Liberal Democrats Showed Council How They Could Have Saved Two Ealing Day Centres

Last night Ealing set its Council Tax. What might be reported will be the news that using government money Ealing Council is to again freeze the level of Council Tax for this coming year.

What the Labour party won't like being reminded of, is that they voted (as well as the Conservative party in Ealing) to shut two vital day centres - the Learning Curve and at Stirling Road.

The Liberal Democrat group proudly found money so we could save these two day centres as well as investing over £1 million pounds extra into our pavements and roads.

Stirling Road Day Centre

The other main plank of our amendment was that we earmarked monies to improve recycling rates, from the fines we eagerly anticipate from the worse than poor performance of Enterprise, the Council's rubbish and waste contractor.

When the voting took place we saw both the Conservative and Labour parties vote against our proposals to save the two day centres that provide so much good help to many vulnerable and disabled users. Shame on them. Hang your heads in shame.

This was the third year in a rows where the Liberal Democrat group put forward an official opposition budgetary motion. The Conservatives did not want, it seems, to spend the time doing this. It was commented that the Liberal Democrat group are the EFFECTIVE opposition to Labour. Too true!

The Liberal Democrat amendment was put forward by Councillor Andrew Steed and then I seconded the amendment. Later in the debate Councillor Jon Ball spoke about a constituent in Ealing Common who had fallen and injured herself twice due to the poor quality of pavements.

Learning Curve

So if you want to protect Day Centres clearly people need to vote Liberal Democrat. If you want to cause more problems for the many users of day centres then Labour is your party. It is about priorities. Ealing Council should protect our most vulnerable.

The American politician Bob Riley said: “In a time of tight budgets, difficult choices have to be made. We must make sure our very limited resources are spent on priorities.”

Councillor Leader, Julian Bell, in a Cabinet meeting about a month ago said [avoiding the closure of the two day centres] was “Nearly impossible”. The Liberal Democrats have shown it is more than possible.

The Liberal Democrat group state clearly that Labour-run Ealing Council needs to get their priorities right.

Mayor of London still allowing embassies to avoid the Congestion Charge

Hardworking Londoner, Caroline Pidgeon, says that soon every Londoner will be owed £10 by embassies that dodge the Congestion Charge.

How sad this is. Why have we a Mayor of London who is not fighting for Londoners.

The amount of unpaid Congestion Charge and penalty charge notices owed by embassies and diplomatic missions that evade paying the Congestion Charge now stands at £68 million according to new figures obtained from the Mayor by Caroline Pidgeon AM, leader of the Liberal Democrat  London Assembly Group.

Caroline Pidgeon

In answer to a recent written question the Mayor has admitted that in mid January the level of unpaid Congestion Charge stood at £67.5 million. By the 10th anniversary of the Congestion Charge (17th February) the level of unpaid Congestion Charge will be around £68 million. By the end of this year every Londoner will be owed £10 by embassies that continue to dodge paying the Congestion Charge.

Too many embassies are insulting their host city by evading a charge which everyone else - including even the Queen -  has to pay if they wish to drive in central London. The Congestion Charge brings benefits from reduced congestion and it also funds transport projects.

Under Boris the level of unpaid Congestion Charge has soared and soon each and every Londoner will be owed £10 by these embassies and diplomatic missions that dodge paying the charge.

It is time the Mayor of London showed some real leadership on this issue, instead of his frequent excuses.

Back in December 2009 the London Assembly called on Boris Johnson to write to every head of state which had an embassy in London that evaded the Congestion Charge. The Mayor should have then published online the responses he received.   Yet the Mayor rejected these proposals and instead has allowed the unpaid Congestion Charge bill to soar.

Boris, pull a finger out get back this money that the embassies should have paid us.

Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group proposes radical changes to Mayor’s budget

The Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group has presented a radical alternative to the Mayor’s draft budget, prioritising home building, creating new jobs and safeguarding London’s fire and police services.

The changes to the Mayor’s budget include plans to create a new £1.7 billion housing investment fund, to deliver a further 55,000 affordable homes and create 37,000 permanent jobs.  At the same time the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Members have shown how extra resources can be found to avoid the Mayor’s dangerous proposals to cut fire stations, police counters and the decimation of dedicated Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

Acton Fire Station

The Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group proposals are fully costed and will be delivered by reversing the Mayor’s 7 pence a week cut in the council tax precept, backed up by responsible prudential borrowing to fund the investment plans. The proposals also involve cutting out long standing waste and unnecessary expenditure, such as chauffeur driven cars for senior Met police officers.

