Local MP Welcomes Government Help to Keep the Poorest Warm This Winter

Tamworth MP, Christopher Pincher, has welcomed £360,759 of funding for Staffordshire County Council to help keep the poorest people in the local area warm this winter.

This investment comes from the Government’s “Warm Homes Healthy People” fund, which invited local authorities to bid for money from the Department of Health to reduce deaths over the winter months.

This money will help fund:

• Energy efficiency projects to the most vulnerable people
• Providing residents with better advice
• Ensuring better public awareness of cold weather
• Providing staff and volunteers with fuel poverty/cold weather awareness training.

Mr Pincher said, “Tamworth residents will be pleased to know the Government is putting over a third of a million pounds behind efforts to help keep the most vulnerable members of our community warm this winter.

”Along with discounts to energy bills, boosting cold weather payments, protecting winter fuel payments and getting customers the lowest tariffs, this action shows how serious Conservatives in government are about helping people with the cost of coping with the cold.

“This is one of my major concerns at Westminster and I will do all I can to keep the cost of energy, and measures to help reduce it, in the spotlight.”

Government is Helping Disabled People into Work

The Government has recently announced more support for small businesses and disabled entrepreneurs to pay for specialised equipment and to cover the other costs facing disabled people in work.

Businesses with more than 49 employees will no longer pay towards the extra costs faced by disabled people in work – saving businesses up to £2,300 for every employee who uses the Access to Work fund.

Disabled jobseekers who want to set up their own business using the New Enterprise Allowance will now be eligible for Access to Work funding from day one of claiming Jobseekers Allowance.

Christopher Pincher said, “Under this Government, the number of disabled people in work has steadily increased.  There are now 123,000 more disabled people in work than before the election.

“This is fantastic progress, but we need to do more.  That is why this announcement is so important.  We are breaking down the barriers facing disabled people who want to work”.

Superfast Broadband is One Step Closer in Staffordshire

As 2013 dawns, Tamworth’s surrounding villages in Lichfield District are on track to get the superfast broadband it needs to help deliver jobs and boost growth after the EU gave the roll out of high speed broadband across rural areas the green light.

After several months of delay in Europe, Government pressure has resulted in the EU approving the UK’s £530 million investment in rural broadband.  This means Staffordshire County Council can now focus on delivering its new broadband infrastructure project, with £7.4million being made available by the Government – a project that will have huge benefit over the coming years for both communities and businesses.

Commenting, local MP Christopher Pincher said, “This decision is great news for Staffordshire.  Britain is in a global race and we cannot allow rural areas like Clifton Campville, Thorpe Constantine and areas close to Wigginton to get left behind because of poor internet infrastructure.  Staffordshire will now get the infrastructure to match its aspiration, providing local people and local businesses with the tools they need to get on and prosper.

“It also demonstrates how much Conservatives in the Government want to support the rural economy.  We are working hard to make sure rural areas are not left behind as the Coalition strains every sinew to help create growth, jobs and future prosperity.”

Conservative Controlled Council to Cut Borrowing and Save Taxpayers’ Money

Conservative Controlled Staffordshire County Council has pledged to reduce borrowing and cut interest payments by funding new projects with its own cash.

To make sure that less taxpayers’ money is spent servicing loans; the County Council will use its reserves and cash flows to fund spending wherever possible.  In 2011/12, Staffordshire County Council was able to save £2million by using cash in this way.

A report setting out how the County Councils investment and borrowing plans for the year ahead will be presented to Cabinet next week.

The Treasury Management, Annual Investment and Minimum Revenue Provision Strategies 2013/14 proposes that, where possible, the Council will use its own cash instead of borrowing money, whilst retaining the flexibility to take out loans if necessary.

Cllr Ian Parry, Cabinet Member for Education, Finance and Transformation on the County Council, said, “We continue to maintain a sensible approach to managing Staffordshire taxpayers’ money in these difficult times.  We are investing carefully and saving money by using cash instead of borrowing to make sure we get the best possible value for money for our residents.

