I see no good reason for incinerator.
Posted by: Suffolk Labour on: June 10, 2009
Labour Cllr and lead for the environment Sandy Martin questions Tory Cllr Eddy Alcock controversial proposals and for a waste incinerator in a letter to the East Anglian Daily Times.
Sir – There are a few points in the Conservative lead councillor Eddy Alcock’s long letter about his proposed Suffolk incinerator with which I can agree.
He says the magnificent level of waste reduction and recycling in this county is due to the diligence of Suffolk people – absolutely right, but we have also got to make it possible for them to do it.
I chaired, from the county council side, the joint committee which introduced the three-bin system of household collection. Yet in the four years since the Tories have been in control they have done very little to move beyond this, despite our promptings.
Where are the local recycling sites for plastic bags, tetra-paks and clothes we have been pressing for? Why hasn’t food waste collection been extended across the whole county? Why are household waste centres such as Portman Walk in Ipswich still so inadequate?
The he says we need to treat any remaining waste to prevent methane from being released from landfill – absolutely right, but the waste should be treated in a way that deals with the problem.
Labour councillors – along with a lot of ordinary people up and down the county received would rather see targeted treatment such as anaerobic digestion, which removes the organic gases and leaves an inert residue, rather than wholesale incineration.
Then he says we need to find renewable sources of energy for the future – absolutely right, but an incinerator isn’t one of them Eddy, I’m afraid.
It will take around ten years just to generate as much energy as it has taken to build it in the first place! The proposed incinerator is for 240,000 tonnes of unrecycled household waste per annum MORE than Suffolk households currently generate and our unrecycled household waste is still coming down year on year.
Either the extra has to come from outside the county or it must come from REDUCING the amount we recycle rather than increasing it – and the real fear is that is precisely what will happen. For year after year people with a vested interest told us smoking is not unhealthy, that CFC’s posed no threat, that asbestos was perfectly safe. I know I would not want an incinerator in my back yard and I see no good reason why anyone else in Suffolk should have to have one either.
Sandy Martin
Labour Group Leader.
MP’s expenses are damaging the good work of Labour Councillors in Suffolk.
Posted by: Suffolk Labour on: June 2, 2009
Suffolk county Councillor Kevan Lim writes to the Prime Minister regarding MP’s expenses and his worrys and concerns over the damage they are causing to Suffolk’s local Labour Group for the upcoming elections of June 4th..
10 May 2009
Prime Minister,
MPs Expenses
I am writing this letter in a personal capacity but I suspect I speak for many of my colleagues.
I and many of my colleagues are currently fighting elections to the County Council. We had expected to fight these elections on the work we have been doing locally on behalf of our constituents and on the clear differences between our Labour policies in Suffolk and the policies of the Conservative administration at Suffolk County Council.
In areas like home care and social care, the future of recycling policy, the scandal of the Chief Executives salary and the issue of road maintenance, there are clear differences between our policies and those of the local Conservatives which give the voters a clear choice. We have been very successful over the last couple of years especially in Ipswich in winning and retaining seats.
However the ongoing scandal of MPs expenses is overshadowing the local elections and is bringing the whole of the political process into disrepute.
I like all of my colleagues operate under an allowance scheme determined by an independent panel and our expenses are strictly controlled both by national rules and by the Inland Revenue.
I do not see why MPs should not also operate under salaries and expenses set by an independent body.
It is a disgrace to read on a daily basis of the ways in which MPs and Lords of all parties have manipulated the system and these abuses have to end. I am extremely angry that all the hard work and dedication shown by Labour councillors in Suffolk could be undone by the shameful way in which some MPs have used the system to enhance their own personal lifestyle at the taxpayers expense.
You have a responsibility as Prime Minister and Leader of the party to ensure urgent action is taken to end this damaging fiasco and to restore some credibility in the public mind to the political process. The government should commit to accepting the recommendations of the independent review and should ensure that MPs will no longer able to determine their own salaries and expenses.
I am happy to stand on my record as a local councillor and be judged by my electorate. I suspect however that some of us will be judged by the electorate not on our own records but on the behaviour of greedy MPs.
However of even more importance is the ongoing damage the revelations on MPs expenses are doing to all politicians. This is damaging for the political process in the UK and for the long term future of the Labour Party.
I hope therefore that you will take decisive action to ensure that trust in the parliamentary process is restored and that the scandal of MPs expenses ends as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
County Councillor Kevan Lim
In the light of all the anger over MP’s expenses it is staggering that the Conservative county councillor responsible for charging from £9 to £31 a week for home care to some of the most vulnerable and elderly in Suffolk should make the following press statement in response to concerns about his local MP.
