Failed Tories say please send Commissioners

On the doorstep people are saying they are angry with the Conservatives’ mismanagement of the council

‘Failed’ Conservative run Northamptonshire County Council has written to the government to ask that it sends in its commissioners as soon as possible. Because of the failures by local Conservatives, Northamptonshire County Council together with all the district and borough councils in the county are to be scrapped in two years’ time. Two new unitary authorities are being considered to replace the existing two-tier county and district council system.

Commenting Liberal Democrat Chris Lofts says: “Following a damming report into the way the Conservatives have mismanaged the county council, the government made clear they were of a mind to send commissioners. It goes to show just how bad things are that the Tories themselves are asking that commissioners are sent in as soon as possible. The irony is local council taxpayers will have to pay for the commissioners who will oversee finance and governance.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor Martin Johns said: “Having already agreed to almost £40m of cuts for this year’s budget and used up all its financial reserves, further cuts to local services are expected soon. The Conservatives may wish to blame additional cuts on the government’s commissioners but I think most local people know by now who’s been at fault in this sorry affair.”

Tory Northamptonshire ‘worst-run in the country’

Our Conservative run council dubbed the “worst-run in the country” is under investigation over allegations it used millions of pounds ring-fenced for public health to prop up other services. The BBC is reporting that Northamptonshire County Council is in talks with Public Health England about the possible “claw-back” of up to £10m.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Leader at South Northants Council, Councillor Chris Lofts says: “Bad news about the Conservatives disastrous approach to running NCC’s budget and our local services just keeps on coming. Having made massive cuts to services and yet still failing to balance their books, NCC may now have to pay back up to £10m in miss-used funds. It’s difficult to see how the Tories can avoid yet deeper cuts to its services in the near future.”

Liberal Democrat Councillor Martin Johns adds: “Government has already sent an inspector to investigate the Conservatives poor management of its finances and services. There is likely be very bad news for local residents to come, with the most vulnerable including the elderly in our community suffering the most.”

Joe Jackson says thank you

Liberal Democrat Joe Jackson is saying thank you to all those who supported him and the Liberal Democrats in the local elections.

Cllr Joe Jackson said: “I’d like to thank everyone in Towcester, Roade, Stoke Bruerne, Shutlanger, Tiffield, Caldecote and Hulcote who voted for me on 4 May. I’ve already congratulated the new county councillor for Towcester and Roade and wished him well in representing everyone on county council issues in the division for the next four years.

Our new councillor has big shoes to fill, as our former county councillor, Liberal Democrat Chris Lofts was widely respected for his hard work and commitment, and doing an exceptional job for our area. The irony is, even leading Conservatives have told me how much Chris did as a Liberal Democrat in speaking up for not only Towcester and Roade but for all of South Northamptonshire.”

Liberal Democrat, district councillor Martin Johns said: “Joe Jackson would have made an excellent county councillor. However, Joe will continue to work hard as a Roade parish councillor and with a growing team of Lib Dems will continue listening and working for local people all year around.”

County Council Election Result for Towcester & Roade

Liberal Democrat – Joe JACKSON 1401

Conservative 1676

Labour 561

Northamptonshire County Council – plan condemned as ‘muddled vision’

Plans to radically restructure the county council and make cuts of another £68m in Northamptonshire have been condemned by the opposition Liberal Democrats as being a “muddled vision”.

Tory plans to set up four outside bodies to run services and cut 4,000 staff to 150 were approved on Thursday. Liberal Democrat Chris Lofts dismissed the “Next Generation Model” as a “muddled vision” rushed through at the last minute.

The four new specialist social enterprises were to provide child protection, care of vulnerable adults, health and well-being services and economic development. Cllr Chris Lofts said he was also concerned because he believed it was not a plan but a “muddled vision” with no real detail of savings.

They were living on hopes and keeping their fingers crossed, he said.

Fellow Lib Dem Sally Beardsworth said the Conservatives were “hell bent” on pushing through ideas that were at best “embryonic” and the administration did not have a good record on innovation. Plans to transfer the housing stock to a tenants association had taken much longer than planned, she said. “They are facing a steep hill and cannot afford mistakes because there’s no money.”

Lib Dem Chris Lofts says thank you

Liberal Democrat Chris Lofts has been saying thank you to people in Towcester, Roade, Stoke Bruerne, Shutlanger and Tiffield who voted for him on 2 May.
Chris won the newly formed electoral division of Towcester & Roade, leaving the Conservatives and UKIP in second and third place. Labour was squeezed into a poor fourth.
Commenting Councillor Chris Lofts said: “I will be working as hard as ever for everyone in the area irrespective of how them may have voted. I’ll be doing my best to listen and take action to get the best for people across the Towcester & Roade area. Together with everyone in the local Liberal Democrat Focus Team I will continue keeping in touch and working all year around.”

Towcester & Roade NCC Division Result:

Chris Lofts – Liberal Democrat 1226
Conservative 976
UKIP 799
Labour 408
BNP 36

Cllr Chris Lofts

Towcester Lib Dems Make Landslide Gains

Liberal Democrats made two landslide gains from Tories in the by-elections on 9th February.

Chris Lofts took Northamptonshire County Council’s Towcester division on a massive swing of more than 30% since the 2009 shire polls. Lisa Samiotis triumphed at Towcester Brook, South Northants Council. This brings the total of Liberal Democrat gains this month to three, after a win from Labour last week.

Many people are angry at how the Conservatives have taken Towcester people for granted. The last Conservative County Councillor moved 200 miles away yet remained on the Council claiming her allowance. The Conservatives then spent over £3000 on a painting of her. Conservative bosses then parachuted in a new candidate who lives outside the area.

