Where is the democracy in our local government? Asks the Liberal Democrats following the first meeting of the shadow executive for the new West Northamptonshire Shadow Council as the Tories act politically to promote cronyism over competence.
12 months ago on the 18th July 2019, I won a stunning by-election for the Daventry District Council ward of Brixworth. We worked hard to replace one of our Tory councillors who had been 'missing in action' for the best part of six months, securing eventually over 50% of the vote and a 33% swing from the Conservatives. We still have another Tory councillor who most locals will tell you is continually missing in action.
The Liberal Democrats have put forward a motion to Daventry District Council to get the full council on side to lobby both local MP Chris Heaton-Harris and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, to change approach and make funding support available for the up to 3 million people who have so far fallen through the COVID funding gap.
The Conservative leadership of the Shadow West Northamptonshire Council are proposing real increases in Council Tax but delivering few service improvements.
The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, and member of the Police and Crime Panel, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has today expressed disappointment as the Conservative Police Commissioner's budget was passed without comment from the Police and Crime Panel. During the debate it was revealed that the much criticised back office costs could rise to £1.1m and that multi-million pound black holes lay ahead. Cllr Glynane was the only Councillor not to vote for the budget.
The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has called for the Conservative administration to allow full public debate of how taxpayers money is spent through LGSS. At two recent Northamptonshire County Council Cabinet meetings reports relating to money spent on back office services such as finance, legal, HR, IT and others, through LGSS have been debated in private.
The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has welcomed a motion from the Labour group calling for more apprenticeships in Northamptonshire. Last Council meeting Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Lofts proposed a similar motion calling for an increase in apprenticeships supported through Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, which the Tories opposed.
The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, Cllr Brendan Glynane, is calling for low paid staff at County Hall to be spared from pay cuts. The Liberal Democrats have secured a debate at the meeting of Full Council on Thursday on the proposed changes to pay and conditions at the Conservative-run County Council. Currently staff are being consulted on a potential 3.6% average pay cut and changes to sickness and holiday pay.
The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has slammed the Conservative administration after figures emerged that showed only 46% of children attended secondary schools rated "good" or "outstanding" in the county. Northamptonshire was ranked 133rd out of 155 authorities.
The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has slammed the Conservative administration after they responded to questions from Cllr Glynane on their shocking placements in school league tables published by OFSTED.
The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has attacked both the Conservatives and Labour after a Liberal Democrat call to protect Council staff earning under the "Living Wage" (£7.45 per hour) from being forced to take a pay cut. The motion from the Liberal Democrat group would have protected 1373 low paid staff from having their pay cut if it had been passed.
The Leader of the Official Liberal Democrat Opposition at County Hall, Cllr Brendan Glynane, has reacted with astonishment at the news that the new Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner is proposing to create 17 new jobs, several for his Conservative campaign team, costing up to £65k a year each.
