Moortown councillors are pressing the provision of better sports and play areas for our young people.

Cllr Richard Harker commenting on the lack of play spaces said …

“The Moortown and Meanwood young people need to be provided with better facilities for leisure activities. 

“Spaces exist across the area where informal sports pitches should be established.   Areas where our young people could skate board or play basketball, five a side foot ball, tennis or similar informal games. 

“The King Alfred Fields off Stonegate Road is just one example of an area that could benefit from investment.

“Official figures from an IPSOS Mori poll released last week show that one in four children are not taking part in any organised sport in or out of school.

“Among five to 16-year-olds, 12 per cent are inactive, rising to 58 per cent among 16 to 19-year-olds. 

“Mori interviewed almost 12,000 children and young people as part of a year-long survey in 2008.

“In 2007, the government launched a £100m campaign to get children doing five hours of PE and sport a week by 2010. But by a week they meant in school time.

“Where is there for our young people during the school holidays?”

Moortown & Meanwood Liberal Democrats are asking where their local  MP Fabian Hamilton was on Friday when MPs voted on a new parliamentary bill aimed at ending fuel poverty.

The Bill was just 11 votes short of the number it needed to make progress.

Just one in ten Conservative MPs and one in fourteen Labour MPs were in Parliament to support the Bill. Nearly three quarters of Lib Dems were present but it was not enough to stop the Government blocking the Bill.

Richard Harker, for Moortown Liberal Democrat, said:

“The Fuel Poverty Bill was ‘talked out’ by the Government on Friday because not enough MPs turned up to support it. It needed 100 MPs but it only got 89.

“This is a crying shame. With millions of people across Britain struggling to afford to heat their homes, this Bill is desperately needed.

“With such a narrow margin of failure it is really disappointing that our local MP Fabian Hamilton was not in Parliament to support this important Bill.

“The Bill, which is being proposed by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath, would deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home. And it would end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters – generally the least well-off – paying higher rates for their gas and electricity.
 
“Our best hope now is to put as much pressure as possible on the Government to change their minds and support the Bill. Without government support I am afraid it looks doomed.”

Campaign groups such as Consumer Focus and Age Concern have condemned the Government for blocking the Bill’s progress. Help the Aged have said that, “Millions of older people… will be devastated and dismayed by this result.”

“Over recent weeks several voters in Moortown have asked me to clarify Liberal Democrat policy on climate change.  I am pleased that we are supporting Friends of the Earth for the immediate adoption of a 42% reduction by 2020.“ 

Recent scientific studies have shown that climate change is an even greater threat than was understood even two or three years ago. The government now has a duty to react accordingly.  Liberal Democrats have always argued that targets for carbon emissions reductions must be based on science not on politics. We therefore support the Friends of the Earth campaign for the immediate adoption of a 42% reduction target by 2020.  

Liberal Democrats want to create a zero carbon Britain by 2050. In the Climate Change Act 2008 the government committed to an 80% emissions reduction target. Although we think the government could be more ambitious, the key now, as you make clear, is to establish a clear pathway to reaching that target.   Read the rest of this entry.

Cllr Richard Harker  ” This is fantastic news and will be welcomed by many families here in Moortown and Meanwood.” 

 Disabled children in Leeds will soon be able to enjoy short breaks away from home in a new state-of-the-art centre, thanks to a contract signed in Leeds this week. Leeds City Council and the Leeds Independent Living Accommodation Company (LiLAC) have signed a contract to deliver a short break unit in Armley. Construction is due to begin in January 2009, with completion planned for February 2010. To be known as Rainbow House, the new building will provide stimulating short breaks for up to 12 children and young people at a time. It will also allow parents and carers vital time to spend away from their caring role, or with other members of the family.

The name was chosen as a result of a competition among disabled children, which was won by Kristina Pollard, who received a prize and certificate during a fun-day when children also designed a logo for the building.

The short-break unit will have 12 bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities and will be fully accessible to wheelchair users throughout. Three bedrooms will be in a specially designed self-help unit for young people over 14 to develop their independent living skills.

“It’s really fantastic news that Rainbow House is to become a reality. Disabled children and young people deserve the best we can give them and I’m confident that many young lives will be enriched by the opportunities that will be on offer there.

“The young people will be helped to gain confidence by being away from the home setting, in preparation for adult life.

