Donal OHanlon

I took the weekend off from LibDem & Councillor activities, spending some R&R time with family & friends in Palma, Mallorca.

It’s a very pleasant city, with a fairly nice cathedral as it’s centrepiece.

I’m not sure that I managed to recharge the batteries properly though, being a little indulgent in the European nightlife meant that I didn’t get to sleep ’til late in the morning some nights!

When I returned I came home to lots of emails, phone messages and post, some of which was boring, some silly, some very important and a ridiculous letter from a Mr Lee, of “new Labour”. He purports a “LibDem/Tory administration”, when clearly there are only 8 of us and 21 in the Council from Labour, with 24 Tories. I shall state clearly, “there is no such alliance”. Nearly one year later, your tired Labour team simply can’t get over the fact that after 21 years trying to run Bury Council, the electorate said, “Enough - you’re selling off our heritage because you can’t balance the books!” - think of the Lowry painting!

New Labour, if you can achieve nothing with nearly half the Councillors (by sitting on your hand when it comes to voting on the most important night of the municipal year) then I’m sure the electorate will continue to strip you of Councillors over the forthcoming years.

If you’d rather see vulnerable elderly people wandering the streets; “At risk” children being prevented from getting the services they desperately need, and Council finances being ruined, then sure, vote for “New Labour”. What’s so new about Labour anyway? You have the same tired old tripe from spin doctor after spin doctor, with nothing new to offer the nation after nearly 11 years in power.

Certainly, as a Council-tax payer in Prestwich, I’m at least 15% worse off than I was when they came to power. It’s time for a change, for invigorating new ideas, and only the LibDems have something to offer there!

Last night I participated in “Audit Scrutiny”, where we review the work of the Council’s financial control arrangements. One of the most important phrases was included in the external Auditor’s review of “Accounts & Statement on Internal Control” - the Authority needs to continue to closely monitor budget performance and implement necessary corrective action to mitigate the use of further reserves.

Taken in conjunction with the Director of Finance’s comments - it is accepted that there are hot spots that need to be addressed relating primarily to Learning Disability services, Leisure services and land charge income -   we can see that “new Labour’s” ideas of slashing existing funding to such services, tied in with spending the Council’s reserves, is plainly stupid and imprudent. And there weren’t many Labour councillors there to study the details - we got more questions from Tories than Labour, and they’re in control! Not very effective Opposition, I must say.

Labour wanted rid of Prestwich Arts College, so they could build a new school in their former electoral heartland of Radcliffe, whilst Prestwich was full and very few pupils put Radcliffe as their first choice.

Labour in Bury have no idea whether they’re for Congestion Charging or not, we can tell you exactly where we stand - firmly against further such tax and spend nonsense.

This Labour government have presided over illegal wars costing billions on the premise of “Wapons of Mass Destruction”. The most effective WMD’s I can think of are Tony & Gordon’s mis-management of Britain’s affairs! They’ve destroyed a lot more than Saddam ever could!

Ah well, I’m now off to work, and will later be working upon a solution to Highfield Rd parking with Officers, followed by a little leafleting and some case-work for constituents.

 More soon…..