http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/newsarchive.php Recent News Stories from Basildon, Billericay and Thurrock Liberal Democrats en-GB Basildon, Billericay and Thurrock Liberal Democrats http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2008 Basildon, Billericay and Thurrock Liberal Democrats 2008-09-06T00:16+01:00 United Kingdom http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000024/residents_hit_hard_by_rising_prices.html Residents hit hard by rising prices 2008-07-26T13:05+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000023/make_it_happen.html Liberal Democrats in Basildon have welcomed the launch of the Liberal Democrats' vision for Britain by Party Leader Nick Clegg MP. Called 'Make it Happen', the paper will be debated at the party's conference in Bournemouth in September. 2008-07-17T12:55+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000022/basildons_tory_council__beyond_incompetence.html "A catalogue of mismanagement" is how LibDem group leader Geoff Williams has described Basildon's Conservative council's performance. "Their recent record betrays an incompetence that almost beggars belief". 2008-07-16T10:00+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000021/lib_dems_vote_against_tory_plans_for_massive.html Liberal Democrats at Essex County Council have voted against Tory plans to build large waste treatment plants in Essex. The vote was taken after a debate on waste at county hall on 15th July. 2008-07-16T09:33+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000020/essex_tories__no_friends_to_open_government.html Lord Hanningfield, Conservative leader of Essex County Council has slammed a proposal by Essex Liberal Democrats to allow the public to speak directly to councillors at council meetings and to ask questions about the work of the council. Lord Hanningfield made his comments at a debate on public participation at a meeting of the full council on 15th July. 2008-07-15T17:11+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000014/basildon_golf_course.html The Friends of Basildon Golf Course have won the first round in their battle to prevent 100's of 1000's of tonnes of waste material being dumped to form 'bunds' around a proposed driving range, and later, round the whole course. The High Court have granted a judicial review hearing for November, which means that in the meantime no development can take place. Meanwhile the Friends are working closely with other pressure groups and individuals around the country where similar developments have been proposed. 2008-07-11T17:00+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000019/visiting_our_site__interested_in_the_lib_dems.html If you're interested in the Liberal Democrats locally or nationally, then do get in touch with us. Contact Geoff Williams on 01268 415348 or at geoff.williams25@btinternet.com 2008-07-11T16:19+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000018/are_tories_banking_an_election_fund_with_your_money.html Conservatives at Essex County Council are underspending on services and banking up millions of pounds in reserve funds, according to a new report. The report, on the council's finances for 2007/08, was discussed and approved at a meeting of the council's cabinet at county hall. 2008-07-11T15:53+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000017/tory_pothole_strategy.html TORIES INSIST BIGGER POTHOLES ARE GOOD 2008-07-11T15:41+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000016/2008_local_elections_lib_dems_hold_nethermayne_seat.html Nethermayne Liberal Democrats held off a strong Tory challenge on 1st May, holding Geoff Williams's seat by a healthy margin: 1.Geoff Williams 1247 2008-07-11T15:07+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000015/council_meeting_18_october.html Basildon Council's October meeting proved to be the usual bear-pit, despite the presence, at least initially, of young school council reps trying to gain an insight into how local democracy works.Fears about proposed developments at Basildon Golf Course were dismissed out of hand, at least one former councillor, a member of the public at the meeting, was treated to the most astonishing tirade by a senior Tory, and attempts to debate sensibly the potential disposal of community assets by the Conservatives descended into the accustomed Punch and Judy knockabout. 2007-10-19T00:00+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000013/stonking_victory_for_nethermayne_libdems.html Cllr Ben Williams romped home with over 50% of the vote in May's Nethermayne Ward election. Outsiders - lieterally - Tory Steve Foster (from South Woodham Ferrers)and Labour's Julian Ware-Lane (from Leigh on Sea) trailed a long way behind. 2007-05-27T09:44+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000012/tories_bizarre_concept_of_democracy.html Basildon's Tory council has reneged on its commitment to cross-party cabinet working by removing Lib Dem leader Cllr Geoff Williams from his post and replacing him with a second Labour representative. Cllr Buckley, leader of the council, declared this to be a "punishment" for the Lib Dems for not standing in all council seats. The announcement was met with embarrassed silence on the part of some Tory councillors, while others, in true Tory fashion, resorted to personal attacks on the 3 Williams councillors. Cllr Geoff Williams commented: "While we're not shedding buckets of tears at the loss of the cabinet place, it does seem a bizarre way of administering local democracy to reward Labour with an extra seat on cabinet when it was the only party to lose a seat in May's elections." 2007-05-27T09:40+01:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000011/start_of_a_new_era.html Since 1st January 2007 Liberal Democrats in Basildon, Billericay and Thurrock have come together in one Local Party, covering three constituencies with branches established in each constituency area. The change reflects alterations to the parliamentary constituency boundaries brought about by the Boundaries Commission in readiness for the next general election. 2007-01-10T08:55+00:00 http://www.basildonlibdems.org.uk/news/000010/planning_committee_resignation.html Cllr Geoff Williams who was appointed to Basildon Council's Development Control and Traffic Management Committee in May this year has resigned from the committee after rulings that he had a "prejudicial interest" in the George Hurd Centre redevelopment plans and the associated relocation of the centre to a site in Audley Way. Speaking at the interest declaration stage of the committee meeting on 11th October, Geoff said: "The current legislation inhibits campaigning councillors from speaking out for their constituents. There will be a number of applications for Nethermayne Ward over the next few months some of them on items which I have actively campaigned against. In oder that I can continue to represent my constituents' views and campaign on their behalf, I feel that I have no alternative but to resign from the committee" 2005-10-13T14:57+01:00