Could I take this opportunity to thank all those High Peak members who went over to help in neighbouring Hazel Grove Parliamentary Constituency's local election campaign. We won every single seat in the Constituency - which is now an excellent prospect for a Lib Dem gain at the General Election.
Despite a 14% swing to the Liberal Democrats, it was a Conservative who held on to the rural ward of Carsington Water in the Derbyshire Dales, albeit with a reduced majority on an increased turnout.
By Cllr Ed Fordham -roup Leader of the Liberal Democrats On Derbyshire County Council
To update folks on the battle at County Hall to try and save Care Homes from closure.
This Thursday the Council's Conservative Cabinet will receive the report on the consultation that sees the proposed closure of seven care homes - placing the remaining 20 at risk of closure also.
The whole Liberal Democrat Council Group will attend the Cabinet meeting on Thursday to hear the debate and discussion and I will exercise my right as a Group Leader to ask questions of the Portfolio Holder Cllr Natalie Hoy. The report is likely to be nodded through by the Conservative majority. (The Cabinet is in fact comprised solely of Conservative Councillors).
Anyone reading the Cabinet papers for Thursday will come to the clear conclusion that the consultation almost universally opposed the closure - and whilst we all recognise that updates and improvements are always needed - this can be done in a way that does not close homes. It is understood and acknowledged widely within the care sector that moving elderly and frail residents in care, places them at risk and directly leads to faster and higher mortality of those in care. A decision that leads to this outcome must be opposed.
Accordingly, we are preparing plans for the decision to be Called-In to a Scrutiny Committee and will be forcing the Portfolio Holder and Senior Officers to answer questions in public.
Further, in the event that this fails to secure the necessary outcomes (and it is unlikely) we will seek to trigger the procedures for an emergency Council so that this dreadful decision is taken in plain sight with a named vote of all councillors.
If you feel able to support our opposition please do come on Thursday to Matlock for 1.15 to join the protest for the Cabinet meeting and I will keep you informed of the next stage of developments. We will be seeking to submit the petition that is comprised of signatures against this decision on Thursday as well.
The truth is that the Care Homes do not need to close to be renovated and brought up to modern standards. The way the renovations are being proposed is clumsy and poorly thought through. The Council have massively run down the Care Homes, and have ceased admissions leading to a huge exodus of highly trained and experienced staff making the provision of adequate services near impossible. This plan is about the Conservatives wanting to cut costs and reduce the size of the Council's public sector service provision for adult care. The next step will be the remaining 20 homes.
This is a closure plan driven by Conservative Party dogma supported and enabled by an unhealthy majority of 44 Conservative Councillors who dominate the Council. I can give my personal assurance that the Liberal Democrat Group wi consistently argue for County Council Care Home provision and will make the case for Derbyshire to continue to be a public sector market leader in this field. The Homes do not need to close.
As you may know, I started in local government. As a Councillor in Rochdale, I was proud of our efforts to make our council greener, cleaner and healthier.
Every week I meet with Councillors, Group Leaders and Council Leaders from across the country and I am heartened to hear about the brilliant work being done by so many of our colleagues throughout the UK.
Liberal Democrat-run Local Authorities are on the frontline of tackling the climate emergency and our Councillors have a strong record:
Cllr Sarah Dyke and South Somerset District Council have developed 70 megawatts of battery storage for renewable energy.
Cllr Christian Vassie's work on York City Council has pushed the North Yorkshire Pension Fund to invest £140 million in a Climate Opportunities Fund.
Mayor Dave Hodgson and Bedford Borough Council have reduced carbon emissions across their Council properties by 62% since 2009.
I want to see more of you doing great things. But first, we have to get elected.
It takes a lot of work to get onto the Council. The national crises of the Conservative Party and mismanagement of Labour Councils make this a great opportunity. But, we need people like you and I to deliver leaflets, knock on doors, and help in any way that you can.
