Tories on the Community Services Scrutiny and Performance Panel blocked an attempt at last night’s meeting by Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Shires to recommend that The Cabinet put a hold on the closure of Willenhall Leisure Centre whilst a review of all options for leisure across the Borough is reviewed.   The blocking move was lead by Tory councillor [...]

Business Desk 30 Mar 10: The YamYam 30 Mar 10: Thousands of public sector jobs in the West Midlands could be saved if more local authorities looked at new ways of delivering essential community services, social enterprises chiefs have said. Kevin Maton, chief executive of Social Enterprise West Midlands (SEWM), said the region possessed the necessary [...]

“We’re now being offered a series of piecemeal reforms that have not been properly thought through or costed,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Secretary. Commenting on Labour’s plans to reform social care, Norman Lamb said: “After 13 years in power spent ducking social care reform we probably shouldn’t be surprised that Labour has once [...]

The rules governing corporate takeovers must change in the wake of Kraft’s takeover of Cadbury to ensure that they serve the UK economy, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg announced yesterday. Launching ‘Enterprise in a Fair Society’, Nick Clegg set out details of the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto pledges for business. The proposals include: Restoring a public [...]

 Walsall Council 30 Mar 2010 Young adventurers can arm themselves with nets and magnifiers and head off to Fibbersley Local Nature Reserve for a free, fun event during the Easter break. Walsall Council’s countryside services team has organised the session on Wednesday 14 April at 2pm. Senior countryside ranger Colin Manning will be helping youngsters [...]

Local Euro MP Liz Lynne has warned residents thinking of buying a coastal property in Spain to beware a risk of it being bulldozed due to an unresolved conflict in Spanish law. Liz Lynne and her Lib Dem colleagues in the European Parliament are continuing to demand action from the Spanish Government to end the [...]

LibDem Euro MP Liz Lynne hosted a reception with Heath First Europe to mark victory in the long campaign for a law to tackle the serious risks faced by nurses and other health workers from needle stick injuries. The event in the European Parliament in Brussels follows a final decision by EU ministers to adopt [...]

The Community Services Scrutiny and Performance Panel meets at The Council House, Walsall this evening at 6pm. On the agenda is a report (which arrived late) entitled Leisure Centre Strategy. Members of the Panel (and I’m one of them) are being asked to “indicate what their views are regarding the various options outlined within the report” oh, [...]

The first ever TV debate between the three candidates to be the next Chancellor has seen Lib Dem Vince Cable win a clear victory. In a Channel 4 on-line poll carried out immediately after the debate, Vince out-polled both Alistair Cameron and George Osborne. The Channel 4 vote results place Vince Cable clearly ahead of both the [...]

“George Osborne has taken the Government’s highly dubious efficiency plans and made them even less credible,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor. Commenting on George Osborne’s plans to block some of next year’s planned National Insurance tax rises, Vince Cable said: “This is school boy economics. “When you have a £70bn permanent hole in the [...]