Saturday, July 29, 2006
Town Hall Forest Road, Walthamstow:
In Waltham Forest Councillor Farooq Qureshi has been chosen as the third Liberal Democrat Mayor (see also below).
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4 of the 19 Lib Dem Councillors in Waltham Forest:
left to right: Cllr.Johar Khan (at 24 yrs.old believed to be the youngest Asian male councillor in the country); Cllr.Farooq Qureshi (current Lib Dem Mayor); Cllr.Bob Wheatley (a former Lib Dem Mayor); Cllr.Keith Rayner (Leader of Waltham Forest Lib Dems & Deputy Leader of the Council)
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Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Recycling
Let's get greener ! Local Lib Dems are campaigning to improve recycling rates in Waltham Forest.
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Let's recycle more !
The green agenda
The risks to our planet from global warming and climate change cannot be ignored. Not only this country will suffer if things go unchecked; the consequences could be catasrophic in other parts of the world.
We cannot continue to have a cavalier attitude to household waste. Landfill and incineration are not the best options. Too much is being thrown into wheelie-bins which could in fact be recycled. We can all make a green contribution.
Local Lib Dems in Waltham Forest are campaigning to urge people to make greater use of the black box, or the brown bin for garden and some kitchen waste.
THE BLACK BOX CHECK-LIST: The following items belong in the black box and not the wheelie-bin:
Yellow pages; paper; aluminium foil; cardboard (flattened); textiles; shoes; household batteries; metal food and drinks cans (rinsed); plastic bottles (in some areas); car batteries; engine oil (sealed container) - all in separate bags where possible.
LET'S ALL GET GREENER !
Saturday, July 22, 2006
No2ID
Councillor Sheila Smith-Pryor (Hale End & Highams Park ward) successfully argued the case in Council against ID cards. [See report below]
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Friday, July 21, 2006
Council says "NO to ID cards" !
Cllr. Sheila Smith-Pryor sets out the case at full Council meeting.
At the full Waltham Forest Council meeting on Thursday, 20th July, Chingford & Woodford Green councillor Sheila Smith-Pryor (Hale End & Highams Park ward) seconded the Liberal Democrat motion opposing the introduction of ID cards in Britain.
In her very effective, well-researched and persuasive speech, Sheila spoke of the costs of the scheme and the potential technical problems. She stressed that ID cards would do nothing to prevent terrorism, crime or fraud.
Conservatives supported the Lib Dem motion which says "that the disadvantages -- will outweigh any benefits to the people of Waltham Forest"; resolves that the Council should affiliate to the "No2ID" campaign; and instructs the Chief Executive to inform the Home Secretary of the Council's views. The motion was passed comfortably.Monday, July 17, 2006
New Initiative
TAKING POWER - HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT HOW BRITAIN IS RUN
A major new initiative has been launched to engage supporters of all political parties - and none - in the battle to reconnect politics with the people.
Following the May local elections, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP announced the Party's intention to facilitate - but not dominate - a "virtual conference" in the run-up to the traditional autumn Party conference season.
Sir Menzies has appointed one of the Liberal Democrats' new Peers, Lord (Paul) Tyler - a former Shadow Leader of the Commons - to convene the conference which will enable members of the public to have their say on the way the country is run. The Conference will take as its basis the recent report of the Power Inquiry, a thorough exploration and analysis of the features and failures of British democracy.
Paul Tyler says he hopes the conference will attract young people in particular, "It is alarming that so few young people vote. Fewer than 2 in 5 did so at the last general election. Yet we know that this crucial age group - our future - are by no means apathetic. So this conference is about finding out how our politics needs to change to engage their interest in the democratic and parliamentary process."
Citizens of all ages can listen to Paul Tyler's podcast on the Taking Power initiative and register to have their say when the conference gets underway in September at http://www.takingpower.org/.
A major new initiative has been launched to engage supporters of all political parties - and none - in the battle to reconnect politics with the people.
Following the May local elections, Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell MP announced the Party's intention to facilitate - but not dominate - a "virtual conference" in the run-up to the traditional autumn Party conference season.
Sir Menzies has appointed one of the Liberal Democrats' new Peers, Lord (Paul) Tyler - a former Shadow Leader of the Commons - to convene the conference which will enable members of the public to have their say on the way the country is run. The Conference will take as its basis the recent report of the Power Inquiry, a thorough exploration and analysis of the features and failures of British democracy.
Paul Tyler says he hopes the conference will attract young people in particular, "It is alarming that so few young people vote. Fewer than 2 in 5 did so at the last general election. Yet we know that this crucial age group - our future - are by no means apathetic. So this conference is about finding out how our politics needs to change to engage their interest in the democratic and parliamentary process."
Citizens of all ages can listen to Paul Tyler's podcast on the Taking Power initiative and register to have their say when the conference gets underway in September at http://www.takingpower.org/.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
DEFENDING OUR NHS
Good news! Primary Care Trust agrees to re-think plan for Community Services
Both Cllr.Sheila Smith-Pryor and Cllr.John Beanse attended the Board meeting of Waltham Forest Primary Care Trust yesterday (Friday, 30th June). There was a lobby by District Nurses, Health Visitors, union representatives and concerned mothers, protesting about the planned cuts in frontline services. In the event, the Board took note of the arguments and the debate at the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee (see report on HEALTH SCRUTINY by clicking on Archives for June) and decided to WITHDRAW the document.
There will now be work done on a new plan to deliver a similar amount of savings (£1 million approx.) by other measures. This new plan will need careful study, but for now it is good news that local concerns about our health services have been heeded.