Liberal Democrats become Councillors not because we hope to benefit from it, but because we truly care about how our Council is run.
That's why I loved being a Councillor and it's why I am out on the doorstep helping our candidates get over the line.
In the final week, we can push forward. And by Friday morning we will welcome a new group of Liberal Democrat councillors.
This morning, BP reported a sizzling $6.2 billion (£5bn) of underlying profit.
Despite efforts to disguise windfalls under an apparent loss from exiting interests in Russia, BP outperformed projections significantly, benefiting from surging utility prices.
The oil and gas giant could have invested this windfall in green infrastructure, promoting energy security and reducing our carbon footprint. Instead, $2.5 billion has been committed to share buybacks over the next quarter, returning cash to shareholders and executives over improving our energy mix.
BP's Chief Executive Bernard Looney has compared the organisation to a 'cash machine' with 'more cash than we know what to do with'. We have some suggestions. Liberal Democrats have called for a 'Robin Hood' windfall tax on energy giants to support households throughout the UK with spiking bills.
A one-off levy would raise over £10bn over the next year, supporting families and households by allowing us to:
Double the Warm Homes Discount and extend it to all those receiving Universal Credit or Pension Credit.
Double the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Insulate homes to slash heating bills long-term.
Cut VAT to 17.5%, saving households £600 per year.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson sat on Good Morning Britain and told the public that a windfall tax on energy companies will 'discourage them from making the investments that we want to see.'
With 7.5 million households set to enter fuel poverty, we cannot afford to ignore the problem, to stick our heads in the sand.
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak state that energy companies will figure it out for us.
This morning, BP gave us $2.5 billion of evidence to the contrary.
Sir Ed Davey MP spoke on BBC Breakfast, reiterating calls for an urgent windfall tax.
Watch his statement here:
The Campaign:
We've collated a pack of urgent resources in our Windfall Tax campaign for you to respond to today's news:
Social Media:
We've produced a variety of social media graphics.
P.S: In March, Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng MP appointed the Chair of BP Europe Peter Mather to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) executive board.
Two events which could shape the face of British politics for years ahead will be occurring this week.
First the local elections. Lib Dems and Labour are expecting to make substantial net gains in the locals on Thursday - but the Party makes the most gains will clearly be on the front foot for what comes next. Starting on Friday, the campaign to win the Tiverton & Honiton seat, vacated by disgraced Tory MP Parish, will begin with a burst of enthusiasm.
Stuart Roberts who is a former Conservative councillor and outgoing deputy president of the National Farmers' Union. And earlier this week, he joined the Liberal Democrats and said:-
"I've had enough of being taken for granted by Boris Johnson's Conservatives. We have an opportunity to send them a message in the local elections next week.
"But to do that, we need as many people out on the doorstep as possible between now and then.
"The Government's post-Brexit trade deals have dealt a hammer blow to our farmers. Farming income has dropped by £60 million year on year in the South of England alone.
"I and many other farmers can't support Boris Johnson's Conservative Party. Time and time again, they've let us and our communities down. They're taking us for granted.
I joined the Lib Dems because I believe Britain deserves better than this.
The Liberal Democrats have demanded a rural cost of living rescue package, including a cap on heating oil prices to help struggling families off the gas grid. The party warned that the Conservatives are leaving rural communities "out in the cold" by refusing to help with soaring bills.
Rural communities are bearing the brunt of the cost of living crisis with soaring heating bills, petrol prices and food costs all hitting struggling families.
At a Council Meeting of Derbyshire Dales District Council on April 27tha motion to apologise to the residents of the village of Tansley near Matlock wasnarrowlydefeated as all the Conservative Councillors voted against it.
However the Tory controlling group did acknowledge that their decision to pursue a site in Knabhall Lane Tansley was not going to proceed. They had been informed about problems with this site by Lib Dem Cllrs for the area back in September 2020. Then the Tansley site was presented as the 'best option' for both a temporary and permanent traveller site as we covered in a previous article.