The Tories have failed Towcester. Locals are fed up with threats to cut local police numbers and plans to close Riverside Resource Centre. They are very upset that the Council is still trying to move to new offices in the town centre. They are fed up with street lights being turned off and roads left with potholes.

Liberal Democrats Chris Lofts and Lisa Samiotis live in Towcester. They know the area and the issues we face. This election result doesn’t change control of the Councils but it gives us two new local councillors who will work hard and put Towcester first.

Chris Lofts and Lisa Samiotis and the Liberal Democrats have worked hard all year around, not just at election time. They have had a great reception on the doorstep and have thanked residents for their support. The Conservatives have been sent a very clear message – start listening to Towcester residents.

Northamptonshire County Council – Towcester: Lib Dem 1279, C 638, Ukip 124, BNP 66. (June 2009 – C 1648, Lib Dem 760, Lab 293). Lib Dem gain from C.
Swing 31.6% C to Lib Dem.

South Northamptonshire District Council – Towcester Brook: Lib Dem 774, C 401, Ukip 129. (May 2011 – Three seats Lib Dem 857, C 831, Lib Dem 811, C 785, 753, Lib Dem 645, Ukip 266, 178). Lib Dem gain from C.
Swing 13.6% C to Lib Dem.

Lib Dems Select Locals as Towcester Candidates

The Liberal Democrats have selected Lisa Samiotis and Chris Lofts as their candidates for the by-elections called by the Conservatives for Thursday 9 February.

Lisa Samiotis is well known for her successful campaign to keep a local school crossing patrol and fund raising to support it. As a young working mum, Lisa knows the pressures of balancing bringing up children whilst working part-time. Lisa Samiotis plans to put Towcester family concerns and issues at the top of her agenda when elected. Liberal Democrat Lisa Samiotis is the only women candidate selected by political parties in these elections.

Chris Lofts is a town councillor and proud to have been a past Mayor of Towcester. Chris Lofts is very active locally within a number of voluntary organisations in Towcester. Chris was elected last May as a district councillor and has been working hard for Towcester people since his election win.

It will be a fascinating contest, on the doorstep people have been saying how much they appreciate the work Liberal Democrats do in Towcester all year around. The Liberal Democrats have two very strong local candidates in Lisa and Chris.

I’m somewhat puzzled that our opponents have failed to find a local person to contest the county council seat. The clear message from Towcester residents on the doorstep is they’re fed up with councillors who choose to live outside the town.

Lisa and Chris talking to parents

Wish you were here

Since the Towcester Advertiser broke the news, there has been strong local reaction to Towcester’s county councillor moving to Cornwall. I have been dismayed however by the anger and personal attacks on Mrs Bromwhich. Whilst people’s fury is understandable, it would be more appropriately leveled at the Conservative Party.

Knowing Mrs Bromwhich for many years I believe her to be an honourable and well meaning person. The idea that anyone could represent Towcester whilst living in Cornwall is plainly barmy. Mrs Bromwhich I’m sure realises this only too well. The real villains are her Tory colleagues, who have pressured her into staying on as a councillor. Given the unpopularity of the Conservatives at county hall, the Tories will seemingly do anything to avoid being called to account. Even if this means damaging the reputation of a loyal party member.

It’s the Conservatives who deserve to be derided over this sorry matter not Mrs Bromwhich. Her mistake has been putting misplaced loyalty to the Tories above the democratic rights of Towcester residents.

Tory Councillor Moves to Cornwall

A Conservative councillor representing Towcester has moved 250 miles away to Cornwall but says she has no intention whatsoever of resigning her council seat.

Commenting Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Lofts said: “This seems a very odd way to try representing the town. I fail to see how Towcester people can have their views properly represented by someone living in Cornwall.”

Cllr Rosemary Bromwich argues she is able to represent the town effectively, despite living several hundred miles away. She is quoted in the local press as saying that she is: “fully equipped to continue serving the town until I stand down at the May 2013 elections.” The Tory councillor is also quoted as saying: “I’m so well versed on what the issues are.” Towcester people may beg to differ that a councillor can represent them from Cornwall.

Towcester is now effectively unrepresented at the county council. People are already asking if Cllr Bromwich is still claiming her councillor’s allowance of £7,086 a year.

With unpopular Tory policies such as cuts to street lighting, school crossing patrol funding, libraries, social care, poor road maintenance etc, it doesn’t take a cynic to see why the Conservatives don’t want to call a bye-election. I’m sure Cllr Bromwich does want to resign but her Tory Party whips have plainly pressured her into hanging on to her seat until 2013.

SNC Tories Support Switch Off

A Liberal Democrat council motion on Wednesday 27 July urging the county council to review its policy of reducing street lighting by 50% was rejected out of hand by South Northamptonshire conservatives.

I called on local Tories to urge their colleagues at NCC to revisit their plan of turning off street lights. Good street lighting is essential in allowing normal life to continue after dark. It reduces street crime and fear of crime and reduces the number and severity of night-time road accidents. It also helps the emergency services carry out their roles after dark.

Good street lighting increases evening activity and promotes the evening economy by making people more confident in using public transport; enabling them to walk the streets after dark in safety and offering access to evening work, education and leisure activities.

Councillor Chris Lofts another Towcester Liberal Democrat councillor said: “The conservatives are putting their heads in the sand and denying that this issue is of concern to local people. If they were more in touch they would that understand good street lighting is very important to people.”