Monthly Archives: March 2011

Liberal Democrats deliver 700 signature petition against library closures

Posted on March 29, 2011 | Leave a comment

Liberal Democrat councillors today delivered a petition to Brent Council town hall bosses against the proposed closure of 6 of the borough’s libraries.

Over 700 people have signed the Liberal Democrat Petition opposing the closures, one of the most controversial decisions the Labour Administration has made since coming to power in May 2010.

In February the Liberal Democrats revealed plans for their alternative budget proposals will made savings across the Council and allowed them to reverse the £408,000 cut to library funding proposed by the Labour Administration – meaning all 6 libraries under threat of closure could have been saved. Sadly however, Labour councillors voted against the proposal.

The Liberal Democrat want to see libraries funded next year, in order to give residents, community groups and the council more time to come up with alternative proposals for helping to keep libraries open into the future. Liberal Democrats believe that Brent Council hasn’t given people enough time to produce realistic business cases to save local libraries.

Speaking about the petition, Cllr Paul Lorber said,

“It’s clear from the number of residents who’ve signed the petition that they’re very angry and upset about Labour’s proposals to close libraries. The Liberal Democrats came up with costed proposals to save the libraries, but they were voted down by Labour Councillors.

Brent Council needs to concentrate on making savings on the £1 million plus of head office costs rather than on closing libraries. Libraries need to become more community based and not to have to pick up massive central overheads. Efficiencies and not closures should be the approach.

Although top Labour councillors are trying to assure everyone that no decisions have been made, it’s looking increasingly likely that Labour have made up their minds to close libraries. It’s just an outrage. Labour need to take a long hard look at how many people have signed this petition and others and reconsider their plans to close libraries.”

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Posted in Campaigns, Labour Failure, Liberal Democrats, Libraries

Libdem Leader running to Save Barham Library!

Posted on March 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Paul Lorber, is once again dusting off his running shoes to raise money for Friends of Barham Library – the local community group campaigning to Save Barham Library from closure .

The run will take place at the end of May to celebrate the 59th Anniversary of the opening of Barham Library. Councillor Paul Lorber and the other supporters of Barham Library are determined to ensure that the Library survives to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee on 31 May 2012 and beyond.

Barham Library is one of the 6 libraries currently under threat of closure by Labour councillors at Brent Council.

Cllr Lorber is encouraging other local residents to also help raise money through sponsorship and to join him in the fun run and walk in Barham Park in May.

Barham Library is the only one of Brent’s Libraries situated in a park. The park was gifted to Wembley Council (predecessor of current Brent Council) by Titus Barham for the “benefit and enjoyment” of local people in 1933. The library itself was opened to the public on 31 May 1952 and is situated in the beautiful former Crabbs House, which was part of the Barham family residence.

“Barham Park is a very beautiful local park and the library and park complement each other in providing a great deal of pleasure to local people. Local people want their library retained and are getting together to help to save it. I am hoping that with the generosity of people willing to sponsor me we will go some way towards raising money to Save Barham Library!” says Councillor Paul Lorber.

Further information is also available on the Friends of Barham Library Website – www.barhamlibrary.wordpress.com

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Posted in Liberal Democrats, Libraries, Sport

Budget tax cut from front page of Lib Dem manifesto

Posted on March 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

Brent Liberal Democrat Spokesman for Finance, Cllr Javaid Ashraf today welcomed the budget, which delivers the key Liberal Democrat manifesto commitment of cutting taxes for those on low and middle incomes and raising the poorest workers out of paying Income Tax altogether.

Liberal Democrats welcomed the news that due to changes in the national tax system more residents on top of the 2700 of Brent’s poorest residents already lifted out of the personal income tax band, will not pay any income tax at all as of April 2012 – this was a key Liberal Democrat manifesto pledge. In total 1.1million people will have been taken out of income tax as of April 2012.

The Coalition Government also announced a further £2 billion investment in to the Green Investment Bank, an increase from the £1 billion initial capitalisation from last year, increasing the total Green Investment Bank budget to £3bn.

There will also be a minimum price for carbon – moves designed to boost a UK green energy expansion.

Speaking about the budget Brent Liberal Democrat Spokesman for Finance, Cllr Javaid Ashraf said

“Today’s Budget goes some distance to helping people make ends meet. By cutting Income Tax for people on low and middle incomes, a policy so important to Liberal Democrats we put it on the front page of our manifesto, over a million of the lowest earners, many of whom are women and part time workers, will be lifted out of paying any Income Tax altogether.

The great news about the extra money for the Green Bank, hopefully this will start to boost an expansion of the UK’s green energy sector over the next few years. Liberal Democrats are making a key difference to the environment and the poorest in our communities.

