Last Thursday, the Council’s meeting was dominated by the recent cuts from central Government, which left Southend Borough Council with £1.4 million less funding than planned at the start of the financial year. Here, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Cllr Graham Longley gives Councilbust.com his view of what might be this year’s most...
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The leaders of the opposing parties in Southend Council have spoken to Councilbust.com of their reaction to Tuesday’s budget. Cllr Graham Longley (left), leader of the Liberal Democrats, was positive in his approach. He told Councilbust.com: “Liberal Democrats, as part of a coalition government joined with the Tories today in a progressive alliance to...
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Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Graham Longley has hit out at Southend Council’s practice of using interim staff members for extended periods of time. Cllr Longley said that using “long term interims” is “unnacceptable, unwarranted and unsustainable.” Cllr Longley went on to say: “It is accepted that there is a role for interim appointments...
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By Rachel Charman Liberal Democrat leader Graham Longley and Independent councillor Rob Woodley have pressed on with their campaign against alleged