Last Wednesday, the Conservatives passed their budget with £79 million in cuts over the next four years, £30 million of which haven't yet been identified. They've even had to drop their trademark policy of freezing council tax - they're planning yearly rises of 1.5% starting from next year.
The Liberal Democrats on the County Council believe that investing in renewable energy is vital for our environment and economic future and that councils have a role to play in this. The first amendment we will be proposing at the budget meeting on Wednesday asks officers to carry out a feasibly study into the Council producing green energy from renewal sources.
Liberal Democrats on Leicestershire County Council will be proposing an amendment to the County Council's budget on Wednesday which seeks to put back a cut over £1m to highways maintenance being implemented by the Conservative Administration. The Liberal Democrat opposition group on the Council acknowledges that these are difficult times for local government but believes that it makes no sense to cut road maintenance at a time when the severe weather conditions during 2012 have created a backlog of pot holes and blocked road drains.
Liberal Democrats believe nobody should be able to use vast sums of money to silence legitimate public scrutiny. Our new policy calls for comprehensive, universal anti-SLAPP legislation to uphold media freedom and defend equal access to justice.
For too many entry-level jobseekers, applying for a job has increasingly turned into a robotic, dehumanising hurdle. Liberal Democrats believe that fair hiring practices are essential for equal opportunity.
The Liberal Democrats have always believed that power belongs to the people, not foreign states, tech algorithms, or wealthy elites. Our new policy will defend British democracy, root out dark money, and rebuild public trust from the ground up.