Still no overall control - 2008 results

Liberals and Conservatives each won a seat, Labour losing two. The number of Councillors in each party are now: Lib/Dems 20, Conservatives 16, Labour 4, Independents 2.

So what will happen next? Given the obvious animosity between the Lib/Dems and the Tories, a continuation of that coalition looks unlikely. Yet, the Council needs to take action in a number of important areas, so a minority administration would be unsatisfactory. There are'nt many options left !

Buses - a chink in the curtain

All councils make cuts, often well justified. Then occasionally a cut is made that unintentionally throws a searchlight on the thinking and attitudes of the Councillors who made it. In this case it is the Liberal/Conservative controlled council who have restricted the time when those entitled to free bus passes can use them.

It reflects badly on the Council and the way it thinks that the part subsidised by the Council should now be taken away.

The Budget
As Austin said in the House: "My right hon. Friend the Chancellor should be congratulated on a solid, sensible, workmanlike and utterly unexciting Budget, which was exactly what we wanted from him. We should warmly welcome what he has done for children and education.

There is a feeling in the Labour Party that more of the burden should be borne by the better off. Some facts about the inequalities in our society were produced last year by the TUC - they are reproduced here.

CPA Results for 2007
The Audit Commission judge North East Lincolnshire to be worth 2 Stars and "improving well", the same as last year. With 2 stars this leaves N E Lincs in the bottom 17% of councils. It must be rather disappointing, as there is an improved rating in several areas, Environment, Adult Social Care, and Benefits though Children and Young People remains at 2.

Local Elections - this is the time of the year when local politicians start to think about the elections due in May. They will be important, partly because there are no elections due next year, but mainly because the Council, now that the deal with Capita has fallen through, need to develop a new strategy to take us forward.

The Labour Party have our own priorities, and although they have only a minority position on the council, they will be pressing these vigorously in the next few months

Floods

Who would have expected a little river like the Freshney to cause so much damage.

Although the flood came in part of the area of Grimsby and Cleethorpes shown as at risk, it came from the overflowing river, not the sea. It is a warning of what could conceivably happen over a much wider area of Grimsby and Cleethorpes. And supposing there had been a very high tide?

For some pictures of the floods there click here.

Global Warming
Internationally, nationally and locally "global warming" or "climate change" will remain topical. For ongoing reports and comments click here.


Labour Government money for North East Lincs

Government money is pouring into N E Lincs. And a good thing too.

But now, in 2008, we have to ask ourselves: are we getting value for money? On the face of it the answer is "no", because according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation our position in the national list of deprived areas has gone down, not up. Our hope is that this is because it takes time to turn round problem areas, and we were late in making a start.

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Running into debt isn't so bad. It's running into creditors that hurts. .

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"We can pay our debt to the past by putting the future in debt to ourselves."
John Buchan
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After the government takes enough to balance the budget, the taxpayer has the job of budgeting the balance.
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Debt is the slavery of the free.
Credit card holder: member of the debt set.
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