News page 3 of 3. Scroll down to read if indicated. See 'Archived News' for other past news.

Is Lib Dem Group imploding on Halton Council ?

Lib Dem Councillors in Runcorn leave Party.  (August, 2010)

Halton Brook ward now has an Independent councillor, after sitting Lib Dem Councillor Bob Bryant quit the Party whip on Friday 27th August.

News circulated on Tuesday 31st August that two more Lib Dem councillors have also quit and are now going to sit as Independents.
They are Cllr Carlin from the Mersey ward (who was only elected this year) and Cllr Blackmore from the Castlefields ward.

That means the Lib Dem group on Halton Council has now reduced to single figures, with 9 members remaining. Since the Coalition was formed, 4 members have now resigned within Halton Council.

£4.5 Million Affordable Housing Cut.  (August, 2010)   (Scroll down to read)

On August 11th Halton Borough Council was finally notified that funding from the Homes and Communities Agency for 69 homes in Halton Brook Runcorn has been cancelled.

These homes for first time buyers were to join 45 homes for rent already being developed by Riverside Housing on the same site, off Halton Brook Ave, in Runcorn..

A funding decision on the Halton Brook scheme has been awaited since June, when the Coalition government reduced funding available to the Homes and Communities Agency. Funding for the Halton Brook scheme was for approximately £4.5 million.

Cllr Phil Harris, Executive Board member for Housing Strategy and the Council’s representative on the Mid-Mersey Housing Growth Partnership said: "Affordable homes are urgently needed in both Widnes and Runcorn and this spectacle of a half finished housing estate will stand as a testimony to the Coalition's cuts, until circumstances change.''

However, a scheme for 12 new homes for rent to be developed by Halton Housing Trust in Widnes was approved.
At £760,000 that at least will be welcome.

News on Halton's BSF Programme.  (August, 2010)

As of Friday 6th August, the Council was told the two sample schools (Wade Deacon in Widnes & The Grange in Runcorn) had been approved for rebuiliding. A third, the proposed academy at Halton High, has a qualified yes, depending on the govt's autumn spending review. More news will be posted as details become available.

Labour led Halton to keep free swimming over holiday period.  (July, 2010) 

Despite funding for free swimming for children and pensioners being axed from the end of July by the Tory/Lib Dem coalition, Halton Council has extended the scheme for both those aged 60 and over and those 16 and under until the end of August, thanks to the co-operation and support of DC Leisure.

Free swimming will also continue until the end of October for those aged 16 and under.

The extension follows discussions with DC Leisure who run Halton Council's leisure centres, who have agreed to extend the scheme over the holiday period. The free swimming had been due to end at the end of July, just at the start of the school holidays.