The recent spell of spring weather has resulted in a big increase in complaints about dog mess reports Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Shires. “This would seem to point to the fact that the good weather has brought out a different breed of dog walker, a breed which does not consider others. Whatever the reason it [...]

It was a great Labour soundbite. Twelve years on, where are we now?Sadly, 1 in 5 kids still leave primary school without reaching the expected level in reading and writing. Children from poor backgrounds still fall behind and often never catch up. More than half of 16 year olds don’t get 5 good GCSEs including [...]

The Liberal Democrats today tabled an Early Day Motion calling for the second home allowance to be abolished for London MP’s. Liberal Democrat Shadow Housing Minister and Brent East MP, Sarah Teather, who tabled the motion, said:“It is completely unacceptable that London MP’s living within commuting distance of Westminster are allowed to claim money for a [...]

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat Leader, called for the rules surrounding MP’s expenses to be completely transformed, and also called for an end to the second home allowance for London MP. “We should get rid of this charade all together and stop any MP’s living in commuting distance from claiming this allowance at all. “It’s a legacy [...]

The Cabinet decision to manage Walsall’s 600 years old market through a 50:50 public/private venture company is to be called in for scrutiny thanks to a combined initiative by Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors reports Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Shires. “The “call in” will allow us ordinary mortals on the council to cross examine the Portfolio [...]

Willenhall North Lib Dem Focus Team has received a number of calls asking for action to tackle anti social behaviour in and around the walkway from Fairlawn Close to Stretton Road in New Invention reports Lib Dem councillor Ian Shires. These calls come in-spite of recent work done by Walsall Housing Group (WHG) to improve security around the approaches [...]

Commenting on Conservative plans on Council Tax, Cllr Richard Kemp, Lib Dem Group Leader at the LGA, said:   “The council tax system is flawed and the Tories’ plan doesn’t address the long term problems. The only way to get local government finance on a stable footing would be root and branch reform of how [...]

Nick Clegg delivering keynote speech at Harrogate 2009 Nick Clegg highlights the damage caused by Government targets at a Staffordshire hospital On Wednesday, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg, pressed the Prime Minister for an explanation for a Staffordshire hospital’s substandard emergency care. After claims that around 400 more people died between 2005 and 2008 than [...]

The Highways Agency have been invited to see first hand the cause of the outrage felt by those living in the Short Heath and New Invention areas of Willenhall over the plans for Active Traffic Management on the M6 north of J10 at Walsall reports Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Shires. “We have been informed by Carillion, the [...]

A £2.5 million programme to overhaul a number of flats on the Wood Lane Estate, Short Heath has been finished ahead of schedule. The next phase of the improvements is ready to go ahead and will see the creation of new footpaths and a boost to security in the area with the introduction of CCTV, [...]