“We maintained careful investments throughout the last financial year and are committed to building on this achievement despite a difficult financial situation nationally.

“At Staffordshire we pride ourselves for our efficient financial management, which means the money we have saved can be used to improve services for local people.”

Ian Parry will present the report to Cabinet for approval on Wednesday 16 January 2012.

Conservative Controlled Council Helping Businesses to Cut Energy Costs

Conservative Party Controlled Lichfield District Council is working to help businesses to cut their energy costs.

Lichfield District Council is working in partnership with Marches Energy Agency on a Business Energy Smart initiative.

The scheme aims to help local businesses to reduce the amount of fuel they waste, so they can cut their energy bills and increase their profitability.

Small and medium sized businesses across Lichfield District are being offered a range of services for free.  These include:

• A telephone support line for businesses with energy awareness tips, advice on reducing consumption, negotiation of business tariffs and more
• A bespoke report for local businesses setting out potential actions and savings (following telephone support)
• A Business Energy Smart roadshow to visit local business parks, offering energy experts, advice and resources
• An LED bulk-buy special offer for Lichfield District businesses
• Energy awareness pitches at local business gatherings

Five local businesses will also be selected to receive a visit from an energy expert who will offer a free energy audit to assess where money can be saved.

Cllr Ian Pritchard, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Health and Environmental Protection, said, “We know that many local businesses are struggling with the pressure of rising energy prices, which is why we are working in partnership with Marches Energy Agency to offer them help in how they can make their premises more energy efficient.

“By calling our Warmer Homes, Greener District energy advice line, businesses can access expert help and advice that should help to cut their costs while helping the environment.”

If you and your business would like to start saving on your energy bills this winter, call the telephone support line on 0800 677 1543.

Alternatively, email oliver@mea.org.uk for more information.

Dinner with Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Christopher Pincher Welcomes New Immigration Controls

Tamworth’s Member of Parliament, Christopher Pincher, has welcomed new policies announced by the Home Secretary to combat immigration abuses and to cut net migration still further.

At the end of last year Theresa May set out new plans to extend the use of interviews in visa applications instead of relying on paper applications alone.

The new measures come shortly after the latest migration statistics showed that the government’s reforms of all the routes of immigration have cut net immigration by a quarter, with the total number of visas issued is at its lowest since 2005.

Mr Pincher said, “Thanks to Conservative reforms we have already seen net migration cut by a quarter compared to last year and the total number of visas issued is now at it’s lowest since 2005.

“Under Labour immigration was out of control.  It accounted for more than half the growth of the English and Welsh population between 2001 and 2011 – with total net immigration of 2.2 million.

“We have a proud history of helping those that are truly persecuted.  But this new approach will help us to root out the abuse of British visas, improve the integrity of our immigration system and bring immigration under firm control so that only people who deserve to be in Britain enter Britain.

“I have spoken in two immigration debates in the last two years and will continue to encourage the government to take firm action to ensure we secure our borders and are able more easily to deport those people that should not be in Britain.  It is an issue my constituents regularly raise with me.”

The new plans will extend radically the Border Agency’s interviewing programme.  Starting with the highest-risk countries, and focusing on the route to Britain that is widely abused, student visas, the number of interviews will be increased considerably to more than 100,000, starting next financial year.  From there the interviewing programme will be extended further across all routes to Britain.

Official statistics published on 29 November 2012 showed that net migration fell to 183,000 in the year to March 2012; down from 242,000 in the year to March 2011 (ONS, Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, 29 November 2012).

New Police & Crime Commissioner Takes Action

Matthew Ellis, Staffordshire’s new Police & Crime Commissioner, has done more in his first few weeks in office than the previous Police Authority did in the last three years.

Since taking office in late November, he has announced plans to end the 3 year freeze on recruitment of new police officers and scrapped the policy that forces police, some as young as 48, to retire after 30 years service. Matthew has also pledged to take urgent action to sell the 16 acre former Police HQ estate in Stafford which has been derelict at a cost to Staffordshire taxpayers of over a million pounds each year.

