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This month Stockport residents are seeing the benefits of their Council tax having been frozen after a decision by Lib Dems on Stockport Council.

The decision is common with all Lib Dem-led authorities throughout over the country.  Both Labour and Tory councils have raised taxes this year.

In freezing the tax frontline services were kept – despite Labour scaremongering. No library services have been cut, and additional money has been put into repairing potholes and other services.

“More is going into social services for older people and those with learning difficulties  – a crucial extra £1.5m,” said Sue Derbyshire.

‘I am particularly pleased that when other councils nearby are announcing cuts to their services to vulnerable people, we are investing.”

Local Councillor Sue Derbyshire has criticised local Labour councillors for voting on a Tory plan to spend £750k of local money on a sports club in Heaton Moor.

Labour kept their own budget plans secret, but Labour councillors did vote with Tories from the Heatons to divert £750k of local money to a sports club with just 400 members.

Sue said “this £750k Labour wanted would have come from wards such as Manor, and from vital local services throughout Stockport.”

One project that would have been lost if the Tory/Labour proposal had succeeded is the excellent work being done to establish a Construction Academy and to help unemployed young people get into apprenticeships.

Manor’s former Labour Councillor Patrick McAuley slammed the vote:

“I am absolutely furious to be honest. To vote for a Tory budget and against getting people on the jobs ladder to win a few votes in the rich areas of the Heatons is not just a disgrace, it is sick.”

“I will never forgive Labour’s betrayal and treatment of those young people.”

Stockport Council’s Lib Dem Executive has announced £1 million to be spent on priority and green spending in the borough in 2012/13.

Councillor Sue Derbyshire, Manor Councillor and Deputy Leader of the Council said: “This funding will support Stockport’s businesses and build on a strong and sustainable economy and strong levels of educational attainment and skills. The Council aims to lead the way in creating a sustainable future for our environment and economy.”

“In difficult times for local authorities being able to bring additional investment into jobs and environmental projects to benefit our communities shows our commitment to the future of Stockport,” Cllr Derbyshire added.

The money will be used for:

–  Portas Pilot Bid (£100,000 match-funding): Stockport is bidding to be a ‘Portas Pilot’, seeking government funding to support the regeneration of the town centre. £1m is being offered nationally to be shared between 12 pilot town centres. The aim is to increase footfall across the town centre and support existing and new businesses.  Successful bids will be announced in May.

–  Develop a Construction Academy in Brinnington (£250,000 contribution):  The Council, working with Stockport College, Stockport Homes and other partners, is proposing a Construction Academy/Learning Centre in Brinnington to reduce youth unemployment and improve skills of local residents. The proposed Academy/Learning Centre could, for example, help local, unemployed people work towards a Level 2 certificate in Construction Operations and gain literacy and numeracy skills.

–   Replacement of trees (£150,000): Stockport has 15,000 street trees maintained on an on-going basis. Trees play an important role in enhancing the urban environment, and bring a sense of the countryside into the heart of the town. Around 800 new trees will be planted in 2012-13.

–   Green Regeneration Fund (GRF). Following the excellent recycling efforts by Stockport residents, the Waste Disposal Levy will be much lower than originally forecast.  The savings have been re-invested in the GRF and used for:

–   Eco-neighbourhoods (£125,000): The aim is to build on existing community led initiatives in the Heatons and Marple, and the Big Lottery short-listed ‘Eco-Plan’ for Brinnington, Reddish and Lancashire Hill and Heaton Norris. Neighbourhood eco-plans will be developed for priority areas. This will support the setting up of new resident-led sustainable living groups and community projects.

–   Sustainable Energy (£375,000). Funding will be invested in viable renewable electricity and heat schemes and providing local training and employment for priority groups. Stimulating demand for training and employment in green jobs is through delivering specific schemes. Specific project areas to be developed include local biomass supply chain development, solar PV and small scale hydro schemes.

Liberal Democrats on the local Police Authority have successfully fought for a budget that will put 100 more Police and 50 more PCSOs onto the streets over the next 2 years.

Sue also welcomed the decision not to force long serving officers with much-needed valuable experience into retirement.  Sue says ‘Stockport is a very safe place to live thanks to the partnership between the Council and the police.

“I welcome the new officers and the retention of our experienced officers – policing should be done by the police – not the private sector as in some parts of the country.”

“I am proud of the part Stockport Lib Dems played in these decisions.”

Councillor Ann Smith has e-mailed residents about improvements to the service at Davenport station.

If you would like to receive these e-mails, just send an e-mail to ann@stockportlibdems.org.uk with the words “Davenport updates” in the subject.

In her e-mail Ann told residents that there will be an extra train every two hours on Sundays serving Davenport, Woodsmoor or Hazel Grove, and that electrification of the Manchester-Preston line will see electric trains returning to Davenport and Woodsmoor over the next four years.

Ann said “Since the 2008 timetable changes our line has had older trains, shorter trains, more overcrowding and less reliable services.

“Progress is slow but the Lib Dems are fighting for our train services. Labour appear happy to accept what their Manchester bosses tell them, which rarely favours Stockport.”

Labour councillors missed the importance of a controversial report back in September which caused concerns a reduction in Davenport’s service was being smuggled through.

Predictably, they are now trying to blame  on ‘government cuts’ and downplay the report they missed.

Labour even distributed a flyer with a quote supposedly from the ‘Chair of TfGM’ without mentioning that it was actually from a Labour councillor!

Residents can still see for themselves a copy of the report on Davenport station campaign section above and see why doing nothing was not an option.

As schools receive their budgets this week there will be an additional £2m cash boost for Stockport to help those children in less advantaged areas because of the campaign of Lib Dems in government.

Stockport schools will be able use the extra money from the Government’s ‘Pupil Premium’ Grant to support individual children or bring extra resources into the school.

Stockport Academy (pictured) will get an extra £91,744, and Adswood Primary an extra £47,824.

The pupil premium is designed to direct early help to children from poorer backgrounds and was a key part of the Liberal Democrat party manifesto in 2010.

Key to the funding is the Lib Dem insistence that the schools decide how to spend the money – not bureaucrats.  It is designed to be spent on what the schools need to help kids form the poorest backgrounds, whether it be extra tuition or staff.

Stockport Council has also been working with schools and will be providing an additional £1m to support schools raising standards.

Councillor Stuart Bodsworth, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Children & Young People, said: “I am delighted that extra money will be available for our schools. The Pupil Premium Grant is very welcome investment which schools will use to particularly support children on free school meals and help them improve their results.”