These proposals are so necessary. The budget amendment addresses, head on, the current lack of investment in London’s economy and the chronic shortage of affordable homes. London needs more homes and more jobs and that is exactly what our proposals will deliver.

Liberal Democrats totally reject the Mayor’s proposals to make savage cuts to London’s fire and police service. The Mayor’s priority is to make a trivial cut in the council tax.  Our priority is the safety of Londoners.

Ever thought of becoming a Councillor?

I was asked to write a short piece for Ealing Council about elected councillors. Could you be one? You need an interest in your local community and a passion to get involved.

Becoming a councillor is an extension of what some people are already doing. For example, if they are already active in community work, a political party, trade union or school governing body. For others, it is a chance to ‘give something back’ to their community, because you have the opportunity to help shape local services and improve people’s lives.

WHAT DOES A COUNCILLOR DO?
Councillors represent the residents in their ward, as well as helping to set council policy, scrutinising its services and sitting on committees that make decisions on issues ranging from planning applications to licensing. In Ealing, a lot of councillors also hold down full-time jobs. The amount of time you spend on
your work will vary depending on the area you represent and any special duties you may take on. Councillors receive an allowance to recompense them for time and money spent on council business.

HOW DO I QUALIFY?
First of all, you have to have lived or worked in Ealing for at least a year and be aged 18 or over. You do not need any formal qualifications and, if elected, you will be given training and support. Candidates have to be a British citizen or from a member country of either the European Union or the Commonwealth.

Myself in the Town Hall office

QUESTIONS I WAS ASKED...

Why did you choose to be a councillor?
I was annoyed that writing complaint letters to organisations often leads nowhere. I wanted to ensure that fewer mistakes happened; and that, if problems existed, then, by being proactive, I could
help to solve them and help residents and businesses with their issues.

What about the work-life balance?
Being a councillor can take up a lot of hours but most meetings are in the evening and do not require you to miss time from your day job. The diary for council meetings is agreed once a year so it is relatively easy to schedule in your work or family life around being a councillor.

What are the worst and best bits?
The best thing is getting a ‘thank you’ from residents who you have helped. At a recent meeting I chaired in Chiswick, a lady who used a disability scooter thanked the three councillors for getting a number of dropped kerbs installed. Sometimes fixing a small issue can mean so much to many residents.

What tips would you give to others who are interested?
You do not have to be aligned to a political party, but you could speak to the different parties in Ealing to see which ones are more suited to your political and community views. You could even follow politicians using Twitter! My twitter handle is @CllrGaryMalcolm

What do your friends and family think?
Some of my friends are, sadly, not interested in politics. But when I tell them that their council tax bills
and street sweeping are all done by their local council they realise that politics is important.

If you are interested in being a councillor of finding out more then please feel free to tweet or email me at gary.malcolm@ealing.gov.uk

Visit Ealing Council's website to get more information at > www.ealing.gov.uk/councillors

Needlessly: More Day Centres to close in Ealing

Last night, Ealing's council's cabinet took a number of decisions. The first was the most crucial...

Again we saw the Labour, who speak of protecting the vulnerable, do not follow through with the correct actions. Check out the list of five priorities - nothing about helping our elderly and vulnerable residents.

Whether in difficult financial times or not, the Liberal Democrats have said that cuts should not be made to the vulnerable. In this opening remarks, the Leader of the Council, before closing the Learning Curve and Stirling Road day centres, he said it was: "almost impossible," [not to close the two day centres].

Almost impossible = It is possible to avoid closing them.

The car park costs about £5.5 million

And the Liberal Democrats have shown that by cancelling the build of a £5 million car park this would allow for the retention of the two day centres. There were options for altering the staffing at the two day centres and making some savings which would not affect the users. Those options sadly appear not to have been looked into as much as they should have.

Campaign to save Ealing's Day Centres

I asked the Leader of the Council about the choice between a car park or protecting the many disabled residents that use the two day centres. I think his expression gave away his thoughts.

