Taking "Local" out of Local Government
Tory Plan to Scrap Councils
Faced with a £54 million shortfall by 2020, Conservatives at County Hall want to scrap all Borough and District Councils in Nottinghamshire to create one "Super-Council" run from West Bridgford. Savings of £20-£30 million are promised to answer the County Council's financial woes. However County Durham, which went Unitary in 2009 and cut 2700 jobs, still has to make £39 million of cuts. It is a similar story for Cornwall and Wiltshire Unitary Councils.
Never Ending Austerity
The real problem facing the County Council is continued Government funding cuts. By 2020, 60p in every £1 will have been stripped out of funds to Local Councils. With less money, the Super-Council will still have to clear up any financial mess inherited from the old County Council. The Conservatives are also ignoring the up front reorganisation costs which will be at least £18 million.
Keep It Local
Liberal Democrats believe decisions involving planning and development, caring for the environment and provision of leisure facilities are best made by Councillors who know and understand the local communities. Conservatives used to argue the same. Not any more.
Put on Ice
Faced with opposition from most of the District Councils, the plans have been shelved for the time being. however to whole excercise has cost £250,000. that could have filled quite a lot of potholes!
Local Election Results May 2023
A spectacular set of elections both nationally and locally here in Newark and Sherwood!
Overall Lib Dem gains were 405 nationally, which posed a problem for Sky News, whose swingometer apparently was not able to contemplate a set of gains of this magnitude. We exceeded 'Exceeded Expectations'!
Our local gains at the district level saw the addition of our third District Councillor with the victory of Keith Melton in Trent Ward. We also kept 2 of 3 councillors for Southwell, now Karen Roberts and Peter Harris. We were encouraged to see the increase in our share of votes in other seats where we were able to field candidtes. Congratulations to everyone.
We had a very good performance in Southwell Town Council, gaining 10 of the 14 seats for which there were candidates, with 6 of these won in elections and 4 being uncontested. Two Conservatives, one Labour candidate and one Independent were also successful. One place on the council remains to be appointed to.
The Conservatives had a terrible set of district and parish elections, losing about half of their district councillors and many PCs. The final DC result was Conservative 14, Labour 11, Independents 11 (8 for Independents for Newark and 3 for other Independents) and Lib Dems 3. Discussions will take place for some time on the composition of the new administration, which is unlikely to include Conservatives for the first time since 2007.
On behalf of the executive, we are extremely grateful to everyone who stood as candidates, as well as everyone who performed the various roles which were necessary for the campaigns. We are a small party and many of you worked very hard.
We are very grateful for their past work to councillors who have stood down at this election, including Peter Scorer and Stuart Thompstone. Malcolm Brock has stood down from the District, though continues to serve on Southwell TC.
We welcome new members to the party, who were motivated by this campaign. This phenomenon was particularly marked in Trent Ward. Upton support has to be singled out, evidenced for anyone who drove through, by the huge number of LD stakeboards and posters.
Philip Barron
Chair, Newark Liberal Democrats
7 May 2023