The executive met today to discuss implemenation of the new projects, the ideas for which were developed at the recent away day.  More news to follow.

The development of the community project continues apace.  At todays management committee we covered the re-structure of the building and the educational offer that is planned for the new Community House on Westcroft Road.

I visited the Good Neighbours christmas meal today, along with John Cameron and John Leech, and excellent it was.   This community organisation does a fantastic job in our local area.

John Cameron and I met today with the people organising the cross city bus route to raise our concerns about the potential impact of closing Oxford Road to all but busses, taxis and cycles on the Burnage area.

We have asked that the impact on the 50 be carefully measured, that bus and cycle lanes be considered for Kingsway and that a safe alternative route be designated and signposted for cyclists rather than having to negotiate the roundabouts at the north end of Kingsway.

My surgery again today.  We hold surgeries every Saturday 12.30pm to 1.30pm and every Monday 6.00pm to 7.oopm except bank holidays.

Full details of where are on the Advice Surgeries page of this site (click the tab in the bar to the left).

Good meeting, a lot was discussed and agreed on.

Met with Cllr Keith Whitmore, Lib Dem chair of the Greater Manchester body overseeing passenger transport to discuss getting support for some initiatives in Burnage.  It was a good meeting.

Labour Government interference in Housing Association rents could result in massive cuts to services and the stalling of any new build next year according to Manchester Lib Dem Housing spokesperson, Cllr Iain Donaldson.

Associations are expected to set their rents within 0.5 per cent of RPI as it stands in September each year, meaning they would be expected to make a 2 per cent rent cut next year.

Cllr Donaldson stated that “Under Labour, rent increases that Housing Associations can set are based not on the cost of meeting local housing needs, but on a national rate of inflation that has no bearing on the housing market.”

This system does not work, this year it resulted in a massive hike of 7% in rents at a time when people were tightening their belts in preparations for a recession.  Next year it will result in a 2% cut in rents as housing associations struggle to provide the services their tenants expect.

Cllr Donaldson added “Central dictats from this Labour Government could result in such a substantial loss of income that it threatens the very existence of some associations.”

John and I had our regular meeting with the local police to discuss issues affecting the ward.

Rod couldn’t make it as he was on a Licensing Committee Visit in the City Centre.

Following my complaints on behalf of constituents regarding the way in which the South Manchester area was not adequately covered in the easter breakout, I met tonight with the officers responsible.  It was a positive meeting and many of the issues I previously raised have been addressed now.

 There is still a lot of work to be done, and a lot of gaps in provision, but at least we are now moving in the right direction.

For our generation today is the day. Its time for the Liberal Democrats.

The Council’s list of activities for young people over the Easter Holidays shows a total failure in provision for children in South Manchester according to Liberal Democrat Councillor for Burnage, Iain Donaldson.

The Councils official handbook of leisure activites for young people, the Break Out booklet, has 10 South Manchester Wards omitted from the detailed listings.

Cllr Donaldson stated that “This is a disgrace!  Either nothing has been organised or the council have forgotten to mention the activities that are going on.  In either case young people looking for things to do in South Manchester will see that the City Council offers nothing for them.”

“The only activity I can see listed in my own ward of Burnage is two football coaching sessions on the playing fields of Burnage High School.  It will be interesting to see how these are to be provided when the playing fields have been dug up in the last couple of weeks in order to build the new school!”

“I have called on the Executive member responsible to explain why my ward, his ward, and 8 other wards are seeing no organised activities advertised in the Council’s official handbook.”

In a recent communication distributed in parts of South Manchester, Labour has attempted to misinform residents regarding the recent rent increases imposed on Southways and other housing associations by this Labour Government.

The increase of nearly 7% is in fact the recommended increase which the Labour Government expects providers of Social Housing to apply. However, in a subsequent (and somewhat confusing) communication to local authorities the Government altered this recommendation for Council Tenants only to 3%, whilst NOT changing the recommendation for tenants of Social Landlords such as Southways.

Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson, Cllr Iain Donaldson, stated that “This means that Labour have broken their pledge to South Manchester tenants who voted to move to Southways that they they will be ‘no worse off’ under Southways than they would have been if they stayed with the City Council, and no number of weasel words from Ms Powell and her cronies can change that fact.”

“I have raised this issue in the Council Chamber, and my colleagues in Westminster have raised the issue directly with the Government, but at present Labour have refused to budge.”

Cllr Donaldson has now launched a petition calling on Margaret Beckett MP to include all Social Landlords in the reduction of the recommended rent to 3% which can be signed at http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/page1173.

Cllr Donaldson added that “Tennants can be assured that Liberal Democrats will keep campaigning to get this Labour Government to change its recommendation to Social Landlords, and we will keep local tenant’s and residents informed of the real situation.”