York Labour News

More transport schemes cut

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Further cuts to transport budgets in the council will have dreadful implications for the city's transport strategy, according to the city's Labour transport spokesperson.

Coun. Ruth Potter was commenting on a report that went before the council's Executive Member for City Strategy this week which details what £1.45m of in-year cuts by the Government will mean for local transport schemes until March 2011.

She said:

"After learning of the postponement and likely demise of Access York plans for new Park and Rides at Wigginton Road and at the A59 at Poppleton, further cuts to the council's transport budgets have now been set out.

"£0.75m has been cut from our Local Transport Plan funding, while £0.66m has been cut from the city's Regional Funding Allocation, which is money that was earmarked for Park and Rides work. Of the three sites only the Askham Bar site will now be subject to any work.

"Elsewhere, the council has decided to plunder the Cycle City budget awarded to the council by the previous Government, for those schemes it can now not afford like access ramps to the Railway Station and the Cemetary Road to Fishergate improvements.

"Work on the Blossom Street Multi-modal scheme and Fishergate gyratory are both affected by these cuts. And to add to this, 100% of the capital element of the Road Safety Grant has been axed.

"There is now a very serious problem for sustainable transport policy in York. The city really cannot afford to lose out in this way. The coalition Government is unfortunately leading us backwards. I trust that Coun. Galloway will be talking to his Government to defend York against such savage cuts.

"This administration has made so many assumptions on funding for schemes it says will reduce congestion, and yet the Government has now cut a large chunk of it. The Lib Dem council appears to have no plan B on the congestion issue. In fact, it has cut funding for developing a Low Emission Strategy, showing its priorities are all wrong".

Possible closure for Heworth street

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A street in Heworth that has been experiencing speeding problems may be closed to through traffic, under plans being considered by council officers.

Eastern Terrace, which runs between East Parade and Heworth Green, is a largely elderly residential area, and councillors are concerned that speeding traffic is presenting a danger to pedestrians in the area.

Ward councillor Ruth Potter said:

"After recommending a speed indicator device (SID) for monitoring speeds on Eastern Terrace and Wood Street last November, officers are now giving serious consideration to closing the road to through traffic. This is something I have been pushing for over the past 12 months. Really there is no reason for people to use this street other than for access, so I hope a closure can be agreed.

Coun. Tina Funnell commented:

"The latest report recommends residents are consulted on the option to close the road which is a positive development. Given there have been plenty of calls for this in the past, I would expect those responding will agree with the proposal.

"Calling it a rat run might be going too far but it is clear that people are using Eastern Terrace to avoid traffic signals and corresponding traffic queues, so this proposal would be one way of improving safety for local residents".

The proposal was one of a number of streets under consideration for new schemes being considered at yesterday's City Strategy Committee, with the Eastern Terrace scheme to be decided on following local consultation.

Possible solution in sight for Water End

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The council's Executive today performed a major u-turn on the issue of changes to the Water End approach to Clifton Green.

The issue was up for discussion after a council scrutiny Task Group concluded its review of the problems at Clifton Green, Westminster Road and The Avenue. And after months of sustained pressure from residents and ward councillors, the Executive finally signalled its intent to change its stance.

Ward councillor Ken King, who attended the meeting in support of residents and on behalf of fellow ward councillors, said:

"This is a very significant day in the life of this long-standing problem. Residents of Westminster Road spoke very forcefully about how this issue has blighted their street, a street that until the Water End changes was relatively peaceful and safe for children.

"The Chair of the cross-party Task Group also spoke in favour of the Executive finding a solution to the problems, which he described as ‘created by the council'".

The meeting heard from a senior council officer who said it was possible for the council to look at ways in which the left hand filter lane into Clifton Green be reinstated, which would involve the cycle lane moving between the two vehicle lanes. The cost could be in the region of £35k, he said.

Coun. David Scott, who has long campaigned for action from the council on the issue, reacted to the news saying:

"Finally after all the pressure and representations from Labour ward councillors, the Executive seems as though it is seeing sense. It has asked officers to work up a new plan which would include the reinstatement of the second lane on Water End, which is great news.

"It has also charged officers with working up another plan for chicanes on Westminster Road. I'm remain more cautious about how successful this will be at this stage, so we may need to assess the impact if and when the two lane approach to Clifton Green is implemented. My own view is that a closure of Westminster Road and The Avenue will be needed, either by way of a rising bollard or by temporary closure".

