Norman Lamb MP, sat with Cllr Michael Mullaney, in Hinckley this week.

Norman Lamb MP (Lib Dem), the Minister of State for Care and Support in the Coalition Government, has been in Hinckley and Bosworth this week.

He was at the Atkins Centre in Hinckley, on Tuesday (April 2nd) to help launch the Leicestershire Liberal Democrats’ manifesto for the upcoming County Council elections.

Whilst here Mr Lamb praised the local Lib Dem run Borough Council and spoke about the positive changes Lib Dem Ministers were making in Government, especially highlighting his own field of health.

He also took part in a question and answer session with local Councillors and, as part of that, I asked him the following question:

“We’ve lifted the Income Tax threshold to £10,000 earlier than expected, (giving many people on average to low earnings a £700 tax cut, which is fantastic), but many people are concerned about the benefit changes being made; as we prepare to go out on to the doorsteps what (information) can you give us to tell people who are already feeling squeezed (financially)?”

In response Mr Lamb pointed out the very difficult financial circumstances the Coalition Government inherited from Labour upon taking office back in 2010 and that, therefore, tough decisions had to be made and that, though the changes will cause difficulty, for some individuals, local authorities (including here in Hinckley and Bosworth) were being given extra money to help people facing particular hardship as a result of the so-called ‘Bedroom Tax.’

This comes after I also raised the issue with Steve Webb MP, the Minister of State for Pensions in the Coalition Government, at the Liberal Democrat’s national Spring Conference at Brighton in March, when I asked him about the (I’d argue) shameful rhetoric used by certain Conservative and Labour politicians in regards to people on Welfare and to confirm that Lib Dem Ministers would never use such disgraceful language about people who find themselves in need of help from the State.

He gave me that very welcome assurance.

The Leicestershire and Rutland School Games at Loughborough University

On March 22nd I was honoured to attend the LRS Leicestershire and Rutland School Games, in my capacity as Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s Children and Young People’s Champion.

It saw hundreds of young people, from across the City and two Counties, taking part in sporting competition at the wonderful facilities at Loughborough University.

Myself and the Deputy Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, Cllr Lynda Hodgkins, were there to cheer on the team of young people from the Borough who were competing in the Games.

Our team did us proud, winning a number of trophies and coming in the medal positions in a host of sports.

At a special reception we also heard from a leading Paralympian and also former Leicester Tigers and England rugby Player, Harry Ellis, who was a School Games Ambassador.

Congratulations to all the young people and to their Coach, Chris Ripley, and his colleagues.

A great day for all concerned!

Me talking about Fairtrade at the MBHS Year 5 Science Fairs

From March 18th to 21st I was very honoured to be able to take part in the Year Five Science Fairs being held at Market Bosworth High School, as part of National Science and Engineering Week.

Hundreds of pupils, from local Primary Schools and, indeed, from Market Bosworth High School itself, took part in the event, finding out more about Science and Engineering, as well as hearing from invited local guests, of which I was one.

I was invited to talk, on each of the four days of the event, about Fairtrade, in my capacity as the Borough Council’s Fairtrade Champion.

It was very rewarding to meet such enthusiastic young people, especially how knowledgeable they already were about Fairtrade and the need to be ethical consumers.

I’m honoured to have been asked to also take part in next year’s event.

The following is the speech I made seconding a motion by Cllr Michael Mullaney at the meeting of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council on Thursday, February 21st:

“I rise to second the motion, Mr Mayor.

We need to be encouraging the Government to do all it can-and indeed us on a local basis-to help people in fuel poverty.

It is a very serious issue for many people and, as the motion makes clear, local Government does have an important role to play in helping to alleviate fuel poverty, especially with the return of public health responsibilities to local Government.

National Government needs to ensure and prioritise that the billions of pounds raised each year from the Emissions Trading Scheme and so on should go on helping take the vast majority of fuel poverty households out of fuel poverty.

We need to see a ramping up of the improvements to these homes, in terms of improving their energy efficiency.

This will help people up and down the Country, including here in Hinckley and Bosworth.

This motion builds on one I brought to Council a few months back and re-affirms this authority’s commitment to help people in fuel poverty. “

The following is the written report I gave, in my capacity as the Chairman of the Parish Council Event’s Committee, to the December Barwell Parish Council meeting:

The village’s Christmas Lights Switch On went very well, with lots of local people turning out-despite the cold weather-for the festive event.

I’d like to thank everyone who helped make the event what it was.

I can’t name everyone here, but I’d like to especially thank Andy, our Clarke, my fellow Events Committee members, the Councillors who helped (at the event itself), the local community groups and businesses who took part, the entertainers, and local Churches.

I think the lights look fantastic.

The event was a great credit to the village and the local community.

Just a couple of other things to point out; after the switch-on there was a slight problem with four lights at the bottom of High Street, which has now been resolved.

Finally, we’ve received excellent feedback on the event from the Rector at St Mary’s Church, Philip Watson.

The following is my written Borough Councillors’ report to the December Barwell Parish Council meeting:

* After being contacted by a local resident, I recently raised the issue of flooding on Hinckley Road, due to blocked drains, with Leicestershire County Council. Earlier this week I contacted the resident, to see if any action had been taken, and he said Severn Trent Water had been asked to help with the problem, which they’ve now done.

* The Barwell Christmas Lights Switch On went very well and I’ll have more on that in my Events Committee Chair’s report.

* In my role as the Borough Council’s Fairtrade Champion, in conjunction with the local Fairtrade Forum, we’ve recently appointed a Fairtrade Forum Youth Champion, and I’m pleased to say it’s a pupil from Heathfield High School. This young person will be working with the Forum, to help take the important message of Fairtrade and being ethical consumers to her fellow young people.

