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Lib Dems set the Council Agenda
July 19, 2010 12:40 PM
The Liberal Democrat Group set the agenda at Southampton City Council's meeting on Wednesday 14th July.
Cllr Vinson moved a motion critical on the Cabinet's handling of the recent review of grants to voluntary organisations. Cllr Vinson said that the review had been 'inept, insensitive and ill-informed'. Organisations had been given too little time to respond to the Cabinet's proposed cuts, the officer analysis of their responses was delivered verbally only minutes before the Cabinet's final decisions were voted through, and in some cases - notably Shopmobility - the Cabinet initially supported a poorly researched proposal.
Cllr Vinson called on the Executive to revise the process for future years.
The motion was voted down by the Conservatives.
Cllr Vinson also moved a motion urging the Council to lobby the Government to maintain the new powers granted by the previous Labour Government to require planning permission for the conversion of family homes into Houses in Multiple Occupation. An amended motion was passed by the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives after the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport agreed to supplement the views already sent to Government.
Labour abstained, showing their lack of concern for areas of the city such as the Polygon, Portswood Park, Highfield and parts of Bassett and Swaythling, where excessive numbers of HMOs were changing the character and quality of life of neighbourhoods.
After Cllr John Slade (Peartree) accepted an amendment to his motion urging a more flexible approach to the provision of parking in planning applications, this was passed unanimously.
Conservative and Labour councillors refused to back debate on an Emergency Motion moved by Lib Dem Children and Schools spokesperson Cllr Maureen Turner expressing concern over the cancellation of the city's Building Schools for the Future programme and urging the Government to clarify alternative funding for schools building projects as an urgent priority.
Liberal Democrat proposals to moderate the Council Administration's mid-year budget cuts to protect schools funding for key skills, Key Stage 2 and GCSE, school attendance, community languages, and intervention in struggling schools, positive activities for young people including free swimming for under 16s and volunteering as youth wardens, helping people off the housing waiting list, maintaining free visitor permits in Residents' Parking Zones, and keeping Harbour Lights cinema open were voted down by Conservative and Labour Councillors.
Lib Dem Resources spokesperson Cllr Steve Sollitt (Portswood) accepted the necessity of substantial savings - brought about by reductions in Government grants in response to the national and international economic climate and the Labour Government's profligate signing of cheques in the run-up to the General Election they knew would bounce - including many in areas we would much prefer to expand rather than contract. However some of the Conservative measures would have an unacceptably harsh impact on key Council priorities and the most disadvantaged citizens.
Seconding the amendment, Cllr Adrian Vinson said the modest list of reprieves proposed by the Lib Dems could be afforded within the Conservatives own budget limits, and would in addition save 14 jobs. The Conservatives' proposal to charge for visitor parking permits was 'hypocritical' in the light of their false allegations during the recent elections that the Lib Dems intended to introduce new parking charges.
Labour made no constructive proposals, arguing that there was no need for savings!
Lib Dem members asked questions of the Conservative Cabinet on: surveillance (Cllr Adrian Vinson, Portswood), signage at Portswood Recreation Ground (Cllr Vinson), loss of income to Swaythling businesses due to repeat British Gas roadworks (Cllr Maureen Turner, Swaythling), the health threat from pigeons (Cllr Gerry Drake, Peartree) and maintenance funding for the new River Itchen Boardwalk (Cllr Drake).
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