But Felixstowe county councillor Graham Newman said it was perfectly reasonable that MPs should be able to claim for gardening. “I would rather our MP devoted himself to constituents’ problems at weekends without having to worry about mowing the lawn.”
Heart Attack Services update from the Suffolk Labour Group
Posted by: Suffolk Labour on: June 1, 2009
Suffolk County Council Labour Group today called on the Strategic Health Authority and NHS Suffolk to fully co-operate with the review of the impact of proposed Heart Attack treatment changes for Ipswich and East Suffolk and the examination now agreed by Suffolk County Councils Health Scrutiny Committee on the 20th July 2009 of those changes
County Councillor Kevan Lim, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group said,
I have been pressing for two weeks to ensure that the scrutiny committee at Suffolk County Council seriously considers the impact of these proposed changes as soon as possible after the local elections. That has now been agreed.
This is not a political issue. This is a question of what is best for people in Ipswich and East Suffolk.
In the light of the massive public concern about the transfer of certain heart attacks to specialist centres outside Suffolk, the Health Service needs to;
- Provide a full and frank examination of the implications of these changes for people in Suffolk at the meeting on the 20th July.
- Explain what would be the impact on coronary care at Ipswich. Hospital?
- Explain why the service cannot be retained in full in Ipswich.
- Ensure that the views of people in Ipswich and Suffolk are seriously considered before any final decision is made by the review being undertaken by Professor Roger Boyle.
- Calls upon the County Council to ensure the scrutiny meeting on the 20th July 2009 is well publicised and that maximum opportunity is given to those opposing the changes to express their views.
Please let Labour Councillors know your feelings on the proposed Heart Attack Service changes to Ipswich NHS in the comments box below.
The Forgotten 2000
Posted by: Suffolk Labour on: May 29, 2009
In official figures provided to Suffolk County Council Labour group, the county council has confirmed that following the Conservatives introduction in 2007 of a tougher assessment regime and then in 2008 by ending the county councils free home care scheme, the numbers of people in Suffolk receiving home care fell by 2200.
County Councillor Kevan Lim, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group said.
These figures are a damning indictment of the Conservatives lack of care for elderly people in Suffolk.
In 2005 when they took control of Suffolk, over 5600 people were getting home care, over 80% of whom were getting free home care. By 2008 when they had scrapped the free care scheme introduced by the previous labour led administration the number of people getting home care had fallen to 3500, with over 80% now paying.
It has been well known that demand for services for the elderly in Suffolk has been rising at a dramatic rate. There are over 18,500 people above the age of 85 currently living in Suffolk and this number is due to rise to 24,300 within 10 years. Despite this demand the county council is excluding the vast majority of vulnerable people by charging and pricing many Suffolk residents out of vital home care needs.
The reality is that many people are now being forced because of the costs of £9 to £31 a week out of the home care service and will be relying on the kindness of relatives.
For a council with one of the highest paid Chief Executives in the country its clear where Suffolk Conservatives have their priorities.
The Labour Group will end this burden of charging the most vulnerable and will bring back free home care if elected to lead Suffolk County Council.
Cllr Lim puts the record straight on Tory failings in Suffolk Home Care.
Posted by: Suffolk Labour on: May 29, 2009
Cllr Kevan Lim sets the record straight with a letter in reply to Conservative Cllr and portfolio holder for Adult and Communtiy Services original letter to the Evening Star on the 27th May 2009.
Editor,
I refer to the letter from Councillor Newman on behalf of the Conservative administration at Suffolk County Council accusing me of misleading the public about the reductions in free home care and cuts to adult care spending in Suffolk by the Conservatives.
So lets look at those so called myths.
I chaired the county committee that in 2003 introduced the free home care scheme. By 2005 when the conservatives won control of the county council, over 5600 people were getting home care with 80% getting it for free. That is 4400 people.
In 2007 the Conservatives increased the charges and reduced dramatically the number of people eligible for free home care. By 2008 the number of people receiving home care in Suffolk was down to 3500 with only 20% getting it for free. That’s 750 people.
Figures confirmed by the county council.
That’s a cut in anyone’s language.
And that’s a dramatic reduction in people using the service when demand for home care and for adult services is increasing in Suffolk due to an ageing population.
Councillor Newman also says “We have NOT cut funding at all, let alone by £56 million on adult services.
We are now investing “20 million a year more than in 2005.
