“Tax would rise 10%
under Labour” – claim
by David Skentelbery
COUNCIL tax at Warrington would have soared by 10 per cent next year if Labour had stayed in power, a Lib Dem finance chief has claimed.
A war of words has flared between Lib Dem and Labour councillors ? with each side accusing the other.
Coun Peter Walker, the new Lib Dem executive member for finance, lashed out at his Labour predecessor, Coun John Morris, over council spending.
If Labour had stayed in power and continued spending at the level they were prior to losing control of the borough council, there would have been a 10 per cent increase in council tax next year, he claimed.
He was responding to claims made by Coun Morris that council spending was ?out of control.?
Coun Walker said: “Coun Morris was right to point out that, in the first quarter of the new financial year, the council overspent its budget. The overspend was ?1.454m.
?What he did not say, however, was that he was in charge for most of the first quarter of the 2006/7 financial year so he should not blame the new administration. He was responsible. If spending continued at the rate set by Coun Morris, ratepayers would have to pay an additional 10 per cent on their council tax next year”.
Coun Walker continued. “Council spending got out of control because Labour, when they were in power, refused to take the difficult decisions. For example increasing social service charges to bring them in line with Government recommendations. The new administration will not shirk its responsibilities and will take the necessary action to keep the budget under control”.
Meanwhile, Coun Roy Smith, Lib Dem executive member fpr community services hit back at comments by Labour leader Terry O?Neill in which he slammed the new administration for introducing charges for disabled adults.
Coun Smith said Coun O?Neill had cynically ignored the fact that the new charges were in line with the Labour government?s fairer charging guidelines, issued in 2003, which Warrington had been criticised for not following.
He said: ?Warrington is one of the last authorities in the North West to introduce charging under the government?s guidelines. Warrington?s charge, at 80 per cent of income after taking account of disability-related benefits and expenses, is by no means the highest compared to other authorities.
? In Labour-controlled Manchester and Knowsley the charge is 100 per cent.?
Coun Smith added that widespread consultation had been carried out with service users and car providers over a period of weeks.
He said: ?I took no pleasure in proposing the introduction of these charges, but they will be based on ability to pay and every user of the services will be individually assessed.?
Grandad to cycle across
India as tribute to sister
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WARRINGTON man whose sister died last year is doing a charity cycle ride across India in her memory.
Bob Ellison, of Cross Lane, Grappenhall, hopes to raise ?2,500 for the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
He flies to Delhi on November 4 for the five-day 250-mile ride, which starts from Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. He will be camping out and staying in small hotels along the route.
Bob, 56, who worked for Lloyds TSB as a bank manager and later a principal auditor, is semi-retired and now works part time as a security officer at Manchester Airport.
He is married to Miriam and has two children and a granddaughter.
His sister, Susan Barker, 42, of Runcorn, died in June last year after suffering from a brain tumour. Her husband and four children are pleased that Bob is raising funds in her memory.
Bob said: “Organ donation was done and we have been informed that the corneas were very useful.”
He saw an advert for the RNIB ride and thought it was a suitable tribute to her.
To prepare for his trip Bob is losing weight, he started at 14 stone and hopes to reach 12 stone and four pounds. He is eating healthily and cycling regularly, building up his distances regularly.
So far he has raised ?1,600 mainly donated by family, friends and former colleagues at the bank. Anyone who would like to support him should contact Bob on 01925 266999.
Donations can also be made online at www.justgiving.com/BobEllison
“I am very much looking forward to it. It will be brilliant to see India, as I have never visited the country. It is also important to be able to do some good in memory of my sister,” he said.
Operation Crackdown:
another man arrested
by John Hendon
POLICE have arrested another man in the ongoing “Operation Crackdown” drive against drug dealers in the Warrington and Halton areas.
The man, aged 37 and of no fixed address, was arrested at an address in the Orford area of Warrington, on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs.
Another man at the address, aged 34, was also arrested on suspicion of possessing Class A drugs and abstracting electricity.
Operation Crackdown was launched in the early hours of July 12 when more than 300 police raided homes in Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn.
The total number of people now arrested stands at 21.
Five people have so far pleaded guilty to offences of supplying heroin or crack cocaine and have been sent to prison.
Naomi’s brave battle to
go on mission to Kenya
by Lesley Wilkinson
A WARRINGTON student is battling with cerebral palsy to achieve a once in a lifetime trip to Kenya in February.
Naomi Cheetham, 17, of Padgate Lane, Padgate, will study with the local Pokot Tribe for 10 days.
The trip is organised by Priestley College, Warrington, where she studies child care. She hopes to become a social worker specialising in child therapy.
Naomi, who has had the condition since birth, said if affects her balance and means she cannot walk long distances.
She will be having surgery at Warrington Hospital next summer to help reconstruct her legs to improve her walking and relieve pain. She will then take a year off before going to university.
She has a fundraising target for the trip of ?1,1000, and has so far raised ?220. Friends at the college and at Warrington Disability Partnership are helping her with fundraising.
Naomi said that she refuses to allow her disability get in her way and she sees the trip will help her personal development.
“I am really excited about the trip and see it as an equal opportunity for people with disability,” she said.
“I will be living in the community and will see their way of life. I will do two projects, on the children’s way of life and one focusing on the differences between the lives of a woman in Kenya and a woman in England,” she added.
Dave Thompson chairman of the disability partnership said: “When one meets Naomi it is immediately apparent that she is a very positive young woman who hasn’t let her disability get in the way of her achieving her aims and ambitions.
“I think the trip will assist Naomi in her personal development and she will be an excellent ambassador for the UK. Naomi’s experiences in Kenya will assist her in being a role model for other young disabled people in both Kenya and back home in Warrington,” he added.
Anyone interested in supporting Naomi should contact Jon Menzies at the partnership on 01925 240064.
Coming home from
an African adventure
by staff reporter
A GROUP of young people from Warrington who have travelled to Africa on an educational trip will return on September 6 with tales of their adventures.
The group will be at the Gateway Centre, Sankey Street, on that day sharing their experiences of their trip.
The G12 group, comprising 10 young people aged 17 to 20 and two youth workers, have flown thousands of miles to visit the Gambia as part of Warrington’s Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.
Their
trip slogan was “Giving Gold to the Gambia.” During their visit they helped build a wall for the new African Duke of Edinburgh Skill centre and to refurbish a local school.
They have each raised ?2,000 to fund their trip through sponsorship and fundraising. Through the trip they hope to fulfil two elements of the award scheme and gain personal fulfilment.
It is hoped that next year a return exchange will be planned.
Youth club serves up
a month of events
by Lesley Wilkinson
YOUNG people in Warrington will not be stuck for things to do next month thanks to a programme of events being held at the Peace Centre.
Warrington Youth Club, based at the centre, is offering lots of different opportunities to young people aged eight to 25 during September.
Dance and community safety projects are being run for ages eight to 11, young women aged 14 to 17 can sign up for a project just for girls, and anyone aged 12 to 20 interested in volunteering or youth work can take part in a unique training project.
Also on offer is an informal drop-in night for ages 11 to 16 on Tuesday nights between 7pm and 9pm, and Planet Blue, a night for young people with disabilities which runs on the first and third Thursday of every month.
Jo, a youth club member, said: “There are loads of things to choose from. You can do different projects that are good, or you can just chill out. It’s a good laugh.”
Places are limited on many of the projects so anyone interested in joining in should call Janis on 01925 581227.
[ 25.08.2006, 09:40: Message edited by: DS ]
