The Conservative on Essex Country Council today voted through a pay rise for over 27 of their own Councillors. They rejected a Liberal Democrat amendment that would have instead reduced special responsibility allowances - recommendations which had been made by an independent and impartial panel.
This is an extract from Tim Farron's speech to the Liberal Democrats' annual conference in Bournemouth this September and talks about his visit to the refugee camp in Calais - for the full speech go to http://www.libdems.org.uk/autumn-conference-2015-tim-farron
Advice published by Committee on Climate Change says current targets must be met even if the UK leaves the European Union. Britain should aim to cut its carbon dioxide output by about half by 2030, whether there is an exit from the European Union or not, according to advice published on Tuesday by the Committee on Climate Change.
There was sad news on Facebook this morning.
There was sad news on Facebook this morning.
Changes to Business rates welcomed by Lib Dem Leader Cllr Mike Bell Yesterday's announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the Government intends to give local councils control of business rates has been welcomed by a local councillor. Currently, councils collect the tax and send the funds to the Treasury, which then redistributes them. Since 2013 local councils have been able to keep around half the business rates collected. George Osborne has now announced that from 2020, the Government will return business rates in full to local authorities. In 2015-2016, North Somerset Council expects to collect around £57 million in business rates from local firms. The Government will return just £28 million of that to support local services. Councillor Mike Bell, the Liberal Democrat Leader on North Somerset Council, said: "Councils and businesses both agree that business rates should be a local tax set by local areas. It is right that all of the money which a business pays in local rates is retained by loca