Figures released by the County Council in January 2013 have revealed that there are just 1200 pre-school places across the entire county, despite a target requirement of 4000 by September 2014. Failure to recruit organisations to provide the places has already lead to the criteria having to be amended. This Tory failure is letting down parents trying to get back to work.
The Liberal Democrats have set out plans to introduce a trio of wealth taxes which will help to cut the deficit whilst ensuring fairness in our tax system.
Since the flooding last year the Environment Agency has been working with TRDC and local landlords at Scotsbridge to support the River Chess banks. TRDC has cleared the side channel of debris and vegetation and dog damage to the banks has been regularly repaired using sandbags. The EA's contract has now started, with the compound being set up this week, followed by tree management including removing low vegetation, some pollarding , some crown lifting and then the removal of material from the river. This de-silting is expected to finish by 17th February. Water levels will be reduced on completion. The material to be removed from the mill stream must be disposed of off-site as it is too rich in nutrients to be spread on adjacent farm land. This will mean about 20 lorry movements a day along Park Rd and Scots Mill Lane. Residents are asked not to park at the junction of Copthorne Rd & Park Rd while the work is underway to prevent access problems for lorries involved in the work. http://youtu.be/HgLO_rpaJFM
Last October and November Liberal Democrats campaigned strongly against the "unwise" plan by the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner. County Councillor Nick Hollinghurst who spoke twice at Council meetings at County Hall said "Apart from G4S's lamentable performance with Olympic Games security, we have to remember they are a large multi-national corporation. They run prisons, courts, police administration, prisoner transport and support services. It is unwise to hand over yet another part of Britain's criminal justice system to an international private business with, some say, already too great an influence in UK policing."
Thanks to Liberal Democrats in Government, from last week, 130,000 two-year olds from the poorest homes will be eligible for 15 hours of free childcare a week with a nursery or childminder.
On Wednesday 30 January at Watford Borough Council's meeting, the Liberal Democrat Elected Mayor of Watford, Dorothy Thornhill, proposed a council tax freeze for 2013/14, which the Council agreed.