Residents have been warned to treat Labour claims with caution after they resorted to outright lies in the recent election campaign.
In Stockport, Labour were criticised for their negative campaign and for offering residents no vision or ideas about how they think Stockport should be run.
This has led to suspicions that their plans involve severe cuts of the kind imposed by next door Labour-run Manchester city Council with the hope that voters would blame the Coalition government.
Labour announced the slashing of thousands of jobs and closed services throughout the City. They blamed the coalition for the cuts, but the Council had £100 million sat in its bank account and were slammed from across the political spectrum for putting political point scoring ahead of residents.
If you want a claim investigated, e-mail info@stockportlibdems.org.uk.
Stockport has successfully bid to become a ‘Portas Pilot’.
Mary Portas, from the BBC series ‘Mary Queen of Shops’ carried out an independent review of high streets last year and is working with the Government to offer extra help to towns with the most innovative ideas to boost their high streets.
Stockport’s bid focused on encouraging specialist shops, markets and creative industries within the historic Markets and Underbanks area of the town centre.
Councillor Sue Derbyshire, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “This is fantastic news for Stockport. It’s a testament to the enthusiasm, commitment and inspiration of local businesses, market traders, organisations and residents, who worked with the council to make ours a winning bid.
“But this is only the start. Work establishing our new ‘town team’ – made up of all the town centre partners- has already begun. They will work hard to get the best for the town centre, reduce the number of empty shops and develop an exciting new cultural quarter around our unique historic market area.
“Today’s news and the work already underway on office quarter Grand Central and plans for a new town centre leisure development, means exciting times ahead for Stockport.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
