The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign
It was revealed last August that the legal cost of the Labour-Plaid Government's fight to challenges to its planned badger cull pilot was more than £57,000, with nearly £20,000 paid towards the Badger Trust’s costs.
The Labour-Plaid government’s badger cull order was overturned by the Court of Appeal as they said it was wrong to make an order for the whole of Wales when the Government consulted on the basis of an Intensive Action Pilot Area (IAPA) which only supported a cull on evidence within the IAPA.
The assembly government had to pay £57,000 for losing the legal challenges to its planned badger cull.
Sunday, 17 April 2011
Saturday, 16 April 2011
Waste Watchers
Last February, it was revealed by the Welsh Liberal Democrats that health bosses in North Wales had been taking advantage of a £1.1m subsidy for leased cars to run top of the range Jaguars, sporty Audis and BMWs. The Betsi Cadwaladr health board pays out £2m-a-year for a car leasing contract.
Some £940,000 of that is recouped from payments from staff who choose to top up the subsidy to run a higher specification vehicle than standard.
The list of leased vehicles, published under the Freedom of Information Act, contained a £24,000 Alfa Romeo costing £5,311-a-year; a £36,000 Audi costing £8,188-a-year; BMW 3-series Sport at £7,098-a-year; and four Jaguars, including an XF S-Luxury worth £39,000 and leased at £8,748-a-year.
Some £940,000 of that is recouped from payments from staff who choose to top up the subsidy to run a higher specification vehicle than standard.
The list of leased vehicles, published under the Freedom of Information Act, contained a £24,000 Alfa Romeo costing £5,311-a-year; a £36,000 Audi costing £8,188-a-year; BMW 3-series Sport at £7,098-a-year; and four Jaguars, including an XF S-Luxury worth £39,000 and leased at £8,748-a-year.
Friday, 15 April 2011
Waste Watchers
The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign
It was revealed last month that the cost of running empty office space across the Labour-Plaid government estate cost over £1,200 a day. The total amount of vacant space within the Assembly Government’s administrative estate stands at 1,817 square metres.
The total annual running costs – including rent, rates, service charges, utilities, cleaning and maintenance – was £449,927 “as at March 31st 2011”. That’s up from £344,173 the previous year, when the total vacant space was 1,441 square metres.
It was revealed last month that the cost of running empty office space across the Labour-Plaid government estate cost over £1,200 a day. The total amount of vacant space within the Assembly Government’s administrative estate stands at 1,817 square metres.
The total annual running costs – including rent, rates, service charges, utilities, cleaning and maintenance – was £449,927 “as at March 31st 2011”. That’s up from £344,173 the previous year, when the total vacant space was 1,441 square metres.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Waste Watchers
WASTE WATCHERS
The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign.
In August 2010, it was revealed that the Labour-Plaid government had spent more that £400,000 in a year on external PR companies while employing 25 full-time PR and communications staff. A Freedom of Information request revealed the Labour-Plaid government used external PR firms from April 2009 to March 2010.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign.
In August 2010, it was revealed that the Labour-Plaid government had spent more that £400,000 in a year on external PR companies while employing 25 full-time PR and communications staff. A Freedom of Information request revealed the Labour-Plaid government used external PR firms from April 2009 to March 2010.
Waste Watchers
The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign
Last November, it was revealed that £3.5 million of Welsh Government money had been spent in the last three years on ‘climate change awareness’, rather than programmes that directly reduce carbon emissions. Grants include £20,000 over two years for an annual newspaper supplements on climate change and over £0.5 million a year to the Sustainable Development Commission and Cynnal Cymru.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats estimated that this money could have paid for around 1000improvements to homes in fuel poverty through the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme making an immediate impact on carbon emissions.
Last November, it was revealed that £3.5 million of Welsh Government money had been spent in the last three years on ‘climate change awareness’, rather than programmes that directly reduce carbon emissions. Grants include £20,000 over two years for an annual newspaper supplements on climate change and over £0.5 million a year to the Sustainable Development Commission and Cynnal Cymru.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats estimated that this money could have paid for around 1000improvements to homes in fuel poverty through the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme making an immediate impact on carbon emissions.
Friday, 8 April 2011
Nick Clegg Visits Llandudno Junction
We had a great day today with Nick Clegg coming to support my Welsh Assembly Campaign.
Nick told everyone that:
These are difficult times for people across Britain, but this week has shown that this can also be an opportunity to reshape Britain into a fairer, more equal and greener country.
Labour's financial legacy has left our country needing to borrow an extra £400million, every single day, just to get by. Labour also left us paying £120 million in interest on our debt each and every day - for that we could build a new primary school every hour.
Conwy’s share of the country’s debt now stands at a dangerous £3.92billion and something needs to be done.
But despite all this, Liberal Democrat policies coming into action this week are making a positive difference to people’s lives.
Over the last seven days in Conwy, thanks to Liberal Democrats:
42000 people are getting a £200 income tax cut - benefiting 23 million people across the country
2200 people have been lifted out of paying income tax altogether, with more to come
pensioners have been given an extra £4.50 a week – and those retiring from today will be on average £15,000 better off over their retirement.
Liberal Democrats in government will not stop there.
This week also saw Pensions Minister Steve Webb announcing that the Government will be introducing a simple, flat-rate state pension of £140 to replace the current complicated, unfair and means-tested system.
Business Secretary Vince Cable is cutting regulation to promote small business and create jobs.
Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne revealed that Britain will be hosting the 2012 Clean Energy Summit - putting Britain at the heart of the Green Energy Revolution.
The Liberal Democrats have entered government at one of the most challenging times for the country. We did not choose the moment but we have not shrunk from our responsibility to act in the national interest. We will not miss the opportunity we have to build a greener, fairer and more liberal Britain.
Nick was very well received by all and I thanked him for taking time out to support my campaign.
Friday, 1 April 2011
Dog Fouling Fixed Penalty Notices March
I have had a meeting this week with Regulatory Services and discussed various ways of tackling this issue, from Education to fining. I will feedback on this later as it was a very comprehensive and productive meeting.
Fixed Penalty notices issued 1st March to 31st March (Fines)
Dog Fouling 22
Dropping Litter 2
I can also confirm that there will be more activities in relation to tackling this type of problem in the near future.
Interesting Estimates
It is estimated that one in three households include a dog, with around 100,000 households in Conwy and Denbighshire, it is estimated that we have around 33,000 dogs.
Each dog potentially produces, a conservatively estimated, 100 grammes of waste a day, collectively around 3.3 tonnes per day or just over 1200 tonnes per annum.
So just the mindless minority not picking up after their dog is quite a problem.
Fixed Penalty notices issued 1st March to 31st March (Fines)
Dog Fouling 22
Dropping Litter 2
I can also confirm that there will be more activities in relation to tackling this type of problem in the near future.
Interesting Estimates
It is estimated that one in three households include a dog, with around 100,000 households in Conwy and Denbighshire, it is estimated that we have around 33,000 dogs.
Each dog potentially produces, a conservatively estimated, 100 grammes of waste a day, collectively around 3.3 tonnes per day or just over 1200 tonnes per annum.
So just the mindless minority not picking up after their dog is quite a problem.
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