The Liberal Democrat Group are "calling in" the decision so that it can be delayed or hopefully reversed. This is just two in a series of previous day centre closures that will affect, in a negative way, many residents lives.


Two other items were discussed at the meeting which may be interesting to read about >

• Ealing Cinema - Many of you will know that Empire have promised after getting planning permission to build a cinema on the opposite side of the road from Ealing Town Hall, but have not delivered. Ealing Council moved a step closer to ensuring that the site (owned by Empire) can be used to build a cinema by Land Securities. Although we may be some way off seeing Land Securities build a cinema, it may prompt Empire to do the decent thing?

• Promoting more recycling in Ealing - Coalition government's money is to be used to increase the recycling rate in Ealing. This will be done by encouraging more residents to recycling more kitchen waste. There will also be a scheem to give prizes to people or streets who are good recyclers. The details have not been agreed yet. I will update you as there is more news on this.

Political colours will show themselves when Ealing Council sets it tax

In about two months’ time Ealing Council will set its Council Tax. Although not confirmed yet, it appears that Ealing Council will agree to the Liberal Democrat proposal to take a Government grant to freeze its Council Tax for two years.

When a Council sets its Council Tax budget you can see where its priorities lie. Over the past year or two, we have seen Labour-run Ealing Council make decisions that will severely affect the most vulnerable including the elderly or infirm:

• Closure of day centres, cuts to Alzheimer’s and older peoples’ services, or reductions in grants to charities and the voluntary sector
• High increases in both the parking & visitor voucher CPZ prices (many carers will probably pass this extra cost onto those they care for).
• More recently Ealing Council announced plans to introduce a new local Council Tax Benefit scheme. This will mean that about 30,000 residents of our poorest residents will be expected to pay money they do not have and Ealing Council is already anticipating lower collection rates next year.

Councillor Gary Malcolm

Labour-run Ealing Council are quick to use the Government as an excuse for any cuts to services whilst still wasting money on their pet projects or not taking responsibility for poorly run services. This includes:

• Wasting £5.5 million on a car park that is not needed.
• Spending £40,000 on a new glossy publication when it already publishes Around Ealing.
• Not fining Enterprise for their, well below par, performance in cleaning our streets and collecting our waste and recyclables.

The Liberal Democrats know that in Ealing savings have to be made but the key is to always protect those who are the most vulnerable and the most in need.

Despite being in Government in a tough time, the Liberal Democrats have ensured that money is being spent in the right places. For example. the Pupil Premium has resulted in many schools in Ealing receiving extra funds to help the poorest children on free school meals. The amount allocated to schools in Ealing has increased to £8.7 million this year and will rise again next year.

The Liberal Democrats have also successfully fought to increase the income tax threshold to nearly £10,000 which means 10,450 of the poorest residents in Ealing no longer pay income tax, and 128,900 residents have benefitted almost £600 per year. Furthermore, thanks to the Lib Dems in Government, 3550 new apprenticeships have been created in Ealing since 2010.

We may not run Ealing Council, yet, but we are here to steer the current administration in a direction where resources are dedicated to those who need the most help.

Inflation busting fare rises are Boris Johnson’s New Year's gift to Londoners

Most of us recently got a few Christmas presents from our friends and relatives. But the present that Conservative Mayor of London, Boris, has given all Londoners is an Inflation busting fare rises are Boris Johnson’s New Year's gift to Londoners.

Thank you Boris.

I remember only a year ago when he pledged to bear down on transport fares. Words mean nothing. He has let Londoners down. Check out the interview he did where he made his pledge.

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, speaks for all Londoners when she said: "Under Boris Johnson the cheapest bus or tram fare - a single Oyster Pay As You Go fare - has soared from 90 pence to £1.40. While most people have seen hardly any improvements in their incomes the Mayor has imposed a staggering rise in the cost of just getting to work."

Caroline Pidgeon

She adds: “These latest fare rises will add to the financial problems facing many Londoners, especially those on low incomes who are already struggling with rising fuel bills.

“Of course investment has to be maintained in our transport infrastructure, but if the Mayor was really committed to meeting his election pledge to ‘bear down’ on fares he could have easily avoided such steep fare rises.

“If the Mayor simply stopped pouring public money into his vanity projects such as the Thames Cable Car he could ensure fare rises were capped at no more than inflation, as well as fund a one-hour bus ticket.”