A "Whitehall knows best" mentality has been blamed for the problems with the expansion plans at Broomfield hospital. Chelmsford Liberal Democrat Stephen Robinson has written to the local papers on these lines, following their coverage of the issue. The papers reported that building plans had been put on hold while the project was reviewed.
There has been much talk of the need to cut carbon emissions to reduce global warming. However, little thought has been given to what will happen when oil production starts to decline, let alone run out. At their AGM, Chelmsford Lib Dems heard a wide-ranging presentation on the topic, warning of world-wide economic decline. The presentation can be downloaded from the Chelmsford Lib Dem website.
Liberal Democrats on Folkestone Town Council have proposed additional spending for cleaner streets for Folkestone AND a Zero percent rise in Council Tax for next year. The proposal, which would have seen Council cash reserves rise more slowly in 2007-2008, was voted down by Councillors of all other groups.
Liberal Democrats have called for an urgent review of the county's floundering Supporting People programme. The Tory led County Council has been savaged by the Audit Commission in a hard hitting report.
The Conservative County Council had been heavily criticized by the Commission for Social Care Inspection for the poor quality of its adult social services. The officially rating is that Cambridgeshire is only serving "some" people well (a rating of only one star), and, damningly, that the prospects for improvement are "uncertain", for the second year in a row. No Council in the entire Country is now rated lower than Cambridgeshire for Adult Social Care.
A test will be established so schools for children with special needs are not closed unless better alternatives are available, the government says. Schools Minister Andrew Adonis said "strong guidance" would be issued to local authorities in England.
