Response to Queen's Speech and Emergency Budget (Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats)

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats <info@oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk>

Response to Queen's Speech and Emergency Budget

July 20, 2010 2:30 PM
By Cllr Zoe Patrick in Cabinet meeting

Liberal Democrats were pleased to see 23 of our policies in the Queens Speech and although I don't have time to go into all of them here, just to name a few include

• Making the tax and benefits system fairer and simpler, including a significant increase in the personal allowance and an ambition to increase it to £10,000

• Restoring the earnings link to pensions

• Greater freedom for teachers over the curriculum

• Measures to improve energy efficiency in homes and businesses

• Referendum on the Alternative Vote

• Restoring freedoms and civil liberties, through the abolition of ID cards and repeal of unnecessary laws

• Giving greater powers to councils and giving neighbourhoods and communities more control over planning and housing decisions

• Enabling the creation of a national high speed rail network

• A commission on long term reform of social care

However, turning to those proposed bills which are directly relevant to the County Council:

The Academies bill: we have concerns that the problem with more schools becoming academies in Oxfordshire, leaves the question about funding for other schools. How can we make sure that they do not lose out. My group would like schools to stay within the local authority family.

No problem with the Education and Children's Bill because this will roll out the pupil premium - very much a Lib Dem policy and as I mentioned earlier, we welcome teachers being freed up to teach their children.

Decentralisation and Localism Bill again this is to be welcomed - localism has always been a very Lib Dem concept and good to see it being put into practice. We are pleased the county is picking up on the planning issues. Infrastructure to our housing developments is key and we hope this will be picked up by working alongside our district councils.

Health Bill: again agree there needs to be a focus on patients and outcomes, but still wait to see how GP's will manage the huge budgets devolved to them with the abolition of the PCT. I think the Leader is wise to wait. What we need to ensure does not happen is that costs are not shunted down to us, especially with regard to equipment for patients.

With regard to the Emergency budget we all see challenging times ahead and obviously we will debate this next week at full Council, so will reserve my comments on that until then.