Today Labour Children’s Services boss Peter Clark has narrowly survived a no confidence vote after pressure from the opposition Liberal Democrats. The Lib Dems tabled the motion of no-confidence after the damning Ofsted report slammed a failure of political leadership.

While leader Cllr Mike Ross and shadow portfolio holder Cllr Linda Tock met with council bosses, they stood by their decision to move the no confidence call in Cllr Peter Clark, arguing “we’re doing our job as an opposition to hold an absent portfolio holder to account.”

The Lib Dem Group argued that the buck stopped with the Labour administration that is in its 9th year of power, and called for a new way forward with new political leadership.

Hull’s Lib Dems have put forward a £2million budget vision that would dramatically improve the condition and traffic flow of the roads, foot & cycle paths in Hull and put a stop to the pothole problems. The alternative budget plan comes with a promise to build a brighter future for residents across the city.

It includes additional funding put back into key local issues such as establishing a local Crime Prevention Fund for communities across Hull to feel safer. The alternate budget sees investment into the key issues residents in Hull face including, money to keep communities cleaner, safer, and greener.

Letter - Hull Daily Mail 14/02/2020; Page 14

Like many others, I have serious concerns with the damning Ofsted inspections of Hull City Council’s Children’s services, particularly the most recent ones. What most shocked me was that things got worse when they were already in a damning state to begin with, you can’t out-damn ‘damning’, but somehow the political leadership has managed to.

I found the comments from the Portfolio Holder, Cllr Peter Clark, that ‘the only way is up!’ and that he wanted to ‘stay and finish the job’ alarming. It has been under his watch that the service has gone backwards. It is time he, as the political leadership of this service, took responsibility and resigned. Children are at risk – there is no room for further errors. Even Labour MPs are calling for him to consider his position.

Following today’s (12^th February 2020) Infrastructure & Energy Scrutiny meeting, the Lib Dem Deputy Leader Ryan Langley has announced a plan that would see Hull’s broken transport network fixed through massive green transport investment.

The plan, which will feature as part of the main opposition party’s budget, would encourage residents across the city to try out different types of travel, such as walking and cycling.

Lib Dem Cllr Julie Greenhill, who sits on the Infrastructure & Energy scrutiny, praised cross party agreement at the meeting – but condemned the Labour Administration for being “all bark and no bite.”

Hull City Council Lib Dem Leader Cllr Mike Ross has raised his concerns
in writing with Paul Moffat, the Department for Education Improvement
Advisor to Hull City Council. In the letter Cllr Mike Ross has set out his
group’s concerns about the problems affecting the Children’s Services
department and requesting an urgent meeting with Paul Moffat.
 
This comes in light of a series of poor Ofsted reports since 2015 – with the
most recent damning report revealing that some children in care found to be at
risk of harm during their visits. The report serves as a damning indictment of
the ‘leaders’ and ‘managers’ in the council.

📺 Lib Dem Group Leader Mike Ross has his say on Hulls Children Service crisis. pic.twitter.com/V796vlUNQH

— Hull Lib Dems (@libdemsinhull) February 6, 2020

Lib Dem Councillor writes to three Hull MPs ahead of EU Citizen Council Motion

Liberal Democrat Councillor Mark Ieronimo has written to the three Hull MPs ahead of his Council Motion tomorrow asking them to “use their voice in Parliament” to support EU citizens who live in their constituencies.

In the letter Cllr Ieronimo says his council motion wants to reassure EU citizens and make changes to the Europeans Settlement Scheme making it “a system that is as fluid and welcoming as possible” to EU citizens who have lives in Hull for most if not in some cases all of their lives.

Following the release of new litter enforcement plans by Hull City Council, the Lib Dem group has called for a rethink.  The Lib Dem group have criticised the proposals – believing more should be done to benefit areas outside of the city centre.

Under the proposals up to 85% of the new litter enforcement resources are focused on the city-centre. The Liberal Democrats say this is the latest example of the Labour council prioritising the city centre at the expense of the rest of the city. 

It has recently been announced that school meals for pupils studying in Hull will triple in costs.

Lib Dem Cllr Linda Tock of Holderness ward, who is also the spokesperson for Education on the group, has raised concerns about the failings of the national government that have led to this school meal price hike in Hull, she said:

"The news of school meal prices increasing is deeply upsetting but not at all surprising, our schools have been cut to the bone."

Linda Tock, Lib Dem Councillor for Holderness ward, has raised urgent questions with Hull City Council over the closure of the Woodford Leisure Centre's swimming pools. Cllr Tock has expressed her disbelief that Woodford Leisure Centre’s swimming pools are closed yet again and is calling for fixing the pool heating system to be given greater priority.

Woodford Leisure Centre had to close its swimming pools on Friday 29th November, after the pool heating system failed.

The Liberal Democrats have said the news that rail fares will rise by 2.7% in 2020 is a “kick in the teeth” for rail passengers in Hull. The increase will leave commuters in Hull paying £116.32 more for an annual season ticket to Leeds.
 
Under Liberal Democrat plans, the 2.8% increase in 2020 would be cancelled and commuter rail fares would be frozen for the next five years. This would save season ticket holders from Hull to Leeds £1,889.57 over the next five years.