Uncategorised - South Gloucestershire Labour Councillors

Coronavirus

South Gloucestershire Council has lots of useful information for residents on their website including information about health and wellbeing, education, information for carers and residents, services for businesses and employers, and service disruption – just click on the following link: https://beta.southglos.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/health-services/covid19/ The South Glos Council website also includes a page listing…

Whatever Happened to Democracy and Accountability at South Gloucestershire Council?

PRESS RELEASE The Labour Group at South Gloucestershire Council have accused the Leader of the Council, Toby Savage of trampling over local democracy with his cancellation of yet another Full Council meeting on 18th March. Labour group leader Pat Rooney said: “The Leader of the Council has cancelled yet another…

Labour Budget Amendment to save Pod in the Park voted down by Tory Administration

PRESS RELEASE As part of our amendments to the South Gloucestershire Council Budget for the forthcoming year the Labour group of councillors proposed a Budget amendment which included funding of £40,000 to allow the Pod in the Park in Filton to reopen for 1 year. Filton councillor Adam Monk said:…

Labour Group at South Gloucestershire Council accuses Tory Administration of Failing Residents

PRESS RELEASE The Labour Group at South Gloucestershire Council has accused the ruling Conservative administration of failing residents in three key areas: Schools, Metrobus, and the Joint Spatial Plan. Pat Rooney, Leader of the Labour Group said: “The Conservatives have been in control of South Glos for the past 10…

South Glos Council cannot achieve the Government’s per Pupil Minimum for Schools in the Area

PRESS RELEASE The ruling Conservatives on South Glos Council have admitted that the Government’s funding per pupil cannot technically be achieved, and they are seeking approval from the Secretary of State before they can approve their Schools budget. The new Conservative Government pledged that pupil funding will reach £5000 a…

Staple Hill and Mangotsfield councillors celebrate new Bus Shelter!

PRESS RELEASE Councillors Michael Bell, Ian Boulton and Katie Cooper are today celebrating the installation of a long-awaited bus shelter in Mangotsfield Road. Councillor Michael Bell said “After my many requests to South Gloucester Council for a bus shelter in Mangotsfield Road to serve the Y5 Bus into Bristol Bus…

South Glos Labour Councillors react to General Election Results

PRESS RELEASE Labour Councillors on South Gloucestershire Council are very disappointed by the results of the General Election, which now means we have a majority Conservative Government for the next 5 years, presenting a huge danger to our already fragile public services, and the lives of our constituents who rely…

MP refuses School’s request to remove Photo from his Election Leaflet

PRESS RELEASE In his election leaflet Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke is pictured standing in the grounds of Christchurch Junior School. On 16th November the School tweeted Mr Lopresti to say “I am politely requesting that you remove @CCJDownend picture from your leaflet campaign. We cannot and…

Labour questions new jobs to support the Cabinet

South Gloucestershire’s Labour Group Leader is raising questions about the creation of three new jobs to support the district’s Conservative Cabinet. At the Council’s Annual Meeting held this week, the ruling Conservatives agreed to appoint three of their number to support the executive Cabinet, and these may end up receiving…

Labour Group’s new team

Labour’s councillors on South Gloucestershire Council have been appointed to specific roles following last week’s local election. Almost half of the group is new, and now contains a majority of women members for the first time. The post holders are: Leader Councillor Pat Rooney Deputy Leader and Lead on the Scrutiny…

South Gloucestershire Council Labour candidates

Here is the list of every Labour candidate standing in the South Gloucestershire Council election on Thursday 2nd May 2019. To check which ward you live in, enter your postcode on this website – https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk

Correcting fake history

The Conservative Council Leader has lately been referencing a so-called “Labour-Lib Dem Coalition” that allegedly ran South Gloucestershire sometime. No such Coalition ever existed. Labour Group Leader Councillor Pat Rooney made this speech to Cabinet this afternoon which clearly spells out why this is a fantasy. “I have heard the…

Council Leadership “rubbishing their Tory predecessors”

A former Chair of South Gloucestershire Council says that the authority’s current Conservative leadership is publicly rubbishing their party predecessors. Councillor Ian Boulton, who was Chair in 2013/14, has made the comments after a Council meeting in which the ruling Tories repeatedly criticised the failings of previous administrations. Councillor Boulton…

Cabinet chooses not to address budget chasm

South Gloucestershire’s Conservative Cabinet has backed away from taking a major step to deal with a deficit in the budget for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). In a recent public consultation exercise the Tory-run council expressed its preference to move £3 million from the budget for mainstream…

School crisis “naïve” comment criticised

South Gloucestershire’s Conservative leader is being criticised for branding those who believe a recent BBC2 documentary exposing school pressures as “naïve”. The six-part School series was filmed over a year in three South Gloucestershire schools and has raised a national debate about the stresses that state schools face. At yesterday’s…

Mayor urged to involve locals in High Street plans

The six councillors representing Kingswood town centre have urged Metro Mayor Tim Bowles and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to involve them and local community groups in a new pilot to regenerate their high street. They are unhappy that an outline business case has been submitted without the…

MP’s conversion on Patchway road closure ‘cynically timed’

A local councillor who has consistently campaigned against the Tories’ closure of a road on his patch says he is suspicious about the local MP’s claims to want it reopened. Highwood Road in Patchway was closed to most traffic back in 2012 in order to become a bus priority route.…

Concern over care providers’ financial difficulties

Labour’s spokesperson for adult care services on South Gloucestershire Council is raising his concern about the possible impact of worrying news that a growing number of major care home providers are in financial difficulties. At the last South Gloucestershire Council meeting, Councillor Martin Farmer asked if the Conservative Executive Councillor…

Tribute paid as councillor resigns

The leader of South Gloucestershire’s Labour councillors has paid tribute to a colleague who has stood down due to ongoing health issues. Councillor Eve Orpen, who has been undergoing cancer treatment for over two years, submitted her resignation from the council today. Councillor Orpen says: “I have found it difficult…

Make Kingswood high street pilot, says Labour

Kingswood’s Labour councillors are urging the West of England’s Conservative decision makers to select their town centre as South Gloucestershire’s pilot area for high street investment. The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) today announced that up to £10m is set to be invested in boosting the region’s high streets,…

Rough deal for rough sleepers

Rough sleepers in South Gloucestershire may not benefit from the government’s latest initiative, the district’s Conservative council has conceded. At the Council meeting last week, Labour councillor April Begley questioned the impact on South Gloucestershire of the national Rough Sleepers Strategy, launched back in August. She was told that the…