Lib Dem Pupil Premium – A Message from Nick Clegg
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 by aldcadmin
For me, nothing better illustrates the Liberal Democrat mission to make Britain a fairer place than our Pupil Premium: extra money for the most disadvantaged children in our schools.

We are letting schools decide the best way to spend this money.  I want to strike a deal with our schools and teachers: we’ll give you the cash, the freedom, and we’ll reward and celebrate your success.  But in return, we want you to redouble your efforts to close the gap between your poorer pupils and everyone else.  We won’t be telling you what to do; but we will be watching what you achieve.

(Click picture to play video)

It is shameful that, despite all the promise on a four or five year old’s first day at school, or the passion of their teachers, you can all too often plot that child’s path just by asking how much their parents earn.

The £2.5billion Pupil Premium was one of the four pledges on the front page of our manifesto.  And now, with Liberal Democrats in government, schools are using the money for things like breakfast clubs; homework clubs; or to provide one-to-one-tuition. These are the sort of experiences many middle class children take for granted but a poorer child might rarely enjoy.

Yesterday I visited a fantastic primary school to see how they are spending their Pupil Premium, highlight our new Summer Schools to ease the transition from primary to secondary, and to set out our plans to reward teachers and hold schools to account.

The Pupil Premium shows that, in tough times, we are implementing Liberal Democrat values and prioritising help for those pupils who need it most.

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg MP

Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister

PS Click here to find out how much money your local school will receive from the Liberal Democrats’ Pupil Premium.

Be Clear on Cancer – National Lung Cancer Awareness Campaign
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 by aldcadmin

This week, Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat minister at the Department of Health) has launched a national £4 million lung cancer awareness campaign. The campaign, the first of its kind, will use TV, radio and press adverts, and advertising on pharmacist bags and inside GP surgeries, to raise awareness of the disease.

One of its aims is to persuade anyone who has had a cough for more than three weeks to see their doctor.

You can find more information about coughing and lung cancer at the Department of Health website, here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/05/coughing-could-be-a-sign-of-lung-cancer-2/

With 33,000 new cases diagnosed each year, lung cancer is a blight on the lives of far too many of our families and an early diagnosis can make all the difference. Please take the opportunity of the Be Clear on Cancer campaign to find out more about prevention and diagnosis, and to visit your local doctor if you’ve had a persistent cough – it is always better to be safe than sorry!

http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/tag/be-clear-on-cancer/

Got your postal Ballot?
Posted April 24, 2012 * Comments(0)

They should be hitting doormats today so look out for yours!

It’s your chance to support the re-election of your hard working Liberal Democrat Councillor, Allan Witherick.

Allan by Pioneer

Allan has campaigned for local groups

Just ensure that you post it as soon as possible so that it gets to the Council in time!

And remember- it’s not too late to vote by proxy if you can’t make it to the polling station!

If you wish to vote by proxy just fill in an application form, sign it, and send it to the elections team at the Council’s offices at the Civic Centre, St Peter’s Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3JE. Application forms to vote by proxy must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 25 April. More information about voting by proxy and the relevant registration forms are available at: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/how_do_i_vote/voting_by_proxy.aspx

Wasting time in council? Or fighting for residents?
Posted April 19, 2012 * Comments(0)

It’s easy to be critical on the council, to stoke fears and throw things out to the media which are sensational and will make the headlines.

Sometimes the fears can be justified, other times they obscure the real work being done to improve things. For us it was sad to see the almost hysterical cries from the sole Green Councillor that our main recycling site was going to be shut down, despite clear reassurances that this was not the case.

Allan Witherick’s amendment to try and look positively at the situation and seek to improve the site was voted down by the Tory and Labour group.  They both argued along with the sole Green Councillor that we should be fighting just for the status quo with no reduction, rather than having the foresight to look for how we could enhance provisions for local residents.

Thankfully though the Liberal Democrats pushed through a proposal to look at INCREASING capacity at the St Albans recycling site which has now been agreed in principle by the Tory run Cabinet.

Cllr Allan Witherick said “It’s taken a while with the Liberal Democrats continually pushing with both amendments and motions being pushed at Full Council to make a positive difference.  I’m glad that this looks to be reaching fruition now the other parties are listening to us and the needs of residents.”

For more information on recycling locally check out the website: http://recyclingforapremier.com/ which was launched when the Liberal Democrats ran the District Council.

No Lib Dem Council Has Raised Council Tax – Tim Farron
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 by aldcadmin

Official reports have confirmed that no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has increased council tax for their residents. This is unlike both other major parties, many of which are increasing council tax by up to 3.5% this year.

Commenting on Labour and Conservative councils’ record on Council Tax, Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said:

“While Labour and the Tories fight over how many of their councils raised Council Tax, it’s clear that with the Liberal Democrats your money is safest: no Liberal Democrat-run council in England has raised Council Tax.

“Ordinary working families are struggling already with paying bills, without their councils increasing the burden.

“The choice in next month’s elections is clear: vote Liberal Democrat for financially responsible councils that create jobs. Vote Labour and the Tories for waste, mismanagement and tax rises.”

As well as freezing council tax across the country, Liberal Democrat councils are protecting front-line services, fighting to keep libraries and Sure Start centres open. This is in addition to the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government, which after the Budget include a £130 income tax cut for all working families, the largest-ever rise in the basic state pension, an increase in child tax credits for the poorest families, and an increase in the Lib Dem Pupil Premium to £600 for every pupil receiving Free School Meals.

