Liberal Democrats on North Yorkshire County Council have announced their intention to “call-in” the Council’s decision to freeze the level of the school clothing allowance at £60 a year. This means that the decision will be sent back to a committee to be looked at again.

The Executive Members of the Conservative-run Council decided last week not to increase the support to less well-off families in line with inflation, but to extend the scope of the allowance to include children whose parents are in receipt of the highest rate of Working Tax Credit.Liberal Democrats feel that this will increase financial pressure on poorer families.

County Councillor Caroline Seymour, from Stokesley, said“In reality this is a reduction in support for disadvantaged families. Around 700 families in North Yorkshire will be affected. It is quite wrong to do this at a time when heating and food bills are increasing faster than normal.”

”It is typical Tory penny-pinching which will hit less well-off families.”“Whilst we welcome the extension of the scheme to families receiving the maximum level of Working Tax Credit, we feel that the rate should be increased in line with inflation. We have a duty to call-in this decision and ask the Council to reconsider its policy.”

County Councillor Mark Wheeler, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Group at County Hall, said:“The Tories have just used inflation as a justification for raising the charges for home to school transport. Yet they seem to think it doesn’t apply to those people who will be hardest hit by a similar rise in the cost of living.”

 A liberal Democrat colleague of mine Richard Ormerod has launched a campaign to win the freedom of the city of Durham for a local singer songwriter. Paddy McAloon was the highly talented creative force behind Prefab Sprout. Their second album “Steve McQueen” was one of the classic albums of the eighties. Paddy was one of the most gifted songwriters of his generation, and the 1st 3 albums were an ever present background to my time in London. I was lucky to see the band live and “When love breaks down” is one of my favourite tracks of any band. To support Richards campaign please email him at freedom4paddy@hotmail.co.uk

Liberal Democrats at North Yorkshire County Council are asking the ruling Conservatives to look at what Essex County Council are doing to try to save Post Offices.

This is an interesting proposal and merits further investigation particularly where the affected local communities across North Yorkshire are showing a commitment to supporting their local Post Office. 

Mark says “It cannot be an open cheque book but the County Council needs to liaise with Parish  Councils (who can levy a rate) and District Councils to see whether individual communities should receive support. The County Council for instance has mobile library services serving communities across the County area already.

We do know that some of the Post Offices proposed for closure are viable and that axing them is just to meet the arbitary 2500 closures that the Government have imposed on Post Office”.

1.The County Council through its Scrutiny Committees is currently reviewing its winter gritting service. Are you satisfied that the trouble-spots in your parish are not overlooked? Can we improve this service? Are there areas that are gritted that we do not need to do? Please send your views to me.

2. How easy is it to get hold of County Council Departments. Is our switchboard working? Do you get the correct information from our switchboard? If you have any issues with this service please advise me and I will forward your views to the scrutiny committee reviewing this service.