

 Following the third fire at the club in the last 4 months last Sunday 16th May, Mark Jewell has again called for the Larches Club to be demolished.

Mark Jewell explained, ” We actually wanted to use this building as a youth club before Christmas, but youths broke in and ruptured gas and water pipes putting the building beyond refurbishment. The owner is now planning to redevelop this site for housing. The sooner this place is demolished the better for local residents and all concerned.” 

At a budget setting meeting of full Council today the Liberal Democrats put forward an honest budget for Lancashire.

LibDem Finance spokesman, CC Howard Henshaw, said that “the Conservative policy of a zero percent Council Tax increase was misguided and would inevitably lead to severe cuts in essential services”.

In an alternative budget the Liberal Democrats proposed a 1.8% Council Tax increase to enable investment in key priorities for Lancashire.

The LibDem proposal made a provision for a 1% pay award to Council workers. It also put forward an additional £1.5million into repairing potholes and maintaining the highways network. They also proposed putting £1million into tackling fuel poverty by insulatig pensioners homes.

County Councillor Mark Jewell added, “In order to avoid higher repair costs for our roads tomorrow our budget invests in our highways network today.”

County Councillor Mark Jewell has written to the Leaders of the Lancashire bid for the National Football Museum demanding they respond to a two site proposal from the trustees.

 Cllr Mark Jewell has learnt that the trustees of the NFM write to the leaders of the Lancashire Bid before Christmas with a proposal on how the two site option of Manchester and Preston could work.

Cllr Jewell said, “It is my understanding that the trustees have not yet had a response. Such a proposal requires serious consideration.”

Cllr Jewell added, “Regardless of the viability of this proposal, the fact remains that employees at the NFM have been told it will close at the end of April. Given that we are in a World Cup year and that England will be bidding for the 2018 World Cup during the summer it would be madness to close it. I have called for the museum to remain open for at least the rest of this year. I would only add that the Manchester bid is not yet a done deal and we should not be shutting up shop.”

Preston County Councillor, Mark Jewell has been calling on Lancashire County Council to fill our grit bins!

 He said, “These grit bins are located in recognised hazardous areas under icy conditions to enable the public to treat the roads and pavements. On my own ward there has already been a car skidding across the road from a steep inclined junction at Queensway and West Park Avenue to hit a wall on the opposite side. The grit bin here is empty and I have asked LCC to refill it. In a response from LCC they tell us they are not refilling these bins because they are concentrating on priority roads.”

 Councillor Jewell added, “This is ridiculous. LCC must support local communities in gritting hazardous icy areas. Instead, great demands are being made of the NHS when a little more effort and investment could help prevent people falling and injuring themselves.”