We’ve had a successful spring conference in Southport, where we continued our hard work to raise the profile of local government.
On housing, Liberal Democrat Councillors successfully tabled a motion calling for councils to be able to abolish the Right to Buy. We confirmed our commitment to scrap the housing borrowing cap, which is also a key LGA demand. With 125,000 children currently homeless it is time to act.
We raised concerns over adult social care funding, launching our new booklet and heard from an inspirational panel of speakers. Baroness Judith Jolly spoke very movingly about the care needed for her mother and how hard pressed she saw that local authorities are, with Councillors Heather Kidd, Richard Kemp and Peter Thornton also speaking passionately about the need to reform our broken social care system.
We also held a meeting to encourage more women to stand as Liberal Democrat Councillors. The charge for this was led by Councillors Lisa Smart, Ellie Hudspith and Baroness Kath Pinnock.
I was very proud to chair a meeting that highlighted the achievements of Mayor Dave Hodgson’s Liberal Democrat led administration in Bedford.
We value the incredible work put in by our councillors and their experience – and will keep fighting for issues that matter to them and the communities they represent.