Refuse collection problems persist in Holgate

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The council has been beset by yet more problems around refuse collection in the Leeman Road area.

It has emerged that refuse has been left uncollected for around four weeks, with back alleys in much of the Leeman Road area overflowing with household rubbish.

Ward councillor Sonja Crisp was called to the area this morning to assess the extent of the problems. She said:

"I spent three hours on Thursday last week touring the areas affected, explaining the problems and what needed doing. Today, I have spent a further three hours (see attached photo) personally clearing the back alley between Salisbury Terrace and Bromley Street, which has become overrun with overflowing wheelie bins and extra black rubbish bags" (see attached photo).

"The problem is now as much one of an health hazard as poor service from the council. There is evidence of rats and I cleared up rubbish infested with maggots bluebottle flies. It stinks and this is unsurprising in the current weather.

"I've moved all the rubbish to the end of the alley, as both the gates have been unlocked on a daily basis, in the hope that the council may actually be able to get rid of it today, following similar assurances last week.

"The council needs to sort the whole issue of refuse collection in gated alley areas quickly. The refuse collectors themselves are doing their best and are not to blame as the goalposts move every week. They have been given mixed instructions as to what is expected of them, as have the residents.

Coun. Crisp followed refuse collection staff round with officers last Thursday to see how they work, while fellow ward councillor James Alexander will be joining them on 22nd July to do the same.

York�s Market in 2060 � How should it look?

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This evening the council's Economic and City Development Scrutiny Committee will review information already collected on the future of the city's market and set out a timetable for completing their examination of how it will look in the years to come.

Coun. David Scott, Chair of the Committee, said:

"At the last meeting of the Committee we started our discussion on the future shape of the market in York. We were given lots of information and a number of options by officers but what we didn't have at that meeting was a vision for the long-term future of the market."

"We know that the market makes a profit for the Council so what we should be looking at is how we sustain that for the benefit of residents, traders and tourists in the long-term."

"We need to be looking at how the market interacts with the city centre, other shops and its surroundings. Part of that is to ask whether the market is located in the best place. We know that Parliament Street will be undergoing changes. Those changes need to be considered when looking at the future of the market."

"In my view, York needs a vibrant market and we need to look at what we can do to support and develop that not only this year, but for the next 50 years."

"The Junior Apprentice TV programme showed a number of young people developing their skills as young entrepreneurs. I hope our scrutiny will make some recommendations as to how we tap into York's young talent and make market stalls available either free or at a reduced rate for our future entrepreneurs."

"This evening we will start the work of looking at the information already gathered and setting out a timetable for gathering more information and concluding the report."

Labour backs University pool

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The council's Labour Group has given its qualified support to funding for a county standard, community access swimming pool at the University of York.

Labour say that it is now the only hope of seeing any further public access swimming in the city for years to come, after the current administration's failures on swimming provision, which date back years.

Labour leisure spokesperson, Coun. Sonja Crisp said:

"We have given this a great deal of consideration and believe it is the only way forward in the current climate, whilst retaining our full commitment to a city centre swimming pool. We are doing the responsible thing in supporting publicly accessible swimming provision when it is so badly needed.

"The critical factor for Labour is that the legal agreement is right and that both the University and the Council knows exactly what to expect over the first 25 years of the pool's life. It must be remembered that what the council is doing here is contributing a capital sum in return for 25 years of proper community access. If the legal aspects of this deal are right, we will give the deal our full backing".

Labour leader Coun. James Alexander met with Pro Vice-Chancellor Elizabeth Heaps this week to seek assurances on a number of outstanding concerns for his Group. And Coun. Crisp revealed how discussions with the University have helped to allay some of Labour's concerns over the pool, including adequate facilities for disabled users. She said:

"I raised the issue of the number of disabled toilets at a recent Steering Group meeting and I'm pleased to say that the University, after discussions with us, has agreed to alter plans to increase this provision.

"It has also given assurances over public access, pricing and transport which we feel will make it somewhere that many residents, on the east side of York particularly, will want to use. These guarantees in return for the capital contribution come after recent discussions when the original planned £2m contribution by the Lib Dem Council would not have achieved the same for residents. It is a positive step forward.