What Councillor Newman fails to mention is the extra demand for services which means the county council should be spending at least an extra £70 million pound a year just to stand still in providing services for the elderly and vulnerable. Secondly in any case its not the conservatives who are investing the money. As well as extra millions from government over the last 4 years, the conservatives are now taking over £32 million a year in charges from the elderly and vulnerable. So its those elderly and vulnerable users of the service who are paying for Councillor Newmans investment.
Home care is one of the key services the county council provides. Its the one way of ensuring that a person who wants to, can spend the last years of life at home and can do so in some sort of dignity. Instead many people are being priced out of the service by the conservatives charging policy.
This is a matter of choice. It costs about £218,000 a year to provide free home care for 1000 people or you can have one Chief Executive at Suffolk County Council for the same money. I know which I would choose.
Kevan Lim
County Councillor, Ipswich St Helens
Suffolk and Norfolk Police Merger?
Posted by: Suffolk Labour on: May 26, 2009
Labour Councillors on the Suffolk Police Authority have opposed the suggested merger of the two police forces currently being discussed.
Suffolk Constabulary currently provides a high-quality policing service at a lower cost per resident than many similar forces, including Norfolk.
If Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies were to merge, there would have to be one police council tax precept charged across both counties.
If Suffolk were to match Norfolk, this would mean a 19% increase in precept for all Suffolk council taxpayers.
If the Norfolk precept was reduced to Suffolk levels there would be a large cut in the budget available to the new combined force, with cuts to police numbers.
If the existing overall budget was retained, and the precepts made the same in both counties, this would still mean a large precept increase for Suffolk residents.
Labour members of the Suffolk Police Authority do not believe that a merger would improve policing in Suffolk now, although we actively support collaboration on specific projects to save money and increase service quality.
What do you think about a merger?
We would like to hear your views about the future of our police service in Suffolk.
Labour Group members of the Suffolk Police Authority are;
Cllr Sue Thomas,
Cllr Julian Swainson
Cllr Jane Hore
Labour Pledge on School Changes.
Posted by: Suffolk Labour on: May 26, 2009
Labour councillors have promised to stop the Tory middle school closure programme immediately after the June 4th election, and to start a proper consultation process with everyone involved in our schools, including parents, teachers, governors and children. This must be undertaken before any permanent changes are made to Suffolk schools. Labour will listen to the school community, not ride roughshod over it.
The campaign group “Parents Against Change” have endorsed Labour candidates where they consider that Labour has the best chance of winning against the Tories. These candidates are listed below, and have been publicised on the PAC website. In recommending more Labour candidates than any other party the PAC campaign clearly show that Labour is the party trusted most to manage our schools in Suffolk.
List of Labour candidates approved by the PAC for the upcoming June 4th Elections.
Babergh;
Great Cornard, Kevin Craig
Sudbury, Jack Owen
Sudbusry East, Simon Clarke
Forest Heath;
Mildenhall, Gillian Vallack
Row Heath, Tom Caple
Ipswich;
Bixley, Lindsey Rawlingson
Bridge, Bryony rudkin
Chantry, Keith Rawlingson
Chantry, Peter Gardiner
Gainsborough, Bill Quinton
Priory Heath, Susan Maguire
Rushmere, Sue Thomas
St Helens, Kevan Lim
St Johns, Sandy Martin
Whitehouse & Whitton Martin Goonan
Whitehouse & Wihotton Tony Lewis
St Edmundsbury;
Haverhill Cangle Lisa Carr
Haverhill Cangle Patrick Hanlon
Haverhill East & Kedington Daniel Summers
Tower, Kevin Hind
Tower, Kevin Waterson
Suffolk Coastal;
Aldeburgh & Leiston Terry Hodgson
Waveney;
Beccles, John Taylor
Beccles, Keith Jenkins
Bungay, Lynn Caswell
Gunton, David Thomas
Gunton, Keith Patience
Halesworth, Peter Coghill
Kessingland & Southwold, Jacki Wheatley
Lowestoft South, Jane Hore
Lowestoft South, Julian Swainson
Oulton, Allyson Barron
Oulton, Malcolm Cherry
Pakefield, Peter Byatt
Pakefield, Roger Bellham.
Please do visit the “parents against change” website for more information
Labour Councillor Kevan Lim challenges the Tories Manifesto claims on social care.
Posted by: Suffolk Labour on: May 20, 2009
Evening Star LetterSuffolk Labour county councillor Kevan Lim has written to the Evening Star challenging the Tories Manifesto claims that they have made the biggest impact on providing vulnerable adults with a more ‘efficient, adaptable and responsive service’.
Read Cllr Lim’s letter below.
Labour group ask for County Council Health Scrutiny Committee to fully investigate the changes to the Heart attack service at Ipswich.
