High Peak Liberal Democrat Councillors voted to support a 3% increase in council tax. However, they are concerned that service level may not be maintained.

 

In recent months there have been serious concerns over refuse and recycling where there hasn't been the capacity to deliver. Properties have failed to be included in the Binnovation scheme as promised, replacement green boxs have not be maintained and bins and boxes have been missed on collection day. There is also increased concern from residents about street cleaning.

 

Speaking in the debate at the Budget setting Council meeting, Cllr Steve Sharp said ' I congratulate the council in keeping the annual council tax rise to below inflation. But it does seem strange that whilst complaining about the low grant from government, the Tories have set up a group to look whether to change the branding of the council, its logo and signage, and have already appointed a PR consultant.'

 

High Peak Lib Dem Leader, David Lomax also supported the increase but challenged the Council to set meaningful targets for the coming years. Cllr Lomax said 'The corporate plan that has been passed on recycling rates less than we are currently achieving, and in other targets, less than we achieved over the last three years.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school pupils from Chapel-en-le-Frith spoke their minds on High Peak issues when Councillor and PPC Steve Sharp came to visit.

 

Steve met with two groups of children with the aim of bringing awareness of democracy and the workings of the council to young people.

 

Teacher Mrs Angela Timothy arranged for the Steve to go along for a full afternoon to chat informally with the children. Steve who has two teenage children wanted to listen to young people's views around the area. Steve said "The whole afternoon was a real pleasure. The input from the children was most interesting and covered a very wide range of topics. However two constant themes were the lack of faclities across the High Peak for young people and the total lack of public transport to get them around."

 

Steve's view is the sheer lunacy of past privatisation of public transport  by the Tories is the root cause of these problems and talked about the extremley high cost of transport fares. "There are no proper services between Buxton, Glossop and New Mills which is compounded by the lack of frequency of buses." Steve adds " The pupils also spoke out of the poor state of the swimming and leisure facilities and felt they were very poor, expensive and much better in Stockport and Hyde."

 

The session was finished off by looking at the electoral system, the suffragette movement and why the voting age is set at 18. Steve is very much in favour of reducing the age to 16. "It is inherently wrong that someone can leave school, go to work and pay tax, or at 17 be in the armed forces and posted to a theatre, but in both cases denied the vote," said Steve.

 

"This is absolute hypocrisy and is the same as taxation without representation. If the government won't bring the voting age in line with modern life, then youngsters should not serve in conflict zones until they are 18 and those choosing to be paid without any tax or national insurance deductions.

 

 

 

 

  

On 29 May 2007 Whaley Bridge Liberal Democrat Councillors Linda Leather and David Lomax expressed their deep regret and surprise at the sudden transfer of Whaley Bridge's beat officer to other duties.

 

Councillor Leather commented "Over the past two years we have become used to seeing our beat officer around. He has helped reduce the fear of crime in the town. He has always been very approachable and responsive to issues within the town."

 

Councillor Lomax added "Having someone who knows the local area, it's residents and where problems are likely to occur has certainly made a difference. Summer months often lead to incidents of minor vandlism. Over the past two years we have a reduction in these incidents."

 

High Peak Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Steve Sharp said " Whilst crime within the High Peak is low compared to other areas of the country, it is important that the police and local community work together. Liberal Democrats nationally having been running the 'We can cut crime campaign' Shadow Home Secretary Nick Clegg has been fronting this excellent policy and he has been well received across the country, it's a pity Whaley Bridge is in effect being stopped from joining in by the removal of their local beat officer."