As ever Labour seem to repeat the same tired phrases, but haven’t offered any real alternative. The fact is, they have nothing to offer.”

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Posted in Community, Finance, Government

Give us back our bus stop, say Liberal Democrats

Posted on March 18, 2011 | Leave a comment

Liberal Democrats in Sudbury Ward today called on Brent Council and Transport for London to finally sort out the long running saga of the moving bus stop of Watford Road.

Liberal Democrat Councillors have been campaigning on behalf of a number of residents in Watford Road, Sudbury since summer 2010 who are angry that TfL moved a bus stop without any consultation.  The bus stop, which used to be outside the parade of shops in Sudbury Town for many years, was temporarily moved without warning to outside number 60 Watford Road – and then removed completely!

Last September, Liberal Democrat Councillors for the area, Cllr Paul Lorber and Cllr Chandubhai Patel, called on London Buses to take action to resolve the problem and move the bus stop back to its original locations familiar to local people.

Brent Council are now consulting on the ‘Sudbury and Harrow Road Urban Realm Scheme’ which has the potential to redesign the road layout in order to move the stop back. This will require moving the zebra crossing a few metres.

Speaking about the bus stop, Cllr Chandbuhai Patel, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Sudbury, said,

“This has been going on for nearly a year now, with TfL and Brent Council just ignoring our calls to sort it out. Local people have been unnecessarily inconvenienced by this and I see no reason why the bus stop shouldn’t be reinstated in its original location which has served local people fine for many years.”

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Posted in Community, Mayor of London, Transport

Stop dithering and say no to Olympic tickets!

Posted on March 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

Brent’s Liberal Democrat Councillors today called on the Labour Administration in Brent to stop dithering and say no to the offer of using tax payer’s money to buy Olympic tickets for Councillors and Council staff.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) put tickets for the events on sale to the general public on Tuesday (15th March), but not before reserving £50,000 worth of the tickets for the capital’s 33 local councils. This means that councils are able to buy tickets for events including the opening and closing ceremonies, costing £995 each.

Labour-run Brent Council has received the letter from LOCOG offering the tickets but “are still considering what to do”.

Early this week organisers of the games faced calls from the London Assembly to publish a record of all seats reserved for officials, politicians and VIPs, amid fears that thousands were being set aside and would not be available to the public.

So far more than 10 councils have rejected LOCOG’s offer to buy up to 100 special tickets. Liberal Democrats in Brent are saying it is a “no brainer” to turn them down, especially at a time when the Council is making cuts to services.

Liberal Democrat Councillor, Jack Beck, said:

“The fact is this is a no brainer. I can’t see what the Labour Administration has to think about. They should just do the right thing and say no thanks. Using public money to buy tickets for councillors is just ridiculous. The tax payers of Brent have already paid for the games through their taxes, it’s just mad to expect them to pay for councillors and town hall chiefs to attend the games too!  ”

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Posted in Finance, Labour Failure, Sport

“Read In” planned to protest about closure of Barham Library

Posted on March 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

Liberal Democrat Councillors for Sudbury, Paul Lorber and Chandubhai Patel, are organising a “day of action” at their local library – Barham Library – so local residents and book lovers can protest about it’s possible closure.

The “Read In” will take place on Saturday 19th March from 11am and Cllrs Lorber and Patel are encouraging anyone who cares about their local library to come along and see what services it offers and help to protest about its closure.

There will also be other activities during the day – a quiz and a Bring and Buy Sale for example. Residents are urged to bring items such as books, CD, DVDs and Computer Games for the sale, either on the day or to contact Cllr Lorber (cllr.paul.lorber@brent.gov.uk) to arrange collection.

Barham Library is situated in a Council owned building donated to Brent by Titus Barham in 1933 when the original Wembley Town Council was formed. Local residents have fought off two attempts to close the library in the last 10 years but according to Councillor Paul Lorber the latest Labour Executive closure plans represent the toughest battle yet.

The Liberal Democrat proposals to save the library, paid for by slashing the number of senior officers and council red tape, were rejected by Labour councillors in February who voted against the proposals.

Encouraging residents to the meeting, Cllr Paul Lorber, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Sudbury said,

“This is an opportunity for local residents to come and see what their local library has to offer. It’s also a chance for residents to show the Labour councillors who voted down our plan to save the library, just how much it means to them.

The Liberal Democrats put proposals which would have seen the library funded for next year, allowing enough time for proposals to be developed for its future, but sadly it was rejected by the Labour-run Council. It seems they are intent on closing Barham come what may; this is a chance for local people to show the Council how much they care about their much loved local library.”

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Posted in Campaigns, Community, Liberal Democrats, Libraries