Gainsborough Liberal Democrats

Mayor's Coulmn

Harry Clarke, Liberal Democrat Mayor of Gainsborough is now writing a fortnightly coulmn in the Gainsborough Standard. Buy the Standard to read the current column. We post previous columns here.

More for Less at Gainsborough Town Council

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Last May the electors of Gainsborough voted 12 Liberal Democrats onto the town council at a time when Liberal Democrats were facing a meltdown of support across the nation. At the Town Council meeting on 3 January the Liberal Democrat group, lead by Councillor Trevor Young, proposed reducing the council's budget with a consequent 3.8% reduction in council tax. Not many councils have been bold enough to help their residents in these difficult times by reducing their tax burden for 2012-13. However the budget also manages to increase expenditure on items that will benefit local people while continuing to maintain, and hopefully improve, standards. Again this goes against the national trend of councils cutting services in order to cut budgets.

Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Trevor Young said:

"The Liberal Democrat group are committed to ensuring this council provide value for money quality services to the people of Gainsborough. With this objective in mind we want to develop the good services the council already provides but at the same time explore how the council in partnership with groups in our community can provide a wider range of services while being cost effective. So we aim to provide more for less."

The budget approved by the full council features:

• £10,000 to enable individual members to work closely with the people in their wards identifying specific needs for which this money can be used.
• £5,000 to develop our Christmas market and attract shoppers and visitors from far and wide to a market held a week before the Lincoln Christmas market.
• Doubling the budget for street furniture, mainly for seats and bus shelters. With the number of bus passengers increasing by 25% over three years improvements to shelters and seats are now a priority.
• Play area maintenance budget is increased by 50%
• The Council will continue support of community organisations by making the grant scheme an annual event so that organisations can plan ahead and bidding for limited funding will be seen to be fair for all.
• There will be continued funding of the Riverside Festival but a new and accountable relationship with the festival organisers will be forged as the festival has much potential that needs development.
• The Town Centre Partnership will receive support from the Council but before committing the residents' money there will have to be guarantees of:
  • Fewer Empty Shops
  • Improved Market
  • Town Centre Events.
  • Better Publicity
  Development of football among young people through a post the council is committed to provide under an agreement with the Football Foundation will be best achieved by allowing a partner agency to fulfil the obligation.

To pay for these improved services the council has agreed to:

• Reduce the funding of the Mayor's costs by £1,000 and replace the block sum payment by a receipted allowance.
• Reduce the Civic costs by £1,000 and review civic functions.
• A £5,000 reduction in the costs of our Christmas lights can be achieved by competitive tendering.
• There will be significant reductions in the operating costs of Richmond Park and Marshalls and Roses recreation grounds where high quality sporting facilities can be delivered by working in co-operation with external partners.
• Staffing costs can be reduced while providing the same, if not better, level of service by flexibility in using the skills that exist among the Council's staff.

During 2012 there will be in depth review of the council's fees and charges. Any changes would not take effect until the next financial year.

Trevor Young added " We have to plan ahead. This budget is the first step towards future budgetary planning which will enable us to develop strategies that look forward."

Councillor misses meeting to save life

Liberal Democrat Town Councillor Mark Binns missed attendance at the meeting of Gainsborough Town Council on the evening of Tuesday 4th October because he assisted a member of the public found in distress on Spital Terrace. Mark, a member of Gainsborough St John Ambulance, used his skills as an advanced first aider until an ambulance arrived to take the patient to Scunthorpe Hospital. It is rare that a first aider is required to use their skill to support those suspected of a heart attack.

Subsequently Mark's efforts were reported in the Gainsborough Standard and in Lib Dem News.

The Town Council at it's meeting on Tuesday 1st November thanked Mark for missing the meeting!

Gainsborough Liberal Democrats Buck the National Trend

On 5 May 2011 Gainsborough Liberal Democrats took control of Gainsborough Town Council winning 12 of the 18 seats on the council. Liberal Democrats councillors are : Gainsborough East - Mark Binns, Lesley Rollings, Mel Starkey Gainsborough North West - Robin Perry, Cynthia Isherwood, Paul Key, Julie Nicholson Gainsborough South West - Harry Clarke, Daniel Dand, Sandra Goacher, David Manning, Trevor Young On 12 May the Liberal Democrats group elected Trevor Young as their leader and Paul Key as deputy leader

A Liberal Democrat run Town Council would aim to :

1. Study the financial administration of the council and if necessary put the finances on a firm footing.
2. Review the functions of the council. The are some functions such as events hosted in the parks that are excellent but there are other functions such as maintenance and renewal of bus shelters that appear to have been ignored.
3. Far too much of the council's business is held in secret session. We shall make the operation of the council transparent and accessible to townsfolk
4. We shall seek to co-operate with groups in the town to produce a plan for Gainsborough
5. We shall seek an alliance with other town councils served by the railway line from Grimsby to Sheffield with a view to establishing a community rail partnership that will press for improved rail services
6. Although Tory Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, claims to have changed his mind on allowing councils to sell off allotment land we will fight to retain the right to provide allotments for the people of Gainsborough.