Posted by: Suffolk Labour on: May 15, 2009
Suffolk County Council Labour Group today issued the following statement about the proposed changes to heart attack provision in Ipswich.
In the light of the conflicting views about the benefits to patients we have requested Suffolk County Council Health Scrutiny Committee to fully investigate the changes to reassure themselves and people in Ipswich that the changes are in the best interests of patients and will not damage coronary services at Ipswich Hospital.
Statement
“We understand the public concern about the creation of specialist heart attack services in Cambridge and Norwich and the impact this may have on the coronary unit at Ipswich Hospital. Whilst these proposals have been under consideration for over a year and are promised by the Strategic Health Authority to deliver better survival rates for those heart attack victims affected, it is important that the public are reassured that these changes are in the best interest of patients and their families.
Whilst we note that the Strategic Health Authority will be monitoring the impact on the 25 per cent of heart attack victims in Suffolk who will need to be transported to the specialist centres, it is vital that there is independent monitoring of the impact on patient care for people from Ipswich. We have therefore asked the Chair of the Suffolk Health Scrutiny committee to ensure that this issue is one of the first items for consideration after the county council elections. This he has agreed will happen.
We therefore ask the Strategic Health Authority to ensure full co-operation with Suffolk Health Scrutiny committee to make certain there is a full independent review of the impact so that the public can be reassured these changes are in patient’s best interests.”
A letter has been sent to Dr Paul Watson, Director of Commissioning at the Strategic Health Authority seeking the assurance that they will fully co-operate with the review by Suffolk’s Health Scrutiny Committee. The current chairman of Health Scrutiny at Suffolk, Councillor David Lockwood has agreed that this will be on the first agenda for consideration at the next meeting of the scrutiny committee”.
Suffolk Labour Group Manifesto.
Posted by: Suffolk Labour on: May 7, 2009
Suffolk Labour Councillors have drawn up a manifesto that addresses the key concerns of Suffolk voters in a short and easily readable form.
Key points include a cap on excessive salaries, a stop to the school reorganisation fiasco and re-introduction of a decent and fair system of home care services.
Labour councillors will use their experience to return competent control to Suffolk County Council after four years of Tory misrule.
Labour will return competence to Suffolk County Council. We are an experienced group of councillors who listen to our electors and will work hard to give excellent services at better value for money. It is time to listen to the voters of Suffolk.
Five key themes
- Putting our environment first
- Value for money
- A fair county for everyone
- A council that listens to you
- Constantly improving our services
Putting our environment first.
Everybody recognises the need to change the way we do things to reduce our demands on our environment. We will make real improvement in the way the council works, not just make bold claims and carry on as before. Every decision of the council will be tested for sustainability and there will be a programme of improvement with demanding targets so that electors can judge progress. We will reverse the decision to build a massive and expensive waste incinerator and step up measures that help every householder to reduce, re-use and recycle waste with friendly and local facilities. Council members and staff will be expected to champion the best possible environmental practices, and lead by example.
Value for money.
We know that nobody likes waste, and that voters will not tolerate a council that spends excessively. We will introduce a new financial rigour to management of the county council. Excessive salaries and consultant fees will stop, and all services will be subject to a thorough procurement review process. We will undertake a complete review of council buildings and properties to ensure that they are efficient and sustainable if needed for service provision, or if not required sold to deliver usable funds. Services provided to the council by contractors will be subject to a new regime of thorough scrutiny to ensure that no money is wasted through inefficiencies.
A fair county for everyone.
We will restore free home care services to those who need a bit of help to lead their lives with comfort and dignity. We will work more closely with health, housing and other service providers to ensure a comprehensive but efficient response to individual needs. We will set new higher standards for public transport and cyclists and pedestrians in Suffolk to ensure that everyone has a real choice of sustainable travel options.
A council that listens to you.
We will take steps to listen carefully to local communities before decisions are taken, instead of trying to cover up bad decisions with spin and PR. It is time to stop the changes to our schools until we have listened to the views of the real experts – the parents, children, teachers and governors of our schools. If you tell us that the council has made a mistake, we will not ignore you but listen and improve the way we work together with you. A council covering a big area can seem very remote, so we will make sure that you can talk to your local councillors in regular and informal get-togethers.
Constantly improving our services.
Labour councillors in Suffolk know how important quality services are to you. We will support council staff to keep improving the services they deliver for us, and we will constantly check that our services are as good and cost effective as those from the best councils across the country. We will make full use of the skills and resources of the council to respond to your needs in a constantly changing and challenging world.
Cllr Julian Swainson, Leader of the Labour Group
