Gainsborough Liberal Democrats   
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| "Liberal Democrats aim to provide a secure environment in which a free and democratic society can flourish to the benefit of all."Gainsborough Liberal Democrats Statement of Purpose |
Gainsborough Liberal Democrats covers the 455 square miles of the Gainsborough Parliamentary constituency, very similar to the area served by West Lindsey District Council where Liberal Democrats are the opposition to the Tories.
Headline of 2011
  | In an election year when across Britain the Liberal Democrats took a battering this headline was a welcome relief. With meagre party resources bit though sheer hard work of candidates, party members and volunteers we took control of the Town Council and lost only 8 percent of our vote on the District Council although because of the first past the post voting system we lost three seats. |
Annual General Meeting
At the AGM on November 5th the matter of a new constitution was reffered to the party Executive.The following were elected as officers to serve from 1 January 2012:
- President - Pat O'Connor
- Chairman - Barry Coward
- Vice Chairman _ Ken Bridger
- Secretary - Aidan Turner
- Treasurer - Guy Grainger
- Membership Development Officer - Ray Sellars
- Data Officer - Andrew Heathorn
- Press Officer - vacant
- Constituency Organiser - vacant
- Auditor - David Cotton
Two ordinary members were elected to the Executive
- Melanie Jackson
- John Butrler
Federal Conference representatives are :
- Andrew Heathorn
- Barry Coward
Regional Conference representatives are
- Andrew Heathorn
- Barry Coward
- Guy Grainger
Lincolnshire Federation representaives are
- Aidan Turner
- Peter Turner
- Barry Coward
- Guy Grainger
The Fund Raising Committee which has not met since December 2010 will be brought back to life under the chairmanship of the Membership Development Officer. All members interested in raising funds and increasing the size of the party membership should contact Ray Sellars.
The motion tabled by Barry Coward and Guy Grainger Forward to First Principles was unanimously approved. Read the statemnent of purpose at the head of this page.
The meeting thanked Peter Turner our retiring President, for his long and valued service to the party especially during the difficult recent past.
Annual Dinner
| The 2011 annual dinner will be held on 17 November at 7 pm jointly by Gainsborough and Lincoln Lib Dems at Cafe Zoot in Bailgate, Lincoln. We reget to announce that Norman Baker MP the Lib Dem minister in the Department for Transport due to be our guest speaker has cancelled this appearance due to pressure of his ministerial duties. However although Norman Baker is not able to attend Tony Rogers our East Midlands Chair Elect has kindly agreed to regale us with some memories of politicians he has met over the past fifty years of fighting elections as a Liberal. Tickets for the three cousre meal are £20 each, drinks extra. |
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The menu and postal booking form can be viewed and downloaded here On booking we will ask you for your menu choice. On line bookings via our chairman's business account at Paypal (all the funds received from Pay Pal will go to Gainsborough Lib Dems) carry an admin charge of £2. To avoid this charge send a cheque made payable to Gainsborough Liberdal Dermocrats to Lib Dem Dinner, 8 Woods Terrace Gainsborough, DN 21 2RP |
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.
Meet Your Councillors
 Photo: Councillors representing Gainsborough talk to their voters |
Gainsborough residents met their County, District and Town Councillors at Marshall's Yard Shopping Precinct on Saturday 1 October. The brain child of Cllrs Robin Perry and Trevor Young, this event was a golden opportunity for folks to raise issues with their elected representatives. One Tory, one Independent, two Labour and eight LIb Dem Councillors were on hand to talk to residents. Despite being the hottest October day ever both councillors and public considered the event successful, so watch this space it could become a regular feature for Gainsborough. Although a Lib Dem initiative Councillors from all parties and none participated. |
Busy August Meeting
Normally August is a dead months for politics but not in 2011. Gainsborough Lib Dems held a party Executive meeting on 17 August at which it was decided that our chairman should respond to a request to initiate a movement to define our difference from the Tory party from George Šmíd, chairman of Corby Lib Dems. It was proposed that the two chairmen should work towards establishing an overall strategy for Lib Dems, a Party of Government, that is clear, simple and different.
Likewise the Executive called for a strategy for the Gainsborough party that would align the town councils of Market Rasen and Gainsborough with Lib Dems on West Lindsey and Lincolnshire County Council.
Gainsborough Lib Dems meet their party Leader
Gainsborough Lib Dem members Guy Grainger and Barry Coward travelled to Oadby in Leicstershire to join forces with other members from across the East Midlands to meet party leader and deputy prime mininster Nick Clegg.
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For an hour Nick took questions from fifty members representing more than 20 constituencies including Gainsborough and Lincoln. Guy Grainger remarked that there were no new policy statements but it was an invaluable opportunity for local party members to get a better understanding of Nick. What came across clearly was his drive and determination and openness. Nick stated more than once that he is very worried about the global economic situation. He made it clear that a major priority of the coalition government has to be to reduce the budget deficit. He did note that the coalition’s plan to reduce the public sector spending by £16 billion a year is hardly any different from Labour’'s planned reduction of £14 billion a year. He was asked whether the cuts to police spending could be reviewed in the light of the recent rioting. Nick responded by saying that he had spoken with senior police officers who confirmed that they could presently manage without cuts degrading front line community policing. In response to concerns voiced by a Lincolnshire ‘ConneXions’ youth project advisor, Nick recognised the importance of working for and with young people who had become marginalised in our society. He was aware that this was a problem that has been visible on estates for at least a decade. Many young people now feel desperate for a variety of reasons, including trying to find work. |
200,000 apprenticeships were available to young people throughout the country. Nick had been told when visiting Tottenham that there are 1,300 apprenticeship places available within a 3 mile radius of the epicentre of the riots. The pupil premium is also a major initiative that can help disadvantaged youngsters.
Read the full report
Two Liberal Democrat Mayors
Liberal Democrats controlled Gainsborough Town Council elected Cllr Harry Clarke as Town Mayor with Cllr David Manning as his Deputy. Harry gave a short address hoping that the whole council would now work together as a team for the benefit of the townsfolk.`
Twenty miles East of Gainsborough in Market Rasen Liberal Democrat West Lindsey Cllr Ken Bridger was elected Town Mayor. In Market Rasen the Town Mayor acts both as chair and council leader so Ken is going to find little time to sleep in the forthcoming year.
Gainsborough Liberal Democrats Buck the National Trend
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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 :
On 12 May the Liberal Democrats group elected Trevor Young as their leader and Paul Key as deputy leader. |
Read our Manifesto for Gainsborough Town Council
11 Liberal Democrats elected to West Lindsey District Council on May 5.
At the 2011 elections for West Lindsey District Council although Gainsborough Liberal Democrats lost two seats to Labour and one to the Tories (in a ward contested by Labour too) we retained eleven council seats :
- Gainsborough East - Mick Tinker, Mel Starkey
- Gainsborough North - David Dobbie
- Gainsborough South West - Judy Rainsforth and Trevor Young
- Market Rasen - Ken Bridger
- Nettleham - Malcolm Leaning and Ray Sellars
- Saxilby - David Cotton
- Stow - Reg Shore
- Thonnock - Lesley Rollings
The Tories retained control of West Lindsey, well that's not exactly true the council officers retained control as the Tories give them no clear policy directives and fail to effect scrutiny of the officer's management of the council. This is no criticism of council officers for if there is a void from their political masters officers have no option but to create their own policy for the council.
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