Essex County Council has announced plans to sell off its residential children's care homes to private companies or voluntary groups. Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes told the BBC, "The county council, legally and morally, has responsibility for these children. There are issues that need to be addressed but it must be done on the basis of what is in the best interests of the children." Full story on BBC website.
To write down your own memories of Tom Smith-Hughes, to be passed to the family, please go to this page. For what people have written on that page see here.
Brentwood & Ongar Liberal Democrats were deeply sad to hear that Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Leader of the Lib Dem group on Essex County Council had passed away this morning after a long illness.
On Tuesday 17th April, I spoke at Shepway Council's Development Control Committee on behalf of Sandgate Parish Council against a proposed new development at 15 Radnor Cliff, Sandgate. I'm delighted to say that the Development Control Committee listened to me and the other speakers against the development (local resident Joanna Ames and District Councillor Robert Bliss) and voted against the development by 11 votes to 2.
Chelmsford Liberal Democrats are deeply saddened to announce the death of Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, after a long and brave battle against cancer.
Nick Clegg announced this week that agreements have been secured with the big six energy companies that could cut energy bills for millions of people. The commitments will mean that EDF, E.On, Br...itish Gas, Southern, Scottish Power and Npower - who supply 99 per cent of British homes with energy - will now write to customers every year to specifically tell them what the best tariff is for them and how to get it. Many people are currently paying far more than they have to. Some vulnerable customers - those assisted by the Warm Home Discount scheme - will be contacted twice a year. Customers will also be offered the best tariff if their contract comes to an end and if they contact their supplier at any time to ask. There are more than 120 different tariffs. Currently, seven out of 10 people aren't on the best tariff for them. The average customer tends to stay on theirs for years, despite the amount of energy they use varying over time. In 2010, 75 per cent of people did not change their tariff. The governm