* And, finally, in my capacity as the Parish Council’s Youth Champion, I’d like to congratulate all involved with the Barwell Youth Cafe, which is held at the Jubilee Hall, who are due to be celebrating a year of existence soon. We now have an impressive range of youth provision across the village, which is to be greatly welcomed. I pay tribute to all who are involved with this provision, for the important work they do and positive role they play in the lives of local young people.

At the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Scrutiny Commission, on Thursday, September 27th, I made the following comments following the publication of the Council’s Culture and Sport Strategy for 2012-2017:

“I very much welcome this positive report and, with me being the Council’s Children and Young People’s Champion I’d like to focus my comments on that area in particular.

I’d like to echo the praise for the Hinckley Club For Young People, which is an excellent facility serving hundreds of young people from across our Borough.

I want to welcome the impact of this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games and agree that we need to harness that energy and I look forward to seeing the continuing success of the School Games and the Youth Games in coming years, not just for those who are elite young athletes but for all young people who enjoy taking part in sport, whatever their ability.

As some of you may know, this year we closed the Youth Council and replaced it with an exciting new scheme, for children and young people to get their voice heard, called Youth For You.

It has already had a number of meetings and the young people are currently putting together a cook book, focusing on healthy eating.

The aim is for Youth For You to be rolled out so as many young people as possible, across the Borough, can be involved.

I also want to mention the very important role of Play for young children and would especially mention the ongoing success of National Play Day, held each Summer on Argents Mead in Hinckley.

And finally, I want to mention the Borough Council’s most important role when it comes to children and young people and that is in terms of its Safeguarding role.”

At the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Scrutiny Commission, on Thursday, September 27th, I raised the following concerns about the Universal Credit, being introduced by the Government as part of its welfare reforms which were outlined in a report to Members:

“Whatever the original intention of the Government, it’s hard not to see (these changes) as an attack on the most vulnerable in society.

A number of groups have raised concerns about the Universal Credit, including Family Action.

These concerns include whether the new payments being made monthly is appropriate; whether it is too long a gap for some people to budget effectively.

Also, with the Universal Credit rolling several benefits into one lump sum; that when one component of it stops, they all stop.

Whereas currently there’s partial protection, so if there’s a problem with one benefit, others continue to be paid.

So, I await to hear more about the details, but I have serious concerns about the effect this new benefit could have.”

The following is my speech in support of the national Energy Bill Revolution campaign; last night (18/09/’12) I proposed a motion to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to support the campaign, which was passed.

“Thank you Mr Mayor,

I’m pleased to be able to move this motion, which seeks to get this Council’s support for the Energy Bill Revolution Campaign, which calls on the Government to recycle revenues from carbon taxes in to improving the energy efficiency of homes in the UK.

This is an important campaign; as the motion states already 1 in 4 households in the UK are in fuel poverty, meaning they spend more than 10% of their income on keeping their homes warm.

The problem is set to get worse, with as many as 1 in 3 households projected to be in fuel poverty by 2016; we already hear stories of people having to choose between heating and eating.

This isn’t a theoretical debate, this is something affecting communities up and down the country, including here in Hinckley and Bosworth.

Cold homes are damaging the health of vulnerable members of society, including children, older people, and people with disabilities.

Diseases such as asthma are made worse, and people are more likely to have strokes and heart attacks.

And this affects the economy and public services too, as illnesses caused by cold homes cost the NHS nearly one billion pounds each year.

As the motion makes clear, over the next fifteen years, the Government will raise an average of £4billion every year in carbon taxes through the European Emissions Trading Scheme and the Carbon Floor Price.

Recycling this revenue back into households could bring 9 out of 10 homes out of fuel poverty, lower people’s bills, cut carbon emissions, and create jobs.

This motion also calls on the Council to notify the local MP of its support for the campaign and urges them to sign Early Day Motion (EDM) 47-’Reducing Fuel Bills through Energy Efficiency.’

So, in closing, I think it’s important that we do all we can to support this vital campaign, in its efforts to call on the Government to do more to help people in fuel poverty.

Thank you, Mr Mayor.”

I focused on the following local issues in my Borough Councillor’s report to Barwell Parish Council on September 6th 2012:

* I’m a member of the Borough Council’s Scrutiny Commission and at its most recent meeting I welcomes the progress of the Credit Union in the Borough, which is based at Earl Shilton Community House and with promotion of the service at Barwell’s Community House. The Credit Union provides access to banking, access to safe and ethical affordable credit and loans, access to face to face free financial advice, for people who might otherwise be vulnerable to doorstep and pay-day lenders.

* At that same meeting, I also welcomed a report brought to Scrutiny Commission, entitled ‘Care for people suffering with dementia scrutiny review,’ and we’re now at the stage of proposing recommendations on this, including making sure all Council staff receive some training on being able to tell people about the help and support and services available to those suffering with dementia and their families.

* In my role as the Borough Council’s Children and Young People’s Champion I attended this year’s National Play Day event, held at Argent’s Mead in Hinckley, which was very well attended; lots of activities for children to enjoy and take part in. So, thanks to Rebecca Ball and her team at Cultural Services at the Borough Council for organising that.

* Also in that capacity I recently attended the Youth Open Arts prize presentation, and gave out awards, which was held at the Atkins Centre in Hinckley. Really great art created by the young people.

* In my role as the Borough Council’s Fairtrade Champion, the competition to find a Fairtrade Forum Youth Champion concludes at the end of September, so we’ll soon have a winner of that, which is great.

* Finally, I thought Barwell Carnival went really well-I do have to declare an interest there, as I’m a member of its organising committee, but it was another good day for the village.