Austerity measures need ALL Councillors input
Written by Admin 03 February 2012
Preparing and controlling local authority annual budgets is always a huge task for both Councillors and Officers. We must ensure that we are collecting and spending funding in the most economical efficient ways possible, to benefit Trafford’s residents and the Borough. We all realise that in these austere times the task is even greater, for example in the year 2012/2013 an extra £16.2m must be saved.
Liberal Democrats firmly believe that the critical measures needed are the responsibility of all 63 Councillors not just the controlling Conservative Group. In order to achieve this the Leader of Council invited both the Liberal Democrat and Labour Councillors to take part in the negotiating and decision making. The Lib. Dems were pleased to accept the offer but the Labour Party flatly refused.
Our decision proved most useful last year enabling the Lib. Dems to have a very meaningful input on the budget decision making within the borough.
We have influenced, objected to and supported issues as necessary during the constructive discussions and are pleased to say a similar procedure is continuing for the 2012/2013 year.
Just a few examples of where the Lib. Dems made a significant impact on the Trafford budget in 2011/2012 are as follows:
• We saved the mobile library for at least one year, thus helping those people unable to get to any of our 14 public library buildings.
• We felt the number of “Your Trafford” publications was excessive and successfully negotiated a reduction in the number of editions per year which subsequently made a saving of approx £52,000.
• Lib Dems had a major influence in saving the Broomwood Community Centre which was doomed for closure. We believe the Centre to be a vital asset for Youth and Community Services at the heart of the large Broomwood Estate. Our input saved the building which is now becoming a self sustaining establishment.
Hence proving all Councillors views are most important and do make a difference.
Councillor Ray Bowker MBE
Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group
Trafford Borough Council
Getting young people into work
Written by Admin 16 December 2011
Getting young people into work
The Liberal Democrats in Government are making sure that every young person has a fair chance. Last week the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg launched the Youth Contract. This is a one billion pound programme to get every unemployed young person earning or learning again.
The Youth Contract will create over 400,000 new jobs and 250,000 new work experience placements to help young people across Britain to get into work. There will be 20,000 more incentive payments to encourage employers to take on young apprentices and 250,000 new work experience placements. And because we know businesses are struggling to take young people on, the Youth Contract will pay half their basic wage for six months.
We are taking real action to tackle youth unemployment. Every young person who wants it will be guaranteed a job, training or work placement. If people are out of work when they’re young they can bear the scars for decades. If they have a false start, they might not ever fully catch up. This £1 billion investment will make sure our young people are earning and learning again, before long-term damage is done.
Here in Trafford there are 1,400 or 8.6% of all 18-24 year olds in our Borough currently claiming Job Seeker's Allowance. We cannot afford to lose the skills and talent of these young people – right when we need them most. Across the North West there are 26,000 16 and 17-year olds not in education, employment or training.
Lib Dems are determined to tackle youth unemployment - an issue that has been ignored for too long. We need the next generation to help us build a new economy. Young people have been hit particularly hard in the recession, but even in the boom years, Labour failed to tackle the issue. During Labour’s 13 years in power, youth unemployment rose by nearly 40%. There was a shocking 86% increase in the number of 18-24 year olds claiming Job Seekers Allowance.
Across the UK, youth unemployment has risen to 21.9%. We owe it to our young people to make sure that even in tough economic times, we will do everything we can to find them a job, training or education.
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