"We are aware of a campaign by a local resident in Heslington to improve the conditions of access for the public and we fully support that campaign. This pool needs the public to use it and we are confident the University's approach to access and pricing will reflect that".

"Our commitment to a central pool is unwavering and remains one of our key priorities for the council, and is one we hope to have more influence over following the May 2011 local elections".

Coalition cuts to housing benefit

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The coalition government's cuts to housing benefit will have a disproportionate affect on people living in high-cost rental areas like York, according to city's Labour housing spokesperson.

Tracey Simpson-Laing said in response to the budget announcement:

"Some people will find themselves dropping out of the eligibility bracket for full rent based on their current rents, and will find themselves having to top up their rental payments out of their own pockets. Whether driving down the cost of rents is the Government's objective I'm not sure, but in areas of high housing demand like York, all this move will do is leave people who are struggling worse off.

"The Government should understand that people claiming housing benefit do so as something they have little choice about, even when they work which one in eight does. I think limiting housing allowances to the 30th percentile of local rents will also worsen housing standards, not improve them which is regrettable to say the least".

The new system will mean people can rent up to a value of 30% of the full range of rents in the area, which for York will be higher than most other areas in the north. Homelessness charity Shelter's Chief Executive Campbell Robb has said that the move will push many households ‘into a spiral of debt, eviction and homelessness'.

"This is what we have come to expect from the Tories, but that doesn't make it any easier for ordinary hard working people to stomach", said Coun. Simpson-Laing. "In the 1980s they were more than happy to see the needy abandoned and for unemployment to be a price worth paying, and now we are seeing a return to the same approach. The only difference this time is that the Lib Dems are jointly driving the targeting of the most vulnerable in swingeing budget cuts.

"It can now no longer be seen as a left of centre party".

Coun. Simpson-Laing said that the shortage of affordable housing means that private sector rentals will remain high, and that people not being able to afford those rents will be pushed onto the waiting list for social housing.

"It will ultimately cost in another way", she said. "Homelessness will become much more of a problem, but the Government will simply wash its hands of the problem and leave it to local councils to sort out. Local councils that have been clobbered in the budget already. More people losing their jobs and a reduction in housing benefit will drive more people to join the council housing waiting list, and increase costs elsewhere, but this will be of little concern to the coalition government".

The budget announcement on local housing allowances will come into force October next year.

First to cut yet another service

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First York is to add to the wave of bus service cuts made last year when it cuts the operation of the No. 13 service to Monks Cross in August. It is now set to end at Elmfield Avenue, ruling out trips for many to Monks Cross.

The decision is a huge blow to those people living in Heworth ward who relied upon the service both to get into the city centre but also to get to Monks Cross to the shops.

Ward councillor Ruth Potter reacted to the news saying:

"This is another major letdown from the major bus company in York who we know is only interested in running those services that are profitable. This is one of the consequences of the Lib Dems failing to seriously consider a Quality Bus Contract that would give the council more of a say over frequency of services and fare levels.

"Officers have told me that the process for withdrawing services has changed since the Government removed the requirement for bus operators to consult with the council. So now we have a situation where First has informed the Traffic Commisioner, but ignored the council, ward councillors and residents in taking this decision. It is disgusting and leaves residents high and dry yet again".

Councillors were given assurances services were safe after a number of bus service cuts were made last year, but the No. 13 will now only operate to Elmfield Avenue in Heworth, will return via Malton Road and Heworth Green, so will result in a service that will now only gets people to parts of Heworth from the city centre.

"This is barely a service in its new form given that is also cuts early morning and evening services on the route into Heworth" said Coun. Potter. "I'm appalled at the working relationship the bus company has with the council when it has no dialogue whatsoever about cuts like this. Residents deserve far better treatment".

Executive Member �a letdown� for York

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The council's latest Executive Member for leisure has been blasted by his opposite Labour number after simply accepting the Government cut to free swimming without a fight.

Coun. Sonja Crisp says the Executive Member, Coun. Nigel Ayre, has let down both young and elderly in York, after the ConDem coalition Government announced an end to free swimming for the under 16s and over 60s.

She said:

"What Coun. Ayre should have done is argue the case with Ministers that the free swimming scheme should continue. It has been a real success and benefited a great many people in the city, but unfortunately all Coun. Ayre is concerned with is putting party first, and local people second.

