In less than 3 months you will have the chance to shape the future of Nottinghamshire when you are asked to elect a new County Council.Here in Bassetlaw, the County Council can often seem remote and not something that matters much to us. This is made worse by the fact that we rarely get visits to our area (especially those parts outside Worksop & Retford) from those that work in County Hall. The truth is the County Council does matter and who runs it will make a big difference to you.
The County Council runs most of the services that affect you every day. These services include Public Transport & Highways, Education & Children's Services, Care for the Elderly, Libraries and (from April) Health & Well-being. Indeed, paying for County Council services makes up over 75% of the Council Tax charge we all pay, It would be true to say that the County Council has more power and influence than the District Council but we know less about it and what our County Councillors do.
The last four years of the Conservative administration have seen many cuts in the services the County provides and the selling off of others to private providers. In spite of this, the County still has a projected shortfall of £74 million in the budget for 2015/16. The Tory mismanagement of the County's finance has been staggering. Labour only seems to know how to promise to stop the cuts but can't say where it will make the savings needed.
How you vote in these elections is important and I know you will choose wisely. In the weeks ahead you will be bombarded by leaflets from all sides, including some from me.
Don't be fooled by extravagant promises that could mean your Council Tax may have to go up, or by claims that everything is just fine as it is because it isn't, there is a big hole in the finances that needs to be filled.
You can trust the Liberal Democrats to be honest & open with you as to how we plan to repair County's finances; to let you know where the money is spent and to make the working of the County Council more open and accessible to everyone.
I look forward to working with you to improve the services for Worksop & for Nottinghamshire
Yours sincerely
Liberal Democrat Campaigner for the Worksop West Division