A budget for all

This was more or less my speech on the budget.

"Over the past four years this council has managed to set the average council tax increase at less than 3%, which is well below inflation.
The days of Labour average rise of 11% are over.

This administration has tried to make the necessary savings at a time when funding from the Assembly Government is definitely not forthcoming. They have kept council tax down, but have also worked hard to be efficient with public money.
And they have delivered £42 million pounds of savings, exceeding Assembly targets.

I am pleased to see that the Liberal Democrats, as in previous years, are putting at the centre social care and education, by allocating nearly 23% of the budget to social care and over 41% to schools. This is our elderly and frail and our children. Let’s not forget that what Labour calls 'value for money' means poor services.

Under the previous Labour administration, social services required special measures. Under Labour, our schools received one of the lowest investment and had low achievement. This is all changed now. The Liberal Democrats are turning things around.

There are, of course, those who say that they have no children or any need for social care. They ask ‘what’s in it for them’.

I say that investment is going into all public services and that there is something for every citizen of Cardiff in these proposals:
- new park & ride facilities,
- excellent council housing standards,
- money to ensure that no one has to live in a bed & breakfast,
- street cleansing,
- recycling and waste collection,
- funding to maintain 101,
- and, of course, social care and education.

There is also something else in this budget for all citizens and that is most valuable. There is the commitment to citizenship, to a city where we go beyond our selfish concerns and work for one another, and where nobody is left behind.

There is a vision of social justice that needs to have a place in our city. The social justice Labour have long forgotten and that the Conservatives have never known."

Lib Dems get tough on crime

Liberal Democrats on Cardiff Council are proposing a major investment in measures to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.
Lib Dem councillor, Francesca Montemaggi, said: "In our draft budget for next year, we have prioritised measures to tackle crime by investing in the following:
- 101 service (following the axing of the Home Office funding);
- a graffiti busting squad;
- a new 24 hour/seven day a week noise nuisance team;
- a flyposting team;
- more staff to deal with antisocial behaviour in our parks;
- a warden to deal with stray horses.

Graffiti and fly-posting really bring the area down. We don't just 'talk tough' on crime, we act on it and put the money to tackle it."

Shock as Murco is granted licence

We are disappointed to report that the Murco garage on Sloper Road has won the appeal at the Magistrates Court and will now be able to sell alcohol.
The Grangetown Liberal Democrat Team had made representations to the Licensing committee of the council which had refused the licence. However, Murco won in appeal.
This is very disappointing. We think it is totally inappropriate for Murco to be able to sell alcohol. This is a real to blow for local residents.

Ikea money for South Clive Street lane

Grangetown Focus Team is pleased to learn that improvement works will be carried out in Clive Street Lane.
The works will consist of new fencing along the railway embankment, additional lighting and resurfacing of the lane. They will be funded using the £100,000 secured by the Council from Ikea when the company applied for planning consent to build its Grangetown store (under sec.106).
The Council's improvement works have been held up by plans by Network Rail to sell off the embankment land alongside the lane. Network Rail does not seem to be going ahead with its plans, so the Council can start the work.
Lib Dem Councillor, Francesca Montemaggi, said: "It's a shame that Network Rail has held up the Council's plans to improve Clive Street Lane for so long. I'm pleased the Council has now agreed to move forward with the improvement works.
There is a long-standing problem with litter being dumped on the embankment. The plans to fence off this land and install additional lighting will hopefully make a huge difference."

Lib Dems' litter bin success!

A Cardiff Labour politician has attacked the Liberal Democrats for being successful at getting more litter bins in Grangetown than anywhere else.
Since 2006, Grangetown has seen 51 new or replaced litter bins put in by the Lib Dem Council.
Local Lib Dem Councillor, Francesca Montemaggi, said: "We have been successful at getting more litter bins for Grangetown. This has been part of the ongoing regeneration of Grangetown. We are very proud of helping to keep our area tidy."

Corporation Road gets a revamp

Liberal Democrat-led Council has completed the resurfacing of the bottom half of Corporation Road.
Grangetown Councillor, Francesca Montemaggi, said: "I am pleased to see Corporation Road resurfaced. The heavy traffic often causes potholes.
The road needed a good revamp. It is much safer now. Works will also start in Penarth Road very soon."