At every level of government, the Liberal Democrats are cutting taxes for low- and middle-earners and better targeting help to those that need it the most. It is a record of financial responsibility of which we can be proud.


St Albans Tory MP helps flag up the positives about Europe
Posted April 17, 2012 * Comments(0)

There’s nothing quite so satisfying as when an Anti-European asks a questions and gets the opposite answer to what they expected…

In our local case the St Albans Tory MP asked a good, decent question which has been recorded in Hansard:
“How much an average household would save each year by 2020 if the Energy Company Obligation, EU Emission Trading Scheme, Carbon Floor Price, Renewables Obligation, Green Deal and feed-in-tariffs were removed and electricity market reform discontinued.”

Of course her assumption is Europe = Bad, that regulation must have a negative impact. But sometimes regulations are there for a reason.  The ideas coming out of the EU are the same as you or I would try to make a positive difference.

The response from the Tory Minister of State on Energy and Climate Change?

“DECC estimates that energy and climate change policies will lead to average household energy bills that are 7% lower in 2020 than they would be if these policies were never introduced. This net saving includes the impact of the energy company obligation, EU emission trading system, carbon price floor, renewables obligation (RO), Green Deal, feed-in tariffs (FITs) and electricity market reform (EMR) as well as other policies.”

A reminder that the Liberal Democrats push for a better environment for all is as valid now in the hard times as it was in the good times.

Why start thinking now about Winter?!
Posted April 15, 2012 * Comments(0)

Liberal Democrat Councillor Allan Witherick is thinking about winter already…

“About this time last year I was sorting out the Double-glazing for my flat.  Now is the time to try and get those little changes done to the house to make it warmer and better for when Winter finally arrives.  Things like double glazing, boilers, even cavity wall insulation tend to be easier to do when the weathers not too bad.”

The Home Heat Helpline has been around for awhile, but many people don’t know about it- so it’s worth mentioning it to relatives who might not have come across it.

With energy bills now only ever seeming to go up it helps people save money whilst also being good for the wallet and the environment.

The Home Heat Helpline is a free, not-for-profit phone line to help people who are struggling to pay their energy bills and keep warm.  It can be contacted on 0800 33 66 99 or via their website: www.homeheathelpline.org.uk.

Local Elections 2012 – Video
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012 by aldcadmin

A first look at part of this week’s Liberal Democrat Local Election Broadcast. This clip looks at our key pledge to cut taxes for working families, and celebrates the fact that Liberal Democrats in government have achieved:

  • The biggest-ever single uplift in the tax-free personal allowance
  • A £3.5 billion tax cut for working men and women
  • 840,000 of the lowest earners in the country lifted completely out of paying Income Tax

Next year, the allowance increases again (to £9,205) – within touching distance of our manifesto promise to increase the Income Tax threshold to £10,000.

These are all significant achievements that are already making a difference for millions of hard-working men and women across Britain. Real change for real families in tough times – promised and delivered by the Liberal Democrats.

The last thing you think of… well maybe you shouldn’t have to.
Posted April 10, 2012 * Comments(0)

It doesn’t matter whether you’re welcoming a new life in to the world, or giving a farewell as another leaves, there’s always a load of paperwork attached!

It’s not the thing which instantly comes to mind, it’s not exactly what most of us want to be dealing with as a priority, things are stressed enough at those times, however, it is a necessity.

One of the things we’ve done to try and make life a little bit easier though is get a “Tell us Once” system in place.

The process is simple and we hope will help make life easier.

The organisations that will be informed are:

In the event of a death:

Department for Work and Pensions

  • Pension, Disability and Carers Service
  • Jobcentre Plus
  • Overseas Health Team

Ministry of Defence, Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

  • War Pensions Scheme

HM Revenue & Customs

  • Child Benefit
  • Child Tax Credit & Working Tax Credit
  • Personal Taxation

Identity and Passport Service

  • Council Housing
  • Council Tax
  • Libraries
  • Blue Badges
  • Adult Services
  • Children’s Services
  • Collection of payment for council services
  • Electoral services
  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

These organisations can also be told if requested:

  • Local Councils
  • Housing Benefit Office
  • Council Tax Benefit Office

For a birth

  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Jobcentre Plus
  • Housing Benefit Office
  • Council Tax Benefit Office
  • Library Services
  • Children’s Services (Family Information Services)
  • HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
  • Child Benefit
  • Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit

Those who would like more information on this service can call the Hertfordshire Registration Service on 0300 123 4045, or visit http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-community/register/

Free food <- thought that might interest you…
Posted April 7, 2012 * Comments(0)

Although the minute I add “school dinners” it might have turned you off, but it has to be said, school meals have REALLY improved over the decades, with a wide variety now on offer which seeks to be balanced and nutritious.

But for some they are out of range due to the cost, but perhaps not.  For some young people it provides a vital meal and gives access not just to other resources, but thank to the Liberal Democrats, gives the school extra funding via the Pupil Premium to help provide extra support.

Parents and carers could be eligible for free school meals and they can quickly find out whether they qualify and apply online at www.hertsdirect.org/freeschoolmeals. This could save families over £300 per child per year and in most cases there is no need to provide proof of benefit.

There is a wealth of information online at the School Food Trust web site (www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk) to help parents and carers make informed decisions on school meals as well as the diet and health of their children.

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