“It will also mean that parents and carers take a break to re-charge batteries and spend time with family and friends, who often have to take a back seat when there is a disabled

Leeds has been invited to take part in the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme (LCVPP), following a successful bid against 72 other local authorities. Selected on a number of criteria, including evidence of their desire to reduce carbon

emissions, Leeds will join Glasgow, Liverpool, Coventry, and Newcastle as the five authorities chosen to participate. The authorities will join the Royal Mail, Government Car and Dispatch Agency, HMRC, Environment Agency, Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police in the first phase of the £20m programme. The purpose of the LCVPP is to speed up the introduction of reliable lower carbon technologies into public sector fleets by funding the additional cost of lower carbon vehicles over conventional alternatives. A range of low carbon and all electric vans will be trialled in limited numbers to assess their performance, reliability and CO2 savings. Subject to successful development of the first phase, a wider roll out across the public sector may be

supported. The ultimate goal of the programme is to encourage confidence in the new technologies and the resulting economies of scale, which will make the vehicles more easily affordable to the wider market.

Liberal Democrat Leader of Leeds City Council Councillor Richard Brett said:

“We are delighted to have been invited to participate in this programme. Taking part in the Low Carbon Vehicle Procurement Programme will give Leeds City Council the opportunity to investigate new vehicle technology without the financial risks.

The council made a commitment to reducing its carbon emissions by signing the Nottingham Declaration in 2006, and since then measures to reduce carbon emissions in transport have been integral to a number of council plans and policies. It is anticipated that this project will boost efforts to promote more sustainable modes of travel, and will hopefully lead to a wider take-up of these new technologies across Leeds.”

Notes

Many high level Leeds City Council policies, strategies and related initiatives, headline the need to reduce carbon emissions and promote more sustainable transport. The key driversinclude:-

·The Leeds Strategic Plan 2008-11

• Reduce ecological & carbon footprints from all sectors, promote changing behaviours. (Draft)The Climate Change Strategy for Leeds

• Revised target to reduce LCC carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels, plus targets for National Indicator (NI) 185 (CO2 reduction from local authority operations).

• Consultation process identified our transport policy as being rather weak, with 60% of respondents requesting stronger actions to promote more sustainable transport. ·(Draft) Strategic EMAS Register

• EMAS Objectives, KPI’s & Environmental Policy, all refer to measures that will promote more sustainable transport & reduce carbon emissions

·The Leeds Waste Strategy

• Potential use of renewable energy for transport (Green electricity, bio-methane)

·The Leeds Air Quality Strategy

• Action Plan compliments the use of low carbon transport, similar benefits for reduced carbon as for air pollutants emissions

The transport sector currently contributes approximately 32% of total UK emissions of greenhouse gases. It is the only major sector where emissions are not being reduced. Within the transport sector, road transport accounts for about 70% of total transport

emissions.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Moortown & Meanwood Richard Harker  welcomed the strategy and said “I am pleased to welcome the target set in this new strategy.  For too long teanage pregnancies in Leeds have been too high.”

A city-wide strategy aimed at reducing the number of teenage pregnancies and improving the life-chances of teen parents throughout Leeds was launched on Friday (17 October).
The Leeds Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Strategy aims to reduce the under-18 conception rate and ensure appropriate education, information and support is available for teenage parents in the city.
The strategy has been written in partnership with young people by professionals from NHS Leeds, Leeds City Council and local schools, along with voluntary organisations that share responsibility for work around teenage pregnancy and parenthood in Leeds. It highlights the key areas for investment and action needed to help the city reach its target of reducing the number of teen pregnancies in Leeds by 55% by 2010.
The strategy considers the complex issues which affect teenage pregnancy including young people’s knowledge about sex and relationships, their access to advice and support and how their life choices are influenced by their aspirations, education, parents, culture and peers and emotional well-being. It establishes how the organisations which work with young people will work individually and together to provide the services necessary to tackle these issues.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Stewart Golton, executive member responsible for Children’s Services, said:
“Having a child is one of the biggest life-changing experiences for people of any age and so often young people don’t appreciate what a massive impact it will have on their future.
“This plan will help us not only work with young people to reduce the amount of unwanted teenage pregnancies in Leeds, but also help us support those who do become parents at a young age, to achieve as much as possible and reach their full potential.
“It’s important to remember that boys can also be deeply affected by becoming a teenage parent so our strategy will also help us provide them with the specific support they need.”
Sarah Sinclair, Director of Planning and Commissioning (Children’s and Maternity Services) for NHS Leeds said:
“The launch of this comprehensive, city-wide strategy is part of a sustained effort by all partners to work together to reduce teenage pregnancy rates in Leeds.
“We have set ourselves some challenging targets for the next few years building on some of the excellent work going on in areas of the city to empower young people. We are confident that soon young people across Leeds will be able to access the education, services and support they need to help them make informed choices and achieve their full potential.”
The strategy sets out to ensure that all young people have access to high quality contraception and sexual health services delivered from a range of settings, as well as good quality sex and relationship education to help them make informed decisions about their sexual health choices.

