I see we have swapped a weak Mayor for one not interested in proceedings.

The above tweet is from yesterday's Council meeting by the Langworthy Lib Dem Candidate.

I find it disgaceful and totally disrespectful to the office of the Mayor of Salford. This man is not fit to hold public office.

Notice of Motion

This will be moved at council on Wednesday 21/07/10 by Leader Councillor John Merry & seconded by Councillor Bill Hinds.
I am led to believe that it has upset Lib Dem leader Councillor Norman Owen. What a suprise !!

This Council notes

* Nick Clegg's interview in the Observer in which he pledged that any cuts would be on the basis of fairness and there would be no return to Thatcherism.

* The Liberal Democrat Party poster during the recent election campaign which drew attention to the Conservative VAT bombshell.

The "year in" savings announced for Local Government that do not meet Nick Clegg's pledge of fairness as Salford faces £4 million of expendidture cuts which represents 1.1% of the total Council budget, whilst Conservative controlled Trafford are only required to make expenditure savings amounting to 0.6% of their budget.

This Council believes that if Nick Clegg was serious about the principles of fairness he would take steps to ensure that any future expenditure cuts do not fall on the more deprived or poorest areas and this Council calls upon him to live up to his promises of fairness.

VOTE LIB DEM GET TORY.

You can never trust the Lib Dems.

New Clause IV ?

This is John Cruddas's attempt at a new clause IV.

The Labour party is a democratic socialist party that strives to create a fair and more equal society. We campaign to eradicate poverty and discrimination and to extend opportunities to those denied them because we believe that no citizen's life chances should be determined by the circumstances into which he or she is born. We hold that a free and fair society is founded upon mutual respect, compassion and understanding. We will work internationally with all who share our values, to spread justice and human rights and to sustain our common environment for generations yet to come.

The original: "To secure for all the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry of service."

What Blair replaced it with: The Labour Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour, we achieve more than we achieve alone so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many not the few, where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect.

I think there does need to be a debate in the party when the new leader is elected to show the public at large what the party stands for and be implicit to all members,including MP's and leadership.

Asbo yob is banned from walking down own street - Manchester Evening News

Asbo yob is banned from walking down own street - Manchester Evening News

Leading article: Incredible capping

There was always a suspicion of sleight of hand about the Conservative Party's policy on immigration during the election campaign. The public are clearly exercised about the number of immigrants who have come to Britain over the past decade. So during the general election campaign, the Tories made populist noises on the subject to win votes. But the stereotype of immigrants to which the public most object – Eastern European scroungers begging in the streets – are a class of immigrant beyond the control of any British government, of whatever party. Citizens of the European Union are entitled to free movement within member states and there is nothing even the most right-wing administration can do about that, short of leaving the EU.


So the Home Secretary, Theresa May, in order to live up to her party's election promises, was yesterday forced to announce a cap on the number of non-EU migrants entering the country. She claimed that these represent a majority of incomers – 52 per cent – though reliable sources suggest that the figure is a mere tenth of that. Ms May, who got herself in a bit of a muddle over the difference between net and gross figures, was unpersuasive on this. What is more credible is the concern from business leaders that the curb will undermine the Conservative proclamation that Britain is "open for business". Ms May is planning a 5 per cent cut in Tier One of Britain's points-based immigration system, which includes highly skilled migrants, entrepreneurs and investors; she also wants a similar cut in Tier Two workers, who include skilled migrants with job offers. Exempting individuals, like top footballers, may keep the populist press off the government's back, but it will risk depriving global industries of the skills they need, harm universities' incomes from foreign students and sit ill with William Hague's foreign policy strategy of building links with rising powers like Brazil and India.

Ms May's coalition partners, the Lib Dems – who in other circumstances might have been expected to insist that immigration is in fact good for the UK – have fallen shamefully silent. But the truth is that migrant workers, though they can put a heavy burden on public services in places, on balance contribute far more to the British economy than they take. Figures from George Osborne's new Office for Budget Responsibility suggest that a fall in immigration could reduce the UK's GDP growth by as much as one per cent a year by the end of this parliament. Whichever way one looks at this policy, it simply does not add up.

From this mornings Independent.

'Excellent' care rating for Salford's adult social services

Vulnerable adults and older people in Salford are receiving 'excellent' care and older people are more likely to stay safe in their homes for longer, with a better quality of life, government inspectors have found.

A report from the Care Quality Commission, which monitors the quality of adult social care provided by councils, shows that Salford City Council is continuing to provide some of the best care in the country with 'excellent' prospects to improve.

Salford is one of only a few authorities in the country to have achieved this level of performance.

It is also concludes that Salford is supporting more people to remain in their own homes than in other areas in the North West.

For five years running Salford has sustained its overall excellent rating from the independent regulator, but the inspection judgement means that this area has improved from 'performing well' to being 'excellent'.

The inspection was carried out in March but publication has been delayed until this week because of the election.

It is the first time the council's adult safeguarding services has been directly inspected. The last inspection from the independent inspection body was in 2007 and focused on learning difficulty services.

It focused on two areas; the care provided to vulnerable adults for which it was rated "excellent"; and improving the quality of life of older people, where the city council "performs well".

The Commission praised the council for its work to provide a broad range of services and information to help people stay safe in their homes, and has formed a robust and effective Adult Safeguarding Board with an independent chair'.

It highlights the processes put in place to review services for older people as an area where Salford is doing well and says Salford has excellent prospects to improve further.

It found good working relationships with NHS Salford to provide vulnerable and older people with services to prevent admission to hospital and residential care.

It said social workers were 'enthusiastic about the opportunities they had to create support packages which recognise individuals’ preferences and enable them to pursue their own chosen activities'.

Looking to the future, the commission recognised that Salford has a 'clear vision for social care in the city', it is 'leading change ', and 'offers many ways for residents from all communities in the city to get involved in transforming services.'

Lead Member for Adult Services & Health, Councillor John Warmisham, said: "This report is an independent verdict on essential services that are relied upon and appreciated by those who use them.

"We've not only been inspected by independent experts but by people who know what it's like to need a service.

"We're helping more older people to stay in their homes independently and our adult social services are not only among the best in the country, they also have a promising future.

"We invest in our staff as we recognise they are the front line of any service. This part of the council has achieved Investors In People champion status and recognises the value of the workforce to make sure there was active involvement of people in their own care.

"And, if the time comes when someone does need extra help, we work with our partners to offer quality services that support individual needs.

"We listen very hard to what local people want and have responded by developing services to help people maintain a good quality of life and the commission's 'excellent' rating of our services shows that we're getting it right."

For more information visit www.cqc.org.uk or the report is also available on the council's website.