http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Somerset Liberal Democrat Group en-GB Somerset Liberal Democrat Group http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 Somerset Liberal Democrat Group 2010-03-14T22:48+00:00 United Kingdom http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000074/tory_budget_makes_damaging_cuts_to_somersets_services.html The Liberal Democrats on Somerset County Council rejected the Tory administration's budget for 2010/11 at this week's Full Council meeting. They believe the cuts will seriously undermine the high quality services Somerset's residents have come to rely on. 2010-02-18T16:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000075/young_people_sold_short.html The new Tory administration at County Hall passed their first annual budget at yesterday's Full Council meeting. 2010-02-18T15:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000073/0_rise_in_council_tax_but_dont_take_away_our_free_lunches.html Somerset residents will be shocked to learn that the 'pain' the Tories claim everyone must share through this recession, doesn't extend to them giving up their free lunches. 2010-02-17T16:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000072/is_something_important_to_you_on_the_tories_nice_to_do_hit_list.html The Tories at County Hall signed off cut after cut at their Cabinet meeting this morning, arguing that there's no room for 'nice to do' things in this year's budget. The six cabinet members and Leader contributed nothing to the debate and asked no questions of the council's officers, instead answering all the points the Liberal Democrats raised with a chorus of 'It would be nice to do' but simply is not essential. In other words the following things were not a priority: 2010-02-03T16:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000071/somerset_tories_ditch_camerons_hug_a_hoodie_approach_to_young_people.html A few short months ago, Tory Leader David Cameron launched with a fanfare, the Conservative Party's new and softer approach to young people, under the slogan; "Hug a Hoodie". 2010-02-01T14:48+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000070/somerset_tories_slip_up_over_gritting_countys_icy_roads__get_a_grip_say_lib_dems.html During the recent cold spell, it was clear that Tory-led Somerset County Council was letting people down across the county as many roads went untreated. 2010-02-01T14:44+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000069/tories_cut_5m_spending_from_highways__putting_public_safety_at_risk.html Tories in control of Somerset County Council's budget for the coming year have withdrawn £5 million from the vital Highways Repair and Maintenance Programme and also Transport. This comes at a time when severe weather has hit us for the second year in a row and potholes in our roads have already doubled from where they were a year ago. Liberal Democrat councillors' fears were not allayed by promises to monitor the effect of the £5 million cut, on public safety. 2010-01-14T16:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000068/conservative_councillors_commitment_to_carbon_management_a_sham.html It was officially confirmed at the County Council's Scrutiny meeting this morning that no money would be found from the next year's budget to meet the carbon reductions the Tories voted for last year. 2010-01-14T16:00+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000067/county_hall_tories_empirebuild_while_cameron_warns_of_cuts_to_come.html Under a new proposal by Conservative-run Somerset County Council, the new Tory Cabinet will be taking £300,000 from vital services to help them do the job. 2009-11-25T12:03+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000066/anger_at_distortion_of_budget_facts.html Cllr Jill Shortland, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition on Somerset County Council, today attacked the ruling Tory group's attempt to mislead local people over the use of Somerset County Council's reserves. 2009-11-18T13:26+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000065/pcso_funding_cut_stays_on_the_table.html The Liberal Democrat group at County Hall once again challenged the Conservative administration to confirm or deny the proposed £129,000 cut in Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) funding during the next budget round. 2009-11-11T16:53+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000064/support_for_1010_climate_change_challenge.html A major nationwide campaign to unite every local authority in reducing carbon emissions by 10% in 2010 has received yet another supporter - Somerset County Council. 2009-11-11T16:51+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000063/local_democracy_shutting_down.html The decision has been taken to close down the Joint Area Committees (JACs) being piloted by Somerset County Council and South Somerset District Council. 2009-11-11T16:49+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000062/secrecy_at_county_hall.html Papers going to Somerset County Council's meeting on 11th November will deny the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative backbench councillors access to any information which the Leader and his cabinet would rather keep secret. 2009-11-09T12:13+00:00 http://www.somersetlibdems.org.uk/news/000061/lib_dem_renewable_energy_initiative_approved_by_new_tory_council.html In an amazing u-turn the new cabinet, whose members (by their own admission) had been anti-wind energy, agreed to go ahead with the Somerset Wind Energy initiative at this morning's Cabinet meeting. 2009-10-14T11:56+01:00