Author: stockportlibdems

Following the announcement by the council that it is withdrawing the proposal to scrap the Stockport Local Assistance Scheme, Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport’s Liberal Democrats, said: “We are sure residents will share our relief that this important safety net has been saved, but they will also share our concern that it is only saved for a year with a ‘thorough review’ of the scheme to be made over the coming year. One would have hoped that such a review would have happened before making a proposal to scrap a scheme which provides vital support to such vulnerable residents.

“Stockport’s Liberal Democrats have opposed this wrong-headed budget proposal since it was announced and we are frankly astounded that it has been handled in such a clumsy way. This was a thoroughly bad and mean-spirited suggestion in the first place and no doubt many members of the public will share our disgust that it should have come from a Labour administration at the Town Hall”.

At last week’s Full Council Meeting, Stockport Liberal Democrats successfully introduced a motion which means the council will require new developments, including conversions, to have charging points for electric vehicles and which will see officers bid for government funding for on-street charging points and the development of a comprehensive plan for implementing borough-wide on-street charging infrastructure to make it as easy as possible for people to switch from more polluting vehicles.

 Speaking after the motion was passed, Cllr Colin MacAlister, councillor for Marple South & High Lane ward and Shadow Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: “We know one of the reasons more people do not switch to electric vehicles is the lack of charging points, so we want the council to do more to make developers put the infrastructure in place. This is just one more way that we can start to tackle pollution.

 “It is a tragedy that the Conservative government have removed or reduced the subsidies for less polluting vehicles at this time, taking away another incentive for people to be more environmentally friendly.”

 Cllr Christine Corris, councillor for Bredbury & Woodley ward and Lib Dem Planning lead, said: “With the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework on the horizon and more housebuilding and conversions likely, we want to see our planning policy include provision for electric cars. Hopefully where Stockport leads, Greater Manchester will follow.

 “We also hope that the council can successfully bid for funds for on-street charging points to support those residents who do not have driveways.”

 

Speaking after attending the official ministerial opening of the A6 to Manchester Airport relief road, Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Stockport Council and former Member of Parliament for Cheadle, said: “After many years of delays and cancellations by previous Labour and Conservative governments, I was delighted when the Coalition government (2010-2015) finally gave the ‘green light’ to this much needed scheme. Andrew Stunell (then MP for Hazel Grove) and I lobbied tirelessly for the Relief Road and met several times with George Osborne (then Chancellor of the Exchequer) to secure the multi-million pound investment needed to get the road built.

“Thousands of residents in Heald Green, Cheadle Hulme and Bramhall are already seeing the benefits of the bypass, including reduced congestion and improved traffic flows and air quality on our residential streets. I am proud that the Coalition had the political will to ensure this road was finally delivered.”

Cllr Lisa Smart said, “The full benefits of the road will only be seen when the final link from Hazel Grove to the M60 at Bredbury is complete. Roads such as Bents Lane and Otterspool Road are simply too congested and the Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for the “missing link” to be built.”

In a motion to be discussed at the Full Council meeting on 18^th October, Stockport Liberal Democrats are calling for a “dignity bags” scheme to operate at secondary schools and colleges across the borough so that young women can be assured of access to sanitary products.

Cllr Lisa Smart, proposer of the motion and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “It is a scandal that, in a country as rich as Britain, ‘period poverty’ is an issue.  Research shows that young women are embarrassed about periods and those in low-income families in particular can feel unable to ask their parents or carers to buy the sanitary products they need as they are yet another expense. 

“Whilst in an ideal world there would be universal free provision of sanitary products, we feel an appropriate starting point is to provide them free of charge to young women in our schools and colleges.”

Cllr Mark Hunter, seconder of the motion and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “All the evidence is that young women from poorer families are likely to miss school as a result of not having access to sanitary products.  The simple change of making sanitary products available free of charge in schools and colleges could help more of these young women achieve better learning outcomes and have a much brighter future.”

 

Following yesterday’s news release by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Mayor Andy Burnham regarding possible further delays to the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) due to uncertainty about the formula Government is to use to set housing growth targets, Stockport Liberal Democrats agree that the government need to get their act together.

Cllr Lisa Smart, Chair of the Greater Manchester Housing, Planning and Environment Scrutiny Committee and Deputy Leader of Stockport’s Liberal Democrat Group, said: “We agree with Andy Burnham that the Government’s handling of setting housing targets is shambolic. Version two of the GM Spatial Framework proposal was due to be made public for consultation some months ago but it was initially delayed when the latest national population projections were released and it is being delayed again waiting for the Conservative Party to get their act together in Westminster. Residents deserve to know where the thousands of new homes are going to go.”

In the same news release, the GMCA announced that there would be a vote on the GMSF proposals in each of the 10 participating councils, despite the requirement for this being removed following a technical change to the process.

Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Stockport Council, said: “We are pleased to see the GMCA agrees with Liberal Democrats that it is vital each council retains a vote on the final proposals. We would prefer to see bottom up plans developed by local communities to deliver the housing those communities need. The Conservative government’s rules will impose targets that will see unprecedented levels of development in certain areas.”

Stockport Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Bredbury Green and Romiley councillor Lisa Smart proposed a motion seeking to extend voting rights to those aged 16 and over, seconded by Will Dawson, Liberal Democrat councillor for Offerton.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Smart said: “I am thrilled to have championed a move by Stockport Council to back calls for the introduction of votes at 16. As a campaigner on education, it is an issue close to my heart having met so many engaged and inspiring young people.

“I am so pleased that councillors from across Stockport voted overwhelmingly in favour of my proposal to call for voting rights to be extended to citizens aged 16 and over, as well as greater involvement of young people in community decision making.”

Cllr Dawson said: “Working as a lecturer at Aquinas College, dealing with this age group is my day job so I know how interested and engaged in politics 16 and 17 year olds can be, especially right now as our country is going through what I believe will be the huge trauma of Brexit. Many of the arguments against allowing these young people to vote were used over a hundred years ago to try to deny votes for women.

“It must be right that the people who are likely to be among the most affected by contemporary political issues and for the longest time are allowed to fully participate in our democracy.”

Stockport Council will now write to the British Youth Council, local Members of Parliament, the Greater Manchester Mayor, the Prime Minister and the Minister for the Cabinet Office asking them to consider extending the voting age to 16 and 17 year olds, in particular for local government and devolved elections and for referenda in England and Northern Ireland.