Bournemouth Liberal Democrats

Lisa Succeeds in Drawing Attention to Sub-Standard Housing

Council Officers will work with landlords to see if improvements are needed in targeted inspections of rented accomadation in Boscombe.

Lisa Northover, former councillor and ward representative for Boscombe West, lauched a petition calling for increased inspections in response to the dire conditions of much of the housing. Lisa has said she's "pleased the council is taking action. We need proactive inspections, not just reactive ones."

Lisa's Petition: http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/signatures/inspect-all-dave-wells-housing-in-boscombe-within-6-months/4015

Channel 4 Dispatches: Landlords from Hell

Housing in Boscombe: Housing is the issue which underpins most of the problems in Boscombe. Poor planning over many years has led to a dominance of single person units and bedsits.

Conservatives spend £500,000 in Severance Packages to Prevent Employment Tribunals

In the face of massive cuts of council services £472,543.92 has been paid out in compromise agreements from April 2008 to January 2012. One of largest payments was to Mr Neil Smurthwaite the former service director for community care who received £58,000.

A service delivery manager was given £57,668, £31,828.31 was paid to a technician engineer, £30,000 to a service and strategy manager. A Programme manager was paid £29,915, a principlal officer recieved £29,062 and a mortuary supervisor was given £28,000.

There are also many smaller amounts paid to junior staff. Independant councillor Ron Whittaker called the agreements "absolutely outrageous"

Are our Standards Slipping? - Advert Overload in Bournemouth

Cllr Roger West asks Planning Board Chairman to explain huge advertisements popping up all over Bournemouth, damaging the image of our town.

Lib Dem MP Annette Brooke supports Coalition plan on Council Tax

Annette Brooke is calling for second-home owners in Dorset to have their 10% tax discounts scrapped as part of a coalition plan due to be announced soon.

This is coming at a time of dire housing shortages within the county. Brooke said "This proposal would ensure local councils receive the right level of finances they need to provide vital local services"

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Council Signs Over More Departments to Mouchel as Workers Pack Meeting

Dozens of staff from the finance, organisational development and human resources departments packed the meeting to witness their jobs being transfered to the finicially unstable business services firm.

Conservative councillors have cited lower costs as the primary reason for the deal but it is unclear that the firm will be able to make the savings promised. This is following an independant risk assessment which adviced that the council should adopt a cautious "wait and see approach"

After dicussions which lasted three hours the Conservative cabinet voted unaniously to ignore the advice and proceed with the transfer.

Bad Planning - Top Down Dicta an Affront to Localism in New Planning Policy

Ken Mantock comments on the government's new Draft National Planning Policy Framework.

The new policy dictates how many new homes must be built and adds a new presumption in favour of development in an affront to the stated objectives of localism and building a Big Society.

Peter Charon Forced to Apologise Over Bullying

The [former] council leader Peter Charon was forced to apologise to a backbencher after the Standards Board investigated comments and emails to Cllr Mark Anderson.

Cllr Charon's comments had included "Be very careful what you say - I'm the leader of the council". Cllr Anderson's records an email from Charon that left him feeling "intimidated" after he wrote in July "If you want to take me on and have a public fight - go right ahead but do so with your eyes wide open".

Cllr Charon has called for harmony in the face of an increasingly disunited party. As of 14th December Cllr Charon may be required to make a fresh apology after it was claimed that the standards board did not approve it in advance (as it should have done)

Ellwood in row with Council Leaders as Conservative Party Continues to Creak

Cllr Charon began by attacking the local conservative MP Tobias Ellwood over his Conurbation 2050 scheme. Cllr Charon claimed the MP was getting too involved in local issues which in his mind ought to be the reserve of the council. Writing in an Email: "We don't tell you how to vote in the House, do we?". Mr Charon also accused Ellwood of "manipulative and unwarranted interference" over the defection of independent councillor Derek Borthwick.

Mr Ellwood told the Echo: "I will not be bullied by the leader or deputy - and will defend my right, and the right of others, to comment on the town's long-term strategy while leaving the day to day tactics to the council."