Portsmouth City Council heard today the findings of an independent panel which examined Portsmouth Councillors allowances. Lib Dem Councillors refused to accept the rises they were recommended to receive, but Conservatives and Labour leaders argued that they should receive much more tax payers money than the panel recommended.
I visited the Council's Brunel Road depot this week, and chatted to some of the Direct Works staff about the work they are doing to help keep our roads as safe as possible for all users during the cold, icy weather.
Please sign our petition calling on the County to ensure that roads and pavements remain safe for local people
Local MP Tim Farron is lobbying government on behalf of Lakes Parish Council and is calling on the government to remove business rates from parish councils who look after public conveniences. Tim's lobbying comes after Lakes Parish Council met him to discuss their concerns about the current scheme. Currently business rates on the public conveniences in the parish will be £10,500, which is a sixth of their budget. Tim wants the government to agree that parish councils do not have to pay business rates for providing a public service. Tim is now taking up the matter with government ministers. Tim said: "Business rateable value is normally based on the rentable value of a property but a public convenience is not a business! It is a service provided by a community for the public good - taxing them for providing that service is wrong and must end. I'll continue to press and lobby the government to end this unfair tax on parish councils and communities."
South Lakes MP Tim Farron has thanked local residents for their 'overwhelming' support for the campaign to bring Accident & Emergency services back to Westmorland General Hospital. Over 2000 local residents have signed the petition in the last two weeks.
Cllr Tim Hill has been campaigning to change the name of his ward from Elstow, to Elstow and Stewartby to better represent his residents. Please see the letter below for the latest update: