New Mills Town Council helped mitigate the effects of the snow during December when they borrowed a snow plough from a local haulage firm to help in their efforts to keep the side roads clear. This has proved so effective that the Council have invested in a snow plough attachment for the parks tractor. This ensures that in future they will be ready to help the residents of New Mills when the snow comes again.

There has been much talk of the 'Big Society' over recent months. Many of us have been working in or on behalf of our neighbourhoods and communities for some time; others would like a starting point to enable them to get involved.

The Big Offer is designed to help and support activists to grasp opportunities which will be created over the coming months as the Coalition Government encourages a more 'mixed' provider market. The recently announced 'Localism Bill' encourages activists to take advantage of the new freedom to 'run their lives and neighbourhoods in their own way'

After a real roller coaster of a year, 2011 could be just as interesting.

The coalition will face challenge after challenge, and must remain resolute in the face of press and political criticism.

In the High Peak we face Borough and Parish elections at a time when, nationally at least, our popularity has slipped. We need to be united in our efforts to advance the Liberal Democrat message. Fortune will favour the brave, we shall be brave.

Euro-zone crisis - Today and tomorrow, the 27 national leaders meet in Brussels for one of their regular summits. We must all hope that they finally agree a plan for more "federal" central control in Brussels over erring national budgets.

2011 EU Budget

The parliament passed the 2011 budget for the EU this week. Details at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/content/20101215IPR10188/html/Parliament-adopts-EU-budget-for-2011

I came home from Executive last night wondering why I bother - we shouldn't mention Europe, or the referendum and certainly not the coalition in our literature. Well surprise, surprise there are other supporters - and here is what one has to say! - Shirley

Opinion: why I still support the Lib Dems

By George Kendall | Published 14th December 2010 - 12:38 pm

Tuition fees is getting everyone talking. As you will see four articles have been forwarded today and David Walker commented as follows:

"I don't want to bore but I saw the article in yesterday's Independent on Sunday which confirms that the government was advised by it's own department that it may only get back one quarter the money expended on tuition fees.

During the debate on Tuition fees in the last few weeks a number of people have written anonymously to the website. There is little we can do to answer these comments but David Walker wrote on Wednesday before the debate to raise a number of concerns. The following correspondence shows the wide differences in the party at this time. It will only strengthen the party if these differences are aired and we welcome other comments for publication.

Former Education Secretary and founder of the SDP, Shirley Williams, talked about the Governments plans on the World at One on BBC Radio 4.

"Nick Clegg, Vince Cable and other Liberal Democrat ministers in the coalition government have battled tirelessly to make the system fairer. Part-time students are now included, and students earning less than £21,000 when they graduate will not pay at all. There will also be a scholarship scheme to help students from low-income families."

A by-election was held last week in the Ollersett Ward of New Mills Town Council brought about by the untimely death of by Liberal Democrat Councillor Glynn Jennings.

The results were:

• Huddlestone (Labour) 314

• Longden (Conservative) 137

• Spoilt Votes 3

• Total 454 votes cast

• Total electorate 3350 - Turnout 13.5%