Pupils across Leeds who enjoy packed lunches can look forward to a healthier boost during the day thanks to new advice available in schools.
Developed by Education Leeds as part of the city’s school meals strategy, the new packed lunch policy - believed to be the first of its kind in the country - will encourage schools to promote the same healthy standards for packed lunches as are already in place for school meals.

The new packed lunch strategy was launch on Wednesday 15 October at Ryecroft Primary School in Farnley by the chief executive of Education Leeds, Chris Edwards and Leeds City Council’s executive board member for Children’s Services, Councillor Stewart Golton. Over 110,000 pupils eat in Leeds schools everyday, with around 45 per cent taking a packed lunch. The aim of the guidance is to encourage every child to eat more healthy foods and fewer foods which are high in salt, sugar and fat. It follows on from recent moves to withdraw sweets, crisps and fizzy drinks from schools and increase the availability of water, fruit, and vegetables.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Stewart Golton, executive board member responsible for Children’s Services, said:
“We will support families in Leeds wherever possible and want to encourage parents and carers to give their children less foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt and more foods which are tasty, healthy and nutritious.
“Providing young people with healthy packed lunches - in line with guidance already in place for school meals - can help to improve concentration levels and boost performance at school.
“The new ways of eating can also be adopted at home and work which, as part of a balanced lifestyle, can only help to improve the city’s overall health.”

A city wide public consultation was carried out by Education Leeds to assess the need and support for a packed lunch guidance policy. Of the 230 primary schools contacted, 92 supported the idea and findings suggest there is a significant level of support from parents and pupils and a growing acceptance of responsibility from all sides to improve children’s diets. Over 100 pupils and parents also contributed to the consultation and agreed that packed lunch standards should reflect standards already in place for school meals.

The long-term aims of the packed lunch advice are to increase school meal uptake and improve health, attainment and economic outcomes. It is also hoped that some of the information will develop positive changes in eating habits at home.
All schools will be issued with a free toolkit for information and are invited to an open day later this month which will be attended by partners from across Leeds which have been working to promote healthy workplaces. Local and national food retailers will also be present.

Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg has called for patients to be allowed to pay for extra treatment without losing the right to free NHS care. 

Speaking to the think tank Reform in central London, Nick Clegg spoke of incidents of patients being refused NHS treatment because they had bought life-extending cancer drugs.  

Outlining Liberal Democrat plans to introduce co-payments to NHS care, Nick Clegg said: 

“There is a real, human conflict between the needs of the large organisation and the needs of the individual.  An extra week of life may not count for much on a bureaucrat’s chart.  But if you’re saying goodbye forever to your children?  It couldn’t matter more. 

“We cannot continue to deny people the right to top up their care - particularly where they are following their clinician’s advice - when the NHS has finite resources and cannot provide everything for everyone.” 

Branding Labour’s experiments with NHS reform as ‘a failure’, Nick Clegg said: 

“More than any other public service, the NHS has been the guinea pig for the New Labour experiment in massive central spending and control. 

“The health service budget has tripled in eight years. 

“And the health service has been the subject of more Whitehall command and control, more central targeting, and more inspection and micromanagement than this country has ever seen. 

“The Department of Health has introduced literally hundreds of bills, white papers, green papers and targets.  

“And for all this change, and all this money, what have we got?  Productivity is stagnant.  Outcomes are worse than in much of Europe.  And health inequality is the widest since Victorian times.  Labour’s experiment has failed.” 

Speaking about Liberal Democrat plans to guarantee patients private treatment if NHS treatment is not available within set waiting times, Nick Clegg said: 

“Everyone should have the right to private treatment, paid for by the NHS, if the waiting time is not met. 

“We would extend direct payments and personal budgets - so people with long term and chronic conditions choose what care they need.  And we need a network of Patient Advocates to provide information, guidance and support to those who need it. 

“I’m delighted that Reform has endorsed this Liberal Democrat proposal in today’s report.  And I support your suggestion that Health Protection Providers - or PCTs in our system - should be allowed to incentivise or even pay people for making healthy choices like quitting smoking or going to the gym regularly.”

If your children were inspired by the Bejing Olympics then this October half-term holiday is their chance to learn how to paddle a canoe or kayak or sail.

Sessions from Monday 27th October to Friday 31st October at the Leeds Sailing & Activity Centre, Yeadon Tarn.

For more details ring [0113] 250 3616