Matthew said, “The previous Police Authority policies mean Staffordshire Police has been operationally squeezed at both ends for some time with no new blood joining the force because of the recruitment freeze and a wealth of valuable experience being lost because of the ‘A19’ forced retirement.”

“My decision to scrap those policies wasn’t easy because of the financial pressures all public sector bodies face. But my priority is the effective policing of Staffordshire in the future and for that reason it is absolutely the right thing to do so that crime in our county continues to fall.”

“I’m confident that the financial savings still needed can be achieved through buying better, smart collaboration on back office services across public sector bodies in Staffordshire and utilising police buildings and assets better than ever before. It will be a challenge but one I’m certain we can meet by doing things in a more businesslike way”.

And whilst Matthew has put the brakes on further amalgamations with West Midlands Police, the new year will see progress on a five point plan to increase police visibility in Staffordshire’s communities, a multi million pound investment in mobile technology meaning officers can be fully ‘data equipped on the move’ and the establishment of a new Young Police Cadets Service funded through a new business sponsored Staffordshire Corporate Social Responsibility Fund.

Matthew concluded, “Yes, there are big challenges ahead but my first few weeks in office lead me to believe that my ambitions for Staffordshire to have the most visible, technologically advanced and cost effective police service in the country are entirely achievable over the next few years.”

Local Lichfield councillor Sue Arnold joins Matthew in a part time role as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire from 1st January.

Local MP Thanks All Who Have Helped Knit Hats for Our Troops

Christopher Pincher launching the campaign in April 2012

Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, has offered a heartfelt thanks to everyone that has knitted a beanie hat in aid of local troops from 3rd Mercian battalion (The Staffords).

So far, nearly 400 hats have been generously knitted and donated by individuals and sewing circles to Mercian troops to wear under their Kevlar helmets during training and deployment.  The helmets can be very uncomfortable in high or low temperatures so a knitted beanie hat worn inside the helmet helps enormously.

Mr Pincher said, “The generous effort of our volunteers is fantastic.  This goes to show the profound respect and regard in which local people hold our brave soldiers.  So far 400 hats have been knitted.  If we can reach a target of 750 hats knitted by October 2013, we can ensure that each soldier on deployment to theatre from both 3rd and 4th battalion will get a beanie hat.

“Thank you to everyone involved in this project.  If you would like to help, or know someone else that might, please call my office on 01827 312 778.  We really want to see every deployed soldier receive a hat.”

The 3rd Mercian battalion will be deployed to Afghanistan in October 2013.  Mr Pincher will take names and addresses of everyone who helps and will invite each to take part in a “big handover” of the beanie hats to commanders of the Mercian Regiment later in 2013.

Cutting Taxes for 34,224 in Tamworth Will Help Strivers

New research has revealed that Conservatives in Government are cutting taxes for 34,224 people in Tamworth constituency in April next year and the Government will lift 1,711 local households out of tax altogether.

The Government is reforming Labour’s ‘something for nothing’ welfare culture, by capping the amount one household can get in benefits and capping the amount benefits are increased next year.  Labour opposes these reforms.

Additionally, as a result of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement a local person earning £10,000 each year is now about £500 a year better off in income tax and national insurance than they were in 2010.  Three years ago, a person would pay £1160 in tax and national insurance.  That figure has been slashed to £670.  By 2014, the tax liability will be just £360.  Similar improvements have been made to people on other low incomes in excess of £20,000.

Tamworth MP Christopher Pincher commented, “In Tamworth, if you want to work hard and get on, the Conservatives are on your side.  Your taxes will be cut so you keep more of the money you have earned.  And we are capping the increase in benefits so that benefit increases do not outstrip increases in earnings as they have done since 2008.

“Labour wants benefits to go up more than the earnings of people in work.  That just is not fair.  We will not let Ed Miliband and Ed Balls bring back Brown’s something for nothing culture.  Instead we will reward work and help people out of work get the skills and the support they need to get back into a job.”