at the Spring Conference, I outlined my vision for Britain's future. As we mourn the lives lost, sacrifices made and opportunities missed during the Covid-19 pandemic, the British people need to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
An Inquiry into Covid-19
In my speech, I called on Boris Johnson to set up the independent inquiry he promised me in the House of Commons last June. No more excuses. No more delays. The British people deserve answers.
A recent report about potholes in England reveals Derbyshire County Council as the third highest area for the most potholes reported or identified by the local authority. Despite this Council funding for road maintenance in Derbyshire is being cut by 24% this year - that's £7.7Million less.
A catalogue of neglect and poor performance - that is how Lib Dems describe the state of roads in Chesterfield. Too many roads in our town are beginning to resemble the surface of the moon, due to poor quality repairs coupled with the increasing spread of potholes
Lib Dem Cllrs oppose the Labour Council's imposition of an above inflation, nearly 3% Council Tax hike, that will take another £150,000 from the pockets of hard-pressed Chesterfield residents.
Cllr Paul Holmes said, "Under Labour, Borough Council debt is soaring, and future financial deficits are not being dealt with. Constantly borrowing more money just increases interest payments. Constantly hiring more staff, such as the Council Leaders Executive Assistant, increases the salary bill and more than offsets savings supposedly to be made from voluntary redundancies."
Long before Covid hit, High Streets everywhere have been struggling, due to out-of-town competition and the rise of internet shopping. Currently over 45% of all shopping is being done online. The Council taking full ownership of the Pavements at this time is therefore not only expensive but very challenging to say the least.
Lib Dem Councillor Tom Snowdon says that "despite the climate emergency, Chesterfield Borough Council has yet to take decisive action to raise the current low levels of recycling of the household waste they collect from across the town. Because of this they have failed to reach their own target"
"The Chesterfield Borough Council website states that "Our target is to recycle 50 per cent of the waste collected by 2020."
The redevelopment of the area around and between the Railway Station and the Town Centre is badly needed. It can create employment and provide a more welcoming face to those arriving in Chesterfield.
At Cabinet and at Full Council I have made the point that we need proposals which are not dependent upon the uncertain Government plans to go ahead with HS2. Even calling it the HS2 Station Master Plan is in danger of creating a false sense of failure should the Government scrap their plans for the Eastern leg of HS2.
Happy Chinese New year to all our Members and Friends
Happy Chinese New Year as February 12th 2021 starts the year of the Ox - the second of the 12-year cycle of animals in Chinese astrology that lasts until 30th January 2022.
Chinese New Year is also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, and is China's most important festival.
Ed Davey welcomes the decision to review the planning permission of a new coal mine in Cumbria
The Liberal Democrats have long called for a rethink on plans on for a new coal mine in Cumbria and I am delighted that's exactly what has happened.
If Boris Johnson is serious about climate action he will call on Cumbria county council to scrap the mine
Cumbria County Council now need to do the right thing and throw these plans out, or the Prime Minister must intervene to make sure the coal mine is scrapped.
It's astonishing that a new coal mine in Britain is even being considered - particularly the year we are hosting the vital COP26 conference.
The Government needs to transform its attitude to the climate emergency. That is why I have proposed a £150 billion green coronavirus recovery plan, reshaping our economy to protect the future of our country and our planet.
This is a once in a lifetime chance to solve the massive crisis we are in, we can't afford to miss
Responding to the defeat of the Genocide Amendment by the Government, Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran MP:
"Yesterday the Government used outrageous procedural manoeuvres to avoid any straight vote on the Genocide Amendment and avoid defeat, in a flagrant attempt to deny MPs from having their democratic say. If they were confident in their arguments, why do that? They are running scared of the Commons. By allowing parliamentary committees to rule on genocide, the Government has contradicted its own policy that genocide is a matter for the courts. Both relevant committees have already rejected these proposals.
"The Uyghur people have been betrayed and denied their day in court. The Government has turned a blind eye and has chosen to not put human rights first, despite clear cross-party support. Now is not the time for parliamentary games. Now is the time to stand up together against genocide and do the right thing when it comes to our trade policy. We will continue this fight in the House of Lords.
"The Liberal Democrats will always fight to protect human rights around the world, and we'll continue to push this government to do everything it can to end the genocide being committed against the Uyghurs and other persecuted peoples."
Residents want action from the council over the state of trees in a Chesterfield street.
Local Lib Dem campaigner Cllr Paul Niblock says "The residents of Walton Road have been repeatedly let down by Derbyshire County Council's half-hearted and delayed attempts to prune and provide proper maintenance of the mature trees on Walton Road."
