New Year Message from Councillor Serge Lourie

Written by Serge Lourie and published in Online Exclusive on Fri 2nd Jan 2004

Dear Fellow Resident

The recent by-election success by the Liberal Democrats in Kew, where Jane Arneil increased the paper thin majority of three achieved by the late councillor Tony Barnett, to 487, will have given the Conservative Administration food for thought over the Christmas and New Year holiday. In Jane Arneil, we have a new councillor with an interest in education, gained through having her children in state schools.

During the campaign, a number of issues came to the fore.

Electors liked the fact that

• Jane Arneil was active in the local community as a Kew resident for 11 years;

• Liberal Democrats had been active in the local community since the last election regularly publishing Comments as a commentary on local affairs;

• Liberal Democrats have campaigned on local issues including excessive developments on the riverside, phone masts, closure of the post office and dangerous traffic.

Key issues raised on the doorstep were:

• The fact that the record 15.6% increase in Council Tax was unnecessary because of the Council's huge reserves;

• Excessive charges for the use of day centres and their possible closure;

• Sale of Council land for the construction of expensive houses.

We are proud that the borough is the safest in London, but we are not complacent. We will support all reasonable measures to make it safer including the installation of closed circuit television. We will work with police to reduce antisocial behaviour.

Whilst accepting the role of Government and Mayor in the increase in the Council Tax, we will be arguing for a Council Tax standstill this year because the Council currently has the huge sum of £25 million of local people's money in its reserves.

We will continue to press for improvements in street sweeping and refuse collection as well as faster removal of graffiti. In addition we will be urging on the Council a programme of improvements to the street scene and further investment in our parks.

Richmond upon Thames is the most beautiful borough in the capital but a lot remains to be done. The Liberal Democrat Opposition will be ensuring that the Council spends its resources wisely rather than continuing to parrot the mantra about civic pride. Civic pride is important, but should not involve such retrograde steps as closing all the public conveniences in the borough. Liberal Democrats would have invested in them.

Serge Lourie

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition

LB Richmond upon Thames