It has now been admitted by the Tories running Mid Sussex District Council that they paid the Chief Executive a secret bonus of £24,000 in 2007/8. Last week they set up a committee to meet in secret to decide his pay and bonus for last year, this year and future years.
Local Liberal Democrat councillor, Simon Hicks has backed calls on Gordon Brown to suspend the Government's unrealistic regional housing targets, and instead to give local councils the power to decide what is best for their own communities. Simon says: "Labour's proposals are based on a 'predict and provide' assessment that bears no relation to current economic circumstances or employment prospects."
Gordon Brown's management of the British economy has been a disaster, his time as Chancellor of the Exchequer sowed the seeds of the recession, light touch regulation of the banks and the building up Government debt even before the current recession. The banks continue to be let off the hook and measures to combat the recession have been half hearted - with government finances wasted on VAT cuts rather than real measures to help the economy.
A recently published blueprint for the Liberal Democrat manifesto entitled 'Why Vote Liberal Democrat' makes a compelling case for supporting the party in the General Election. And it's a great read for anyone interested in politics - party members and floating voters alike.
Lib Dem campaigners have warmly welcomed the decision today to establish the South Downs National Park and the inclusion of Lewes and Ditchling within the boundaries.
Local Liberal Democrats are urging local MPs Norman Baker and Nicholas Soames to be in Parliament on March 20th to give their support to a new parliamentary bill that will help cut energy bills for the poorest families and across the country could help save the lives of up to 20,000 pensioners a year.
Local Liberal Democrats have launched a public campaign to stop Mid Sussex District Council's proposed massive rises in local car parking charges. The campaign has its own website with an online petition and posters, car stickers and a paper petition to download.
Liberal Democrats, Irene Balls and Claudette Furminger romped home in the Bentswood by-elections to hold the seats left vacant by the death of popular Lib Dem councillor Trevor Fisher. The Tories were a poor third, showing that local people no longer trust them with the running of the local councils.
Local people have been stunned and outraged by plans for massive increases to parking charges in Burgess Hill, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath. The Conservatives running Mid Sussex District Council are planning to put car park charges up by 150% in next month's budget. This is being strongly opposed by Lib Dem councillors and campaigners.
Government plans to force 17,100 new houses on Mid Sussex District Council could cost £1 billion in infrastructure costs to pay for new roads, sewage systems, schools and community facilities. Yet at the same time the number of housing starts this year in the UK is set to be the lowest since 1924 and with the decline in house prices, the dependence on developers to contribute for new infrastructure may not be forthcoming.
With thousands of new houses planned for Mid Sussex it is even more important that valuable green spaces are saved from development and the "strategic gap" between towns like Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath are protected. A recent Liberal Democrat led debate in Parliament raised this very point, and MP's were shocked to hear the Labour Communities Minster Iain Wright describe the principle, that brown field (previously used) land should be built on before green belt, as "rigid and old-fashioned" which clearly puts established principles of saving protected areas from development at risk.
Mid Sussex is traditionally a low unemployment area but in the current recession nothing is guaranteed, and now it has been reported the area is in the highest category of risk for job losses outside London according to an article in the Local Government Association which describes the area's employment status as "highly vulnerable".
