Join the drive and register to vote today

Bath & North East Somerset Council wants to encourage anyone not yet registered to vote, to take advantage of National Voter Registration Drive next week (1 to 7 February 2016) and go online now to register. The good news is that it only takes a few minutes to register online atwww.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

On Thursday 10 March 2016 voters in Bath and North East Somerset will go to the polls to vote on a referendum to decide whether Bath & North East Somerset Council should have a directly elected Mayor and Cabinet or whether it should keep the current system of Leader and Cabinet.

Later in the year, on Thursday 5 May 2016, voters will go to the polls to elect a Police and Crime Commissioner for the Avon and Somerset Police Area. 

Anyone who isn’t registered to vote won’t be able to take part and have their say. National Voter Registration Drive exists because it’s important that anyone who’s eligible, but has not yet registered to vote, does so. It’s a chance to join the thousands of people across the UK being encouraged to register next week.

Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive and Electoral Registration Officer, for Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “Anyone not yet registered to vote should do so as soon as possible so they can have their say on issues that affect their day-to-day lives. I’d urge people living in Bath and North East Somerset to use National Voter Registration Drive to spread the message amongst family and friends that it only takes a few minutes to register online.”

Going online is the quickest and easiest way to ensure that you’re registered to vote, but you can also request a form  to be posted to you by calling 01225 477333.

Bathnes Council Tax rise cause for concern

Residents are to be hit with a financial double whammy in the coming financial year, according to Lib Dems in B&NES. The Conservative-run Council has today confirmed that local Council Tax will be raised by a total of 3.25%. However Lib Dems are warning that this will not meet the budget gap and that cuts to public services and increases in fees and charges are to be expected.

Lib Dem Group Leader Dine Romero (Southdown) said:

“This budget announcement is short on detail and long on passing the buck. What is particularly concerning is that the Cabinet appears to be looking at only the next financial year. The next four years will see over £40 million of cuts to Council budgets and the Conservatives have been very secretive about where these will fall. Residents will have to expect cuts and changes to public services plus increases in fees and charges, on top of an annual Council Tax hike.” 

“This clearly shows the difference between the coalition government, which protected residents from Council Tax rises, and an unfettered Conservative government which has the knives out for local government.”

Councillor Andy Furse (Kingsmead, Lib Dem) is Lib Dem spokesperson on the budget. Andy commented:

“The 2% so-called ‘precept’ for social care is a Council Tax increase in disguise. When added to the 1.25% general Council Tax increase announced today, the total is a 3.25% rise in the coming financial year. This will come as a nasty surprise to local residents – many of whom will not be receiving any pay increase – after rates were frozen for 4 years under the Liberal Democrats. ”

“Liberal Democrats in B&NES recognise that our social care system is under a lot of pressure and that the added flexibility to draw in more funding is hard for Councils to refuse. Nevertheless, it cannot be left solely to local taxpayers to fix our chronically underfunded care system. This is a government sleight of hand to offload an expensive responsibility.”

Twerton Summer Focus

I am pleased to be able to produce online the latest Twerton Focus newsletter that will soon be dropping through local doors

Not got yours yet you soon will have.

Tory attacks are they now worried ?

It was interesting somewhat to be attacked on Twitter by a couple of Tories last night about the Lib Dem fightback.

It is always the case that when we get down to work other parties become concerned. In Twerton ward we have been working hard since the election and have spoken to over 600 households since the last election many openly telling us that they regret not voting Lib Dem at the last election but will be next time.

I take comfort that this is clearly getting through to the Tories and the more they move the austerity agenda the more people will reject them and turn to the only party willing to stand up to them.

Many questions have been asked internally within the Liberal Democrats in Bath as to why we fared so badly in both the General election and the local elections.

These questions are being answered and we know exactly what happened and are putting mechanisms in place to address these issues.

The one shinning light that happened is that we gained a seat from the conservatives in Bathavon North and gained a council seat in Lambridge.

We also hold key activists and campaigners in many wards who are also working hard in their communities to help residents affected the Conservative Austerity measures.

The last majority Conservative government introduced the Poll tax that hit the poor hard as will the austerity measures that are now being put in Place. The Tories lost Bath to the Liberal Democrats then, so my message to our new MP is don't get too comfortable.

The Liberal Democrats wont be coming into the next election complacent and we will have a very strong team of candidates for the Local elections in 2019 led by a very strong Parliamentary candidate.

I wonder if this article will be attacked or criticised by the Tories if it is then it just shows how complacent they have become in just a short period of time.
 

New Bus Service 16

A new bus service will soon be in place that will run from Bath Spa University picking up students from the new Twerton Mill accommodation on the Lower Bristol Road then picking up at stops along Lower Bristol Road and then back towards Bath Spa University on the Newbridge Road.

I am pleased that this service has been introduced as it will ease pressure on our local bus services and even give a few of us non students who can also use the bus a pleasurable trip to the Globe for lunch.

I asked that the bus service was provided during the planning process and its good to know that I have been listened to.

The new Bus will be number 16  and run every 30 minutes Monday to Friday in term time only.

Trauma recovery centre Bath

I was pleased to be able to visit the Trauma recovery centre at Freedom House on Thursday and to be able to learn of the work that is being carried out there.

My initial reason for the visit was to look at a proposed planning application for a new modern building at the rear of Freedom House on the Lower Bristol Road that would expand the unit for the vulnerable children that are receiving help there.

Another reason for the application is that it would also provide a new religious building that would be used for worship on a Sunday.

Any way back to my reasons for this entry.

I was really astounded at the work that is carried out at the unit of the trauma recovery centre that deal with young Children through to young Adults that are going for a crisis in their life's that is caused by traumatic events.

This unit is on the edges of Twerton and this work is a welcome addition to our community.

Instead of my harping on how good that they seem to be it would be better if they told their own story and here is a link to their website so you can see what they say about themselves.

http://www.trc-uk.org