At yesterday’s annal Budget Meeting of Lancashire County Council, Cllr Geoff Driver unexpectedly announced a 2% Council Tax cut, thereby reducing the council’s available resources by £7.34m  for 2013-14 and in future years. “Given that we face massive budget cuts in the next four years, amounting to £250m, 28% of resources, this is downright irresponsible” said  Liberal Democrat […]

Liberal Democrats have this week outlined their priorities for Lancashire. At the full Lancashire County Council meeting, Cllr Bill Winlow, Leader of the LibDems at County Hall, outlined the groups alternative budget. In his speech he acknowledged the difficult financial position inherited from the previous Labour administration. He gave credit to the current administration for managing a […]

County Cllr Bill Winlow said yesterday that “Lancashire Liberal Democrats  place business very high on the Lancashire political agenda and we are particularly interested in environmental sustainability and in green industries – an area where there remain significant unfulfilled opportunities. “Should we be in a position of influence following the elections in May, we would wish […]

Preston City is facing unprecedented cuts to its budget and we could run out of money with two years. The problem isn’t going to go away, and needs to be tackled it now. £3.6m of savings a year, are needed from now, but even if they close the Bus Station and the Guild Hall tomorrow (and […]

County Councillor Bill Winlow has welcomed the news that the Coalition Government’s plans to bring superfast broadband to rural Lancashire have been approved by the European Commission. This approval paves the way for the Coalition Government’s £530m rural broadband scheme. Work on laying cables can now start in earnest for local authority broadband projects all […]

Liberal Democrats on Lancashire County Council have angrily criticised proposals to charge disabled students for transport.   Leader of the Lib Dem group, County Councillor Bill Winlow described the proposals as “outrageous”.   The Conservative Council are currently consulting on plans to introduce a means tested contribution towards the cost of transport support for students […]

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Preston, Councillor Pauline Brown has slammed Labour’s budget proposal as “abysmal”. Cllr Pauline Brown claims Labour’s proposals could lead to 11 PCSO’s  being lost across Preston. She is urging all Chairs of local PACT forums to respond to the Councils consultation on the ruling Labour group’s proposals. Cllr […]

Breakdown of Labour’s Preston budget by Bill Shannon, Liberal Democrat Leader on Preston City Council Tax and spend, tax and spend, borrow your way out of trouble and don’t worry about tomorrow, that will be someone else’s problem. Yes, folks, Labour’s back in power in Preston. All over England, local authorities are tightening their belts […]

Next year, more than half a million additional children will qualify for the Pupil Premium. In Preston 3,230 are expected to be eligible, meaning that our schools are set to benefit from an extra £1,935,000 to support disadvantaged pupils. The Pupil Premium will be extending its reach to cover any child that has been registered […]