stockportlibdems, Author at Stockport Liberal Democrats

Manor’s Daniel Hawthorne – £630,000 backing for community groups in Stockport

Hawthorne getting behind charities — Daniel Hawthorne is getting behind charities in Stockport and encouraging groups to apply for the Borough’s grant scheme

Councillor Daniel Hawthorne, recently elected by councillors to be Executive Member for Adult Care Services, has announced £630,000 of main grant funding awards to 38 community groups in the borough.

The scheme runs an annual bidding round and awards grants of £3,000 and over to pay for the staffing and running costs of projects or organisations that help to improve the quality of life for local people.

The funding will support a wide range of areas including help for people with a disability, homeless and vulnerable young people, help for people who are victims of crime or domestic violence, services aimed at reducing isolation, increasing independence for older people, people experiencing mental health problem, community transport and support for carers.

Daniel Hawthorne said: “Voluntary organisations and community groups in Stockport are vital to the social and economic health of the borough. These services provide a real lifeline to local people and communities across the borough, and the Council welcomes this opportunity to work in partnership with the sector and offer practical support to help these local organisations thrive.

“I would urge voluntary organisations who haven’t bid for these grants to do so in the future as we want to work with you for the benefit of residents across the borough. Details of how to apply for 2013/2014 are available on the Council website at www.stockport.gov.uk/grants or by phoning 474 4539.”

For more details about the Main Grant Scheme, including a full list of successful projects, log onto the website above.

Local elections 2012: Results

Click to contact your Councillor — Number of councillors on Stockport Council for each party

Stockport Liberal Democrats are extending a ‘thank you’ to residents for their support following the local elections this month.

Councillor Sue Derbyshire was re-elected in Manor ward with more than 44% of the vote, although with just a 24 vote majority over Labour.

Sue was also elected by her fellow councillors to become Leader of the Council. Liberal Democrats remain the largest party in Stockport.

Following the vote, Sue thanked Stockport residents and reaffirmed her commitment to making sure Stockport Council keeps delivering excellent services in the borough.

In Davenport and Cale Green ward Ann Smith received a record 13% swing from Labour’s 2011 result. Although Ann lost her seat on the Council in a narrow win for Labour, Ann has promised to keep on campaigning in the area.

Labour’s councillors for the ward live as far away as Reddish and Woodley. Ann has promised to keep campaigning in the area to make sure Labour’s councillors don’t take voters for granted.

Detailed results for each ward in Stockport borough can be found by clicking here.

Have Your Voice heard on May 3rd: What Liberal Democrats offer YOU

Libby — Liberal Democrats are proud of their strong record in the running of Stockport Council

Elections are being held across Stockport tomorrow to decide who should run Stockport Council.

Liberal Democrats believe that in difficult times we must make sure we do all we can to help ordinary working people.

That is why, unlike Labour or the Conservatives, every Liberal Democrat council in England has frozen council tax. It is why Liberal Democrat councils are more likely to earmark funds for the lowest paid than any other.

And it is why this month Liberal Democrats in Government are delivering tax cuts for 25m working people. A cut for millions, not for millionaires.

According to the Local Government Chronicle, Liberal Democrat run councils were more than two times likely to give the lowest paid workers a pay rise compared to Labour, and five times more likely than Conservative run councils.

Only Lib Dem council’s have frozen Council tax. In Stockport this is for the second year running. It is a small, practical way to help residents in tough economic times.

In Stockport, Liberal Democrats have overseen an 11% increase in the number of new Business Start-ups – the highest of anywhere in the North West. Stockport out-performs every neighbouring Labour council on new apprenticeships.

Lib Dem Stockport Council has kept all libraries open. Labour’s Manchester City Council has slashed thousands of jobs, closed almost all public loos and many libraries – all while keeping £100million tucked away in its bank account.

They aren’t alone. In Liverpool, the council’s cash reserves are increasing to £121.7 million – enough to build four new secondary schools – while nurseries, libraries and leisure centres are stripped of funds.

More and more people are experiencing Labour’s disastrous record at local level.

One Labour Council planned to spend £120,000 on an executive wine terrace for its headquarters. Liberal Democrats blocked it.

Manchester’s Labour councillors voted against the pupil premium – that’s the Lib Dem policy that directs money directly towards poorer children, which in Stockport alone has delivered £2.6m extra for local schools. Stockport Academy got nearly £100,000 extra.

Stockport has an ‘Excellent’ Council – but more needs to be done. That’s why Stockport Lib Dems are working hard to promote businesses in the Borough; to improve our town centre – the Grand Central revamp is just the beginning – and to deliver a cleaner, greener, safer Stockport.

Getting Behind Local Small Businesses

Brooklyn Pottery — Ann throws her weight behind local Shaw Heath businesses

Councillor Ann Smith has welcomed the Council decision that means businesses in Stockport are set to benefit from changes to the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme.

As of this month businesses with a rateable value below £6,000 will pay no Business Rates for the 2012/2013 financial year.

“The Council knows that every little helps in the current climate,” said Ann, who praised local residents Vicky and Angela from Davenport who opened their new business in Shaw Heath recently.

Their family pottery painting café ‘Brooklyn Pottery’ is just across from Harry Bates. Residents can enjoy a cup of tea while a little one creates something unique!

Information regarding criteria for the changes to the new Small Business Rate Relief Scheme can be found at the Council’s website at www.stockport.gov.uk/businessrates.

Twitter users can use and follow the hashtag #SKbusiness for the latest business news in Stockport.

Boost for Award-winning Merseyway

Merseyway Shopping Centre in Stockport is celebrating a prestige award for the best property re-branding campaign in Europe.

Judges for the Transform awards handed victory to Merseyway’s marketing campaign, which together with pro-active management and financial investment, has turned around the fortunes of the shopping centre.

In 2011 footfall hit the 10m mark thanks to an increase of 670,000 from 2010; and high profile retailers have opened new units including Primark, Virgin Media and Costa Coffee.

Unique visitors to the website increased by 113% whilst 100% of current tenants renewed their leases such as Superdrug, Clarks and WH Smith.

Stockport’s Solar Shines On

Solar panels are helping to power almost 2,000 homes in Stockport and nearly 30 Stockport Council buildings to help the environment and save money.

As part of a multi-million pound investment to provide low carbon improvements including solar energy, wood chip fuel, thermal cladding and updated boilers, Stockport is the only Greater Manchester borough to deliver a solar panel programme on this scale.

It is estimated that the installations, which began in autumn 2011, cut energy bills by £130 and reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 600kg per home.

The residential programme has seen residents living in Stockport Homes’ managed properties across the borough benefit from roof installed solar photovoltaics which capture the sun’s energy and generate electricity – even on one of Stockport’s cloudy days!

Other Council-owned properties such as Stopford House, Romiley Forum, libraries and the borough’s Target Life and Fitness Centres have also benefitted from the investment, saving money and carbon and putting Stockport at the forefront of sustainable change in Greater Manchester.

“The investment not only saves local residents money on their bills, but brings income back to Stockport Homes from the government’s feed in tarrif,” said Cllr Ann Smith. “The panels will last for 25 years, but will have paid for themselves after ten.”