LGA Lib Dems and ALDC at the York Lib Dem Spring Conference
Please see the attached flyer for more information on our events and come and see us at stands 2 and 3 in the exhibition area!
Town and Parish Councils – referendum information
The Government has had the power to impose a referendum limit on parish and town councils – they have never chosen to exercise it to date. Every year there is noise about parish and town council precepts going up by too much and every year the government decides that it would be too administratively complex.
The referendum principles for this year (2016-17) have now been confirmed by parliament – with no mention of parish and town councils – so the secretary of state would not be able to issue a referendum limits for parish and town councils as any principles have to be approved by the date in the which the local government finance report is approved by parliament.
Housing and Planning Bill – update
One of the hot topics that our peers are battling with at the moment is the Housing and Planning Bill. Baroness Cathy Bakewell is leading a large team of peers who have put down 87 amendments to the Bill so far. They have serious concerns that the Bill will make things worse for people in need of affordable housing, will lead to an increase in homelessness, and will drive up the housing benefit bill. Read Cathy’s article‘6 things we’re fighting for on the Housing Bill’.
Also – a loophole means buy to let landlords could benefit from the Starter Home proposals :this Independent article has more information.
Save our local Chemists!
The Government are reviewing how our local chemists are funded. Our thanks to the Watford Lib Dem Group for sending us a copy of their press release and council motion, which the below press release is based on.
Further information including an interview with Lib Dem Health Spokesperson Baroness Joan Walmsley can be found here:
http://www.thepharmacist.co.uk/news/practice-and-policy/walmsley/. She is asking a Parliamentary Question in the Lords about community pharmacies this week: http://calendar.parliament.uk/calendar/Lords/All/2016/3/2/Daily
and here: http://www.rpharms.com/pressreleases/pr_show.asp
ALDC Members can download a Draft Press Release and Council Motion from the LGA Lib Dems, here.
If you are not yet an ALDC member, and would like full access to the materials and support that come with membership, you can find out more and join us here.