Conservatives Keep Control of Staffordshire County Council

The Conservative Party has kept control of Staffordshire County Council for four more years following Thursday’s election results.

Prior to the election on Thursday, 2 May, sections of the media suggested control of the County Council would change, but despite those claims the Conservative party kept control with a reduced majority.

Both the County Council Leader, Phillip Atkins (Uttoxeter Rural), and Deputy Leader, Ben Adams (Perrycrofts), held onto their seats.

Despite losing seats, the residents of Staffordshire have said business as usual for four more years!

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Tamworth’s MP Hands Over 50 Page Petition Opposing Hospital Parking Charges

Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, this week handed in a petition signed by 2000 people who oppose the newly introduced parking charges at Sir Robert Peel Hospital.

Mr Pincher also met with Helen Ashley, Chief Executive of Burton NHS Foundation Trust, to hand over the petition and make clear his concerns about the plans.

Mr Pincher said, “Thank you to all of the people who have signed my petition.  I continue to believe that these charges, and the way they have been introduced, are unfair.  It is not right to expect people to worry about paying for parking when visiting loved ones in hospital.

“I have written to Ms Ashley highlighting my concerns over the parking charges and their potential effects of the surrounding area and she has committed to respond to me.  I am meeting Ms Ashley on Friday [3rd May] and will again raise my unanswered concerns over the parking charges and ask her to persuade her Board to revise their decision.”

The petition was available to sign on line and was place in a number of GP surgeries, chemists and local shops around the town.  The parking charges were introduced in April and charges range from 80p to £6.

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Christopher Pincher Calls for Improvement in Scrutiny of Government Expenditure

Yesterday in the House of Commons during questions to the Leader of the House, Tamworth’s MP Christopher Pincher called for an improvement in parliamentary scrutiny of Government expenditure.

Mr Pincher said, “What plans he has to improve the quality of parliamentary scrutiny of Government expenditure.”

The Leader of the House, Andrew Lansley MP, replied, “The Government are keen to promote better financial scrutiny and would welcome discussions on how best that can be achieved.  As Leader of the House, I hope that I can work with colleagues in the Liaison Committee and across Government to ensure that the scrutiny of Government expenditure in this House promotes efficiency and value for money in all Departments.”

Christopher Pincher continued, “I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer, but may I press him further and ask whether he sees a role not only for the Public Accounts Committee but for Select Committees in scrutinising Government and departmental expenditure?”

Mr Lansley responded, “I do indeed see such a role.  Select Committees have a responsibility in relation not only to the policy of the Departments that they scrutinise but to the Departments’ expenditure.  It is fair to say, however, that there is a variable focus among Select Committees on the extent to which they scrutinise the expenditure of their Departments, but I hope that we can increase the extent of that scrutiny through the Estimates process.

“Also, as a member of the Public Accounts Commission, I know from the matters that we have discussed with the National Audit Office that the NAO has already made itself available to some Select Committees to help them with that process, and I hope that we can encourage more of that in future.”

Crime in Staffordshire Down by 10% since May 2010

Crime figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that crime has fallen in Staffordshire by over 10% since the 2010 General Election.

Figures across individual crime categories are also positive.  Violence against the person fell by 6% in the latest figures, which are for the year to December 2012, robbery is down by 13% and criminal damage is down by 15%.

The fact that crime has fallen despite the necessary cuts being made to policing budgets is particularly encouraging.  It shows that the Conservative led Government’s decision to reduce bureaucracy for the police and to sweep away multiple targets in favour of one, reducing crime, are working.

Only a Vote for Conservatives in Staffordshire Will Guarantee Low Council Tax

The last time Labour were in charge in Staffordshire, they increased our council tax every year, almost doubling it over 12 years.

A vote for parties other than the Conservatives could let Labour back in and result in the return of higher council tax again.

Tamworth’s MP Asks Minister to Support Town’s Health Kick

Christopher Pincher, MP for Tamworth, spoke up for local groups who are working to help curb Tamworth’s obesity concerns.

During Health Questions in the House of Commons last week, Mr Pincher asked the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Health, Dr Daniel Poulter to “support the efforts of local clinicians, Tamworth Borough Council and charities such as Tamworth in the Community which are working with parents, teachers and children to educate them about the importance of healthy eating and exercise, to deal with the health challenges we have in Tamworth”

Dr Poulter said in the House in response, “I commend the work being done locally in Tamworth to address this issue.  As we know, one of the biggest public health challenges facing this country is obesity.

“The risk factors for cardiovascular disease include diabetes and high cholesterol.  If we can tackle obesity and improve lifestyles, we will address both those risk factors directly, so I wish my hon. Friend’s local organisations every success in tackling those challenges.”

Mr Pincher later commented, “This is fantastic news that our local campaigners have the backing not only of Tamworth Borough Council but also government ministers.  I know how hard everyone is working to tackle this perception of Tamworth’s health problems and this support is just some of the recognition they deserve.”

Scot Bradbury, Community Projects Manager at Tamworth in the Community Charity, said, “Our Motto ‘LEARN TOGETHER, PLAY TOGETHER, LIVE TOGETHER’ is strongly adhered to as we work in the community with local schools and other group organisations.

“For a charity like ours it is always good knowing the local MP supports our aims and is pushing things in government not only for the benefit of the charity but the community as well, I would encourage any ministers from government to come along to see the work in which we are doing.”