The South Glos Post

Labour in South Gloucestershire has unveiled its new team of lead councillors, following an increase in numbers at this month’s elections.  Only one third of the 15-strong Labour Group were members of the last council, resulting in a lot of new faces in key roles.

The new Leader of the Labour Group is Councillor Andy Perkins, who has been Deputy Leader for the past two years.  Councillor Perkins has represented the Woodstock Ward in Kingswood for eight years and chaired the council’s Community Care and Housing Select Committee in the last council, leading the opposition to the Tory administration’s U-turn on providing in-house Elderly Persons Homes.

The new Deputy Leader is Councillor Pat Apps, elected this month for Kings Chase Ward, having previously served for Rodway.  Councillor Apps will also take on Councillor Perkins’ previous role of chairing the council’s Community Care and Housing Select Committee.

New Leader Councillor Perkins said:

“Labour Group increased its vote and councillor numbers at the election, so we face the future with renewed confidence.  We are committed to speaking up for public services in the face of a £9 million cut in grant by the Tory-led government and intend to play a big role in the council and our communities.”

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Source: Labour Group on South Gloucestershire Council

Neighbourhood police and Trading Standards officers carrying out checks on underage alcohol sales in the Chipping Sodbury, Coalpit Heath, Frampton Cotterell and Yate areas were delighted that they all refused to sell alcohol to children.

On Friday 6th May 2011 police teamed up with South Gloucestershire Trading Standards officers for the operation, aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related offences.

With the help of two clearly underage teenage volunteers – a girl and a boy – they visited ten off-licences to check whether they were prepared to sell alcohol to under-18s.

None of them were prepared to make the sale.

New Neighbourhood PC Finbar Simmons said: “Alcohol and children does not mix. Drink can make young people vulnerable and it can lead to anti-social and criminal behaviour. Licensees have a responsibility to ensure that alcohol does not fall into the wrong hands, and we frequently test that in operations with our colleagues at the council.”

“I’m delighted that all the off-licences did make the proper checks and refused to sell drink to minors, and they will be sent a letter of appreciation.”

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Source: Avon and Somerset Police

Following the results of local council elections on Thursday 5th May, South Gloucestershire Council will continue as a Conservative minority administration.

In a joint statement, the current leaders of the three parties – Cllr John Calway (Conservative), Cllr Ruth Davis (Liberal Democrat) and Cllr Roger Hutchinson (Labour) – said: “We look forward to continuing to serve the residents of South Gloucestershire to the best of our ability over the next four years.”

“The three parties are committed to maintaining the good working relationship which has played a key role in helping South Gloucestershire to become one of the best performing councils in the country, providing high-quality, value for money services to local residents.”

News from the political parties:

• Cllr John Calway will continue as leader of the Conservative group, with Cllr Sheila Cook as deputy-leader.
• Cllr Ruth Davis will continue as leader of the Liberal Democrat group, with Cllr Claire Young as deputy-leader.
• The Labour group will confirm its leader and deputy-leader following a meeting next week.

The constitutional arrangements of the council will be formalised at the annual council meeting on Wednesday 25th May.

An analysis of the total votes cast in the recent South Gloucestershire Council election shows that Labour came a clear second in the popular vote behind the Conservatives, but despite this ended up with six fewer councillors than the third-placed Liberal Democrats.

All three of the main parties fielded a full slate of 70 candidates across the district.  The Conservatives polled most, with 80,047 votes (42%) and Labour received 56,858 votes (29.8%), over 8,000 more than the 48,571 received by Lib Dem candidates (25.5%).

In terms of seats won, the election result leaves the Conservatives with 34 (+1 over 2007),  the Liberal Democrats with 21 (-7) and Labour with just 15 (+6).

According to the South Gloucestershire Labour Group, one reason for the discrepancy is the dramatic rise in Labour votes in a number of Conservative-held wards.

Labour says it is now the clear main challenger to the Conservatives in most of Bradley Stoke, and in Emersons Green, Winterbourne, Frenchay and Stoke Park.

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Source: Labour Councillors on South Gloucestershire Council