"He should have taken this issue all the more seriously given York's woeful lack of swimming provision. The council needs all the people going swimming at council pools as it can possibly get, just to make them viable".

Coun. Crisp concluded saying that there is now an problem with the Liberal Democrats standing up for York and fighting for the city when any decision taken by the coalition that leaves the city worse off has been accepted by the council's political leadership.

Blossom Street retained in monitoring zone

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Licensing committee members on the council voted to retain Blossom Street within what is known as the city's Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) at a meeting on Friday.

A CIZ involves the monitoring of an area containing a significant number of licensed premises, particularly where there is evidence of alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour. And Micklegate councillor Dave Merrett today argued for Blossom Street's continued inclusion in the zone due to ongoing incidents that have an impact on residents living in Blossom Street and nearby streets.

He said:

"I'm pleased that committee members agreed with me that Blossom Street should be retained, because the impact of licensed premises on that street has led to a continuing level of crime and particularly anti-social behaviour that is of concern to residents.

"In 2008, there were 8 assaults and 30 cases of anti-social behaviour reported. In 2009 these figures had increased to 12 and 33 respectively. The level may not be as high as further into the city centre, but the level is still not acceptable to local residents and we have to bear that in mind.

"One also needs to bear in mind that not all instances of crime and anti-social behaviour get reported. Given the representations of local residents, I felt this was necessary and am glad it was unanimously agreed".

Lucas Avenue works labelled �not good enough�

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Clifton's three Labour Councillors have expressed their dismay at the quality of work undertaken in Lucas Avenue by council contractors. Earlier this month sub-contractors carried out work installing concrete driveways over verges and footpaths to the edge of residents' properties.

Coun. David Scott, who represents Clifton, said:

"During one of our regular surgeries we were approached by residents concerned about the quality of the work undertaken by contractors laying concrete from the road, over the verge and footpath to the edge of their properties. Looking at it for myself I can see why - it is quite simply shoddy and not good enough".

"The company who did this work have badly let the Council down. It has left gaps, tripping points and it looks horrendous. Parts of it are starting to crack already. If I had asked for this work to be done I outside my home I would not have paid the contractor a penny. That is the test the Council should adopt when they spend taxpayers' money. We need to stop this waste".

Fellow ward councillor Ken King said:

"I am shocked at how poorly this work has been done. Residents weren't asked where they preferred the drive to be - it was just done for the ease of the contractor and to make sure the job was as done as cheaply as possible - and it shows".

"I am not going to let Council taxpayers' money be wasted in this way. As Shadow Executive spokesperson for Neighbourhood Services I have contacted the Director and asked that she arranges an urgent site visit by officers. If the company that did the work has not been paid they shouldn't be paid until the work is up to standard".

Lucas Avenue works labelled �not good enough�

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Coun. David Scott, who represents Clifton, said:

Fellow ward councillor Ken King said:

Lucas Avenue works labelled �not good enough�

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Coun. David Scott, who represents Clifton, said:

Fellow ward councillor Ken King said:

Government�s daily policy changes on HMOs

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The new coalition Government is changing its policy on the licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) on an almost daily basis, leading to a great deal of uncertainty locally, according to a local councillor.

Roger Pierce, who represents Hull Road ward, an area with a great number of HMOs due to its proximity to the University of York, said:

"All the good work of recent years to find a workable solution on HMOs has been undone in a stroke by the new Housing Minister, Grant Shapps. As recently as 10th June he made statement to the House of Commons saying the Government had no plans to overturn the rules introduced by the previous Government.

"Fast forward four days and a letter from the Minister's department to a lobbying group states that the current rules are not appropriate. It sounds very much like the landlords lobby has got to the Conservatives quickly after initial disappointment at the Government's stance on the issue.

"What will now happen is planning permission for HMOs will not be required unless the local council wants to tackle high concentrations of HMOs in a given area, but which will be made incredibly difficult by their needing to make article 4 directions - essentially making it much more costly, time-consuming and unlikely.

"But the Conservatives will always put landlords before homeowners and tenants".

Coun. Pierce says he's concerned about the impact this will have on the ward he represents and that many residents will see this as a major setback in attempts to protect their neighbourhoods from studentification.

Council struggles on learning and health targets

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The council has fallen back in a number of areas that it has targeted to improve with its partners, a report to its Executive next week has revealed.

