Councillor Norman Owen

Last week, I was dismayed to see the meeting of full council turned into a sorry spectacle by Salford Labour. Some time ago I asked my fellow Liberal Democrats if they wanted to forego the proposed 1% annual pay increase in councillors allowances. Everyone agreed that in the present climate it would be wrong to accept even a small increase while many families in Salford have lost their income or taken a pay freeze. It is therefore particularly galling to come under attack from Councillor Merry. Councillor Joe O’Neill was particularly incensed at these ridiculous tactics as he had already stated that if he was forced to take the 1% pay rise, he would give it to charity rather than benefit from it himself. The time available in council would be better spent concentrating on more important matters rather than pathetic attempts at political point-scoring. But then again, when this Labour council get it wrong, it is usually in a big way!

As per usual Labour has attempted to deflect their failings and shift blame over the St. Georges school onto opposition parties. The facts have been well documented by this publication and after a strong campaign organised by the parents, teachers and pupils of St Georges the schools adjudicator has determined that it would be foolish to close a successful and oversubscribed school. Astonishingly, the decision seems to have really thrown the Labour group off-guard and they have decided to devote £140,000 of taxpayer’s money to set up a schools “commission” to investigate the future of Salford’s schools. This is a clear attempt to hide their failure to consider any alternatives and shows a lack of inspiration or original ideas. The Liberal Democrats believe that instead of signing off more of the council’s tight budget on yet more consultants, the Lead Member for Children’s Services should sign his resignation letter immediately to make way for others with more creative thinking. It is clear that Labour is facing election defeat. The message from the Lib Dem group is that you have failed St. Georges and failed our city’s children.

Elsewhere, I was delighted to be invited to Salford University’s debating society, where the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Peter Fahy, was the guest speaker. We debated the conflicting requirements of security and liberty. Obviously, surveillance of groups that threaten our home security is important but we also have to measure, as was mightily contested, that any actions taken do not endanger the freedom of honest citizens. Following the disturbing news that residents of Chimney Pot Park are continuing to suffer from burglaries, the relevance of the Salford University debate was brought home to me. While it’s gratifying to note that the number of burglaries city-wide is falling, the figures are still too high. There is ongoing debate however; CCTV married with improved lighting is a proven and effective weapon  and Salford Lib Dem councillors have been arguing for more CCTV installations to combat problems affecting local residents and traders, including Bolton Road in Irlams O’th Height where there have been some instances of violent crime. The lack of CCTV as a deterrent has resulted in the closure of banks and shops on the Height.

Finally, I would like to thank Labour MP Hazel Blears for highlighting the sterling efforts of the Police and PCSOs who have worked tirelessly to rid our streets of the illegal off-road motorbikes that have plagued Salford, but she failed to mention the involvement of Liberal Democrat councillors and campaigners in Claremont, Langworthy and Weaste & Seedley who were instrumental in pushing for tougher action, who have assisted the police with their enquiries and who were present at the crushing in Buile Hill Park. Hazel has been conspicuous by her absence.

Councillor Norman Owen
Leader, Salford Liberal Democrats

Some readers may have seen in the press this week an article about a whistleblower within Salford’s Children’s Services. While I am concerned that the changes taking place are within the service are improvements in name only, and are changes for change sake, I think this also highlights the issue of whistleblowing.

Whistleblowing as a practice, as well as safe-guarding and meeting legal and professional ethics has got to be debated because it is the individual on the frontline that has the greatest understanding of how changes impact on service delivery. How do we encourage and empower staff to come forward and how can regulators make a difference in enabling whistleblowing as a means to improving and safe-guarding services?

On another serious issue, I found that I have been repeatedly asked about the monthly column that this publication has given to each of the three sitting MPs for Salford, Eccles and Worsley. Many people have expressed concerns to me that the presence of the column affects the political leaning of the Advertiser and there is a great deal of concern over the timing of this new feature. The three sitting MPs have been representing our constituencies for as much as 12 years. Why now? Why not 12 years ago?

In addition, with a general election so close, why were other possible Parliamentary contenders not informed beforehand? Regardless of the reasoning behind this new feature, it has an impact on the build up to the election and advising interested parties before the feature appeared would have been a matter of common courtesy. It irritates me that we are giving these failed Labour politicians a stage to back-peddle where they have failed miserably in the past. I’m not just talking about expenses either: it is about the failure to promote the opinions of the residents of this city over so many issues, including Iraq.

This week I had the pleasure of being involved in a discussion at the Salford University Debating Society. The guest speaker was the former Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali, who delivered his view of faith in a plural society. It was an interesting evening and I was glad to have the chance to engage with students from Salford University and some of the people attending and participating did not fight shy of being vocal which led to some lively debate.

Unfortunately, I also attended two funerals last week, the first which was of the late Marie Wakefield. When I first met this lady some years ago I found her to possess a wonderful sense of humour and wit. She will be sadly missed and I would like to express condolences on behalf of the Salford Lib Dems. The second was on Friday morning where I attended the service of Frank Corfield at Agecroft Cemetary. Frank was well known throughout the British Legion and for his organisation of the Salford cenotaph remembrance parades. He will be sadly missed at this years parade and service this coming Sunday.

Finally on Friday 30^th October I attended the crushing of off-road motorbikes at Buile Hill Park in conjunction with the motorcycle nuisance campaign. This campaign has the support of all the Lib Dem Councillors from Weaste & Seedley, Swinton South, Claremont and Langworthy Wards where off-road and illegal quad-bikes and mopeds are an ongoing nuisance and danger to local residents. It was good to witness actual practical action being taken. Despite the situation being difficult for them, the police and PCSOs are quite successful in dealing with this problem.

Councillor Norman Owen.
Leader, Salford Liberal Democrats.