Liberal Democrats in overall control

Posted By: Keith Swift
Date Posted: 17/01/2007

The news that Labour Councillor Terry Smith has resigned, means that for the first time Liberal Democrats have a clear majority, albeit only one, of Council seats. 

Terry always emphasised the importance of “the Community” and was often heard to say that the then Labour controlled council was not connecting with the community.  To my knowledge Terry had not attended a council meeting this Municipal year and like so many other people had become disillusioned with Labour, the direction they are heading, and Labour’s failure to deliver after promising so much.

Liberal Democrats are determined to devolve more power to Township Committees so locally elected Councillors have the Budget control and ability to commission the services that the local people who voted for them want.

We have made good progress so far and have had the support of all four Township Committees, particularly the Labour Controlled Heywood and Middleton Committees who seem to be looking forward to their release from central control even more than Rochdale and Pennines.

By the end of this month we should have the first draft ready, outlining how budgets for Highways, Street Cleansing, Libraries, Community Centres, and Parks will be handed to Township Committees to decide how they want to spend them locally.

Changing Budget priorities is by no means an easy job and our officers are showing great skill, enthusiasm and willingness to accomplish the task within the timescale we have set, and I thank them for that.

I have already, as we now in the third week of the New Year, attended an Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) meeting at Stockport Town Hall representing Rochdale.

Rochdale’s Executive Director for Finance Margaret Carney gave an excellent presentation updating Councillors on a project for joint working across the 10 AGMA Authorities which she is leading, and has the potential to save £8 million a year  (more on that as it progresses) but the main business was a report from Greater Manchester Against Crime.

This is quite timely as Liberal Democrats are launching a “We Can Cut Crime” campaign next month and we shall be asking for everyone’s support.

Car crime has risen with more people buying Sat Nav systems.  They are now the target of criminals who see them left on display in cars.  As someone pointed out a Sat Nav is much easier to run off with than a 42” Plasma screen.

What was interesting was how evidence is being collected to enable the Police to target certain areas and criminals, and how we as Council’s can affect the crime statistics. 

We know that most crime is committed by the “NEETS”, 16 to 25 year olds who are Not in Education Employment or Training.  The 16 to 25 year olds are less than 5% of the population, and all but a few are decent and honest, however 30% of crime is committed by people in this age range.

Councils have to ask why has the Education system not worked for them? Should they have had they had input from Social Services and others services before they resorted to crime? Why can’t they get a job? What can we do to get them into training for work? What can we as a Council do to make it harder for criminals?

The decision of Manchester City Council to introduce 24hour parking charges is seen by Salford as move which will encourage people to park “on street” in Salford and walk the short distance into Manchester City Centre.  What effect will this have on car crime in Salford?

One idea being floated is to put more double yellow lines down and force motorist to use secure Car Parks.  It would cut car crime, but I am sure Rochdale Online Message Board members might have something to say about the prospect of more yellow lines.