It's Local Area Agreement (LAA), which outlines the council's main priorities in areas such as learning, the environment and improving health, shows that at the end of 2009/10, it had fallen well short in a number of areas.

The main Labour opposition's Corporate Services spokesperson, Coun. Julie Gunnell, said she feared the trend could continue as the Government makes cuts to vital services, commenting:

"The main messages from the LAA end of year report are that targets on health and physical activity such as sport are not being met. The obesity problem that so desperately needs addressing is getting worse in year six school pupils. The under 18 conception rate is beyond the reduction target, which, with Government cuts to teenage pregnancy, does not bode well.

"But even in areas where the council was said to be doing well in the last audit inspection, such as services to disabled children, it has fallen well short of its target for 2009/10.

"And although educationally York is seen as a good city, narrowing the attainment gap between the least well off and their peers is proving a real problem. What is concerning about this is the problem appears to be worsening, not being reversed.

"I would give to credit where it is due on schools' improvement in offering high quality PE and sport, and the Police's efforts on reducing levels of acquisitive crime, but the council's failings on leisure provision are proving damaging to its health and culture targets. It should really consider this if it is serious about meeting future targets in these areas".

Local children campaign on health hazard

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Local children attending Carr Junior School in Acomb concerned about the health hazard of dog dirt have taken their message to the top of the council.

A petition from pupils and school staff presented in April this year called on the council to take action and install a dog dirt bin on Ostman Road. The decision will be taken by Executive Member for Neighbourhoods at a meeting next Tuesday.

Ward councillor for the area, Coun. Tracey Simpson-Laing said:

"Local schoolchildren and parents have a legitimate concern about the impact of dog dirt being regularly left around in the vicinity of the school. It is an anti-social thing to do and the right message needs to be sent to irresponsible dog owners that this behaviour is unacceptable.

"But what also needs to happen is a dog dirt bin is installed to give dog walkers the chance to dispose of dog dirt properly. My concern from the report going to the Executive Member is officers have put forward the option of taking the bin currently used at the Tostig Avenue/Viking Avenue snicket, due its being regularly damaged, and placing it on Ostman Road.

"With regard to the damaged bin, I have suggested a metal lid on a number of occasions to solve this problem.

"Clearly this damage is an equally anti-social act, but moving the bin will just displace the problem to another area. People will just dispose of their dog dirt in inappropriate ways if there is no bin to put it in. I would like to know what the Council will do, and the cost involved, when I have to call them out weekly to clear the planted area where the bin currently is.

"The excuse from the Council of not providing a bin is that they are undertaking an ‘audit' of bins. I was told this in March, and its now June, and I find it unbelievable the speed at which this Council works.

"The other option suggested is to simply raise awareness through local campaigning which I think needs to be done alongside installation of a bin. Campaigning alone will not solve this problem".

New Park and Rides to go under cuts

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The coalition Government's public spending cuts have sounded the death knell for planned new Park and Ride sites in the city, at least for the time being.

In a letter to the council last week, the Department for Transport made it clear that all major transport schemes are on hold until its spending review in the Autumn. But Labour's transport spokesperson Coun. Ruth Potter said the news was a likely portent of things to come:

"This is dire news for the city and the council's plans both to tackle traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions. In recent months we have become more aware of the extent of the problems that exist and which face us in the future around traffic congestion and dangerously poor air quality in the city. These are just two in a whole host of reasons why new Park and Rides are needed.

"The amount of preparatory work and the resources that have gone into planning for the A59 site, as well as plans for increasing the Askham Bar site, are huge. The DfT is now advising councils to stop all work, in York's case on its Access York scheme, as this is likely to be a further waste of time and money. My feeling is final confirmation of this holding decision will come in the Autumn and the three sites will be cancelled.

"It's a disaster for the Lib Dem council and any plans it had to reduce congestion over the years ahead. It must now be ruing the time when it came into power in 2003 when it could have delivered the A59 Park and Ride, but did nothing for years. Now it can't and only has itself to blame".

The letter from the DfT includes the following guidance:

‘All schemes that were granted Conditional Approval or Programme Entry by the previous Government will be reviewed as part of the spending review. Until then, the Government can give no assurances on funding support for any of these schemes. We should make it clear that all spend by Local Authorities and PTEs on schemes that have not yet reached full approval is entirely at their own risk'.

The Access York scheme comes under the ‘Programme Entry' category of planned schemes. The third site shelved under the plans is the Wigginton Road site at Clifton Moor.

Why has Recycling Bin been taken away?

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Chair of the council's Economic and City Development Scrutiny Committee, Coun. David Scott, wants to know the real reason why the recycling bin in St Helen's Square has been removed.

Coun. Scott said:

"I am puzzled as to why the recycling bin has been removed from St Helen's Square. At a time when we should be promoting recycling and increasing recycling facilities this bin has been removed."

"I have been told that the bin has been removed because people were putting the wrong materials in the different compartments and ‘contaminating' the recycling. But this just does stand up to any form of scrutiny. The Council regularly sorts through and separates recyclable materials so why can't it do the same here? In addition, the other city centre recycling bin is still in place at Kings Square so the ‘contamination' issue isn't a problem there."

"Despite asking I am yet to be told who authorised the removal of this bin and in particular if any councillor gave their consent.

"In a city that is as great as any other in the world we should have facilities for residents and visitors to recycle their litter in the city centre. If cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Florence and Paris can do it, then so should we. We should be a world class city in everything we do."

Rat-run decision called in

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Clifton's three Labour Councillors have called in the decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy, Coun. Steve Galloway, not to take action to end the "rat-running" at Westminster Road and The Avenue to the all-party Scrutiny Management Committee meeting on 14th June 2010.

Coun. David Scott, who represents Clifton, said:

"Whilst the Council has tried to portray the changes to the Water End junction with Clifton Green as a success for cyclists, it has come at a price to local residents. A price that is too high to pay."

"When this scheme was first proposed I raised concerns and predicted this would happen. Sadly those predictions have come true. When Coun. Steve Galloway made the original decision to go ahead with the scheme in October 2008 he made a commitment that the left hand turn filter lane at the junction would be reinstated if my predictions were correct. I now want him to honour his promise."

"The left turn filter lane needs to be reinstated and a closure of the Westminster Road/The Avenue's rat-run implemented. There are a number of options open in order to achieve the closure, including a rising bollard, which would allow residents to reclaim their street."

Coun. Helen Douglas said:

"We want this Lib Dem Council to listen to residents and their concerns. We will not let the legitimate concerns of residents be ignored and promises be broken."

"I have always believed that the Council should be there to make the lives of residents better. I hope the all-party committee will listen and sent this decision back to the Executive to reconsider the Executive Member's original decision."

Executive decision on air quality called in

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Leading members of the council's main Labour opposition have called in a decision by the ruling Executive on plans for an air quality strategy.

The council Executive received a report this week proposing an air quality strategy for the city, a strategy that would be drawn up to tackle already dangerously low levels of air quality in many parts of the city.

But Labour members say the council is failing to tackle what is killing many people in the city each year with the necessary urgency.

Neighbourhoods spokesperson Coun. Ken King said:

"The current Executive should be hanging their heads in shame at their inaction on air quality in the city. Unfortunately the penny still hasn't dropped, and instead of facing up to the Lib Dem Executive's responsibilities, we have the former council leader in the local media this week attempting to underplay the problem. I'm incandescent at his insensitivity in trying to convince people York is not a dirty city when many people are dying as a result of pollution every year".

The decision now means the matter will be considered by a cross-party committee, who can either dismiss the call-in, or refer it back to the Executive to be reconsidered. Yesterday's report called for another report to go back to Executive presenting a Low Emission Strategy for York in the future, but with no timescale.

Micklegate ward councillor Julie Gunnell explained why the call-in decision had to be taken, saying:

"Unfortunately the course of action taken by the Executive will not deal with the air quality threat to health, and ultimately lives, soon enough. Labour believes that the standing of the Air Quality Steering Group should be increased, not watered down by the Executive's arbitrary decision to say that it should now only report to the internal Council Carbon Management Board.

"The council's carbon management programme is extremely important, but the air quality problem is with us now, and is damaging the health of residents now. Nunnery Lane in my ward has had to suffer with dangerous threats to health for far too long, and while council officers are doing what they can, the direction they are getting from the Lib Dem leadership is way off track. It's unacceptable and residents expect and deserve better".

The matter will go before a cross-party committee for consideration on 14th June.