Liberal Democrats on South Gloucestershire Council will propose budget amendments to a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday (22nd February), committing the authority to a zero increase in council tax, protecting front-line services, and devolving more of its money to local decision-making. Ruth Davis, Leader of the council’s opposition, said: “We live in difficult financial times; we all know that
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Press release by South Gloucestershire Labour A local MP earned almost £14,000 as advanced payments for book-writing deals in the first six months after his election. The latest edition of the Register of MPs’ Financial Interests shows that Conservative MP for Kingswood, Chris Skidmore, was paid almost £14,000 in four separate deals between May and October 2010. The largest of
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A South Gloucestershire council building which has recently received a multi-million pound makeover could lie half-empty when it re-opens, and senior Labour councillor Terry Walker is challenging the ruling Tories over the reduced number of staff now scheduled to work at Kingswood Civic Centre. The council has embarked on a major accommodation strategy with a view to consolidating its headquarters
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Councillors in Kingswood have begun their annual programme of holding surgeries within every street of their ward. Labour councillors representing the Woodstock ward of South Gloucestershire Council, Gareth Manson, Andy Perkins and Pat Rooney operate their ‘mobile surgeries’ each year in addition to their regular monthly surgeries which they hold in local schools. A few days before the surgery, residents
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Local Conservatives are claiming that opposition councillors are fighting against moves to reduce the number of directors at South Gloucestershire Council (SGC). Press release from the Conservative Group on SGC As part of a council-wide restructuring, it has been estimated that £175k will be saved if the council’s Planning & Transport department merges with the Communities department to form an
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South Gloucestershire Liberal Democrats have announced their Shadow Cabinet with a promise that they will hold the Council’s minority Tory administration to account. Cllr Ruth Davis continues as Leader of the group, a position the Yate Central councillor has held since 2005. Westerleigh Councillor Claire Young takes over the Deputy Leader role and will shadow the Communities Cabinet Member. The
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The Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council has revealed its frontbench line up. Cllr John Calway (Con, Longwell Green), who has been re-elected Conservative Group Leader after seeing the number of Conservative councillors increase to 34, has appointed the group’s frontbench team: Cllr Brian Allinson (Con, Stoke Gifford) – Planning, Transportation and Strategic Environment Cllr Sheila Cook (Con, Almondsbury) –
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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
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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
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Voting is now underway in the 2011 Local Elections in South Goucestershire. All of the seats for South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) and all of the seats for all Town and Parish Councils within South Gloucestershire are up for election. District and Town Councillors will be elected to serve a four-year term of office. The referendum on an Alternative Vote (AV)
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