It feels like we're a delivery agent for the Government!

Posted By: Liz Thirsk
Date Posted: 02/08/2007

One of my worries when I first decided to stand for Council was that we would be forced to front the Labour Government's decisions.  That is why I was delighted to see our Council being awarded 3 star status by the Audit Commission last year.  This gives us more flexibility on how we spend our money but not enough.

I for one, am sick of Councillor Allen Brett and his Labour cronies moaning about decisions forced upon on us by the Labour Government.  Let me start with Balderstone School.  Yes, it's on record that I wasn't happy the decision.  I couldn't vote on it because I'd been advised that I couldn't by the Borough Solicitor.  It's incredibly frustrating but the Council had to make a decision to close one of the schools.  Why? because of the Labour Government policy of surplus places in our schools. Who decided on these 2 schools?  Labour, led at the time by Colin Lambert and supported by the very same Allen Brett.  The decision split the Labour Party as it did the Liberal Democrats.  A struggling Allen Brett, forced to retire because he will lose his seat this year is behaving disgracefully on this issue.  It is another example of Labour saying one thing in one part of the Borough and another elsewhere.

Another example is the debate on Congestion Charging.  The Labour Government is forcing us to consider this in order to deliver Metrolink into our Town Centre.  Labour have again been poor on this issue led again by Allen Brett.  They have promised Metrolink on a number of occasions – usually around the General Elections of the past and are now effectively bribing us. 

What about alternate weekly collection?  Again, Government policy that has tripled landfill charges is forcing this Council’s hand.

What have these 3 issues got in common?  If Labour were running the Council they would have done exactly the same as us.  Their opportunism and arrogance is breathtaking.  I hope the people of this Borough don’t fall for their propaganda!

With regards to Balderstone School, we are now doing something about it and are leading the fight to retain the community and sporting facilities in Balderstone alongside Paul Rowen MP and Councillor Dale Mulgrew.