New proposals for tackling critical Norfolk issues unveiled
February 15, 2008 12:00 AM
Lib Dems reveal their ideas for better ways of spending Norfolk taxpayers' money
A set of proposed new initiatives targeted at tackling critical Norfolk issues such as hospital bed-blocking, a shortage of firefighters in rural parts of the county and failing schools will be unveiled on Monday when Liberal Democrats announce their proposals for changing the County Council's future spending plans.
The Liberal Democrats will submit an amendment to the budget being debated next week at the meeting of Norfolk County Council that includes the following suggested changes:
• doubling investment in schools advisers to prevent Norfolk schools from failing
• adding more urgently needed funding to ensure Norfolk has enough firefighters in rural areas
• £50k more savings from better joint working between adult social care and health services and investment in a new champion for seamless service provision for service users
• more than £150,000 extra on youth services
• more than £1m on projects that will help the environment by reducing car use, packaging waste and CO2 emissions, including a new face to face travel planning service for Norfolk residents
• more than £100k on making access to council services easier for Norfolk people - providing better support for disabled service users, more services online and funds for local people to access direct from their local councillors for community improvement projects
• a 10% increase in funding for assistive technology for people with disabilities, which could provide more than 1000 fall detectors for older people or 135 whole house sensor systems for carers to monitor activity of those with mental health problems
• double the funding for schools museums trips - enabling 2,800 more pupils in deprived areas of Norfolk to benefit from free access to museums with transport provided
The Liberal Democrats will seek the Council's agreement to make these and other changes at the meeting on Monday, and will set out evidence of how they believe this can be done without making any cuts to existing funding levels for services or seeking and with a lower rate of council tax than that currently proposed by the Council's Executive.
Speaking about the proposals, Leader of the County's Liberal Democrats, Paul Morse, said:
"These ideas give an overview of what Norfolk voters would get if they elected a Liberal Democrat county council. Our proposals reflect the priorities of the Liberal Democrat group as a whole: Evolution, Environment, Engagement, Equality. We want to see the Council quickly evolve into something fit for the twenty-first century, with increased access to information online and more economical working methods and buildings. We want recognition from this Conservative administration that climate change is real and must become more of a financial priority if we are to safeguard Norfolk lives and homes. We want to see genuine engagement with local people and organisations: a champion for care users to tackle Norfolk's bed-blocking crisis and direct access for residents to funds for community projects. Above all, we want to see equality of opportunity for Norfolk's residents - that means more support for EVERY Norfolk child, more assistance for people with disabilities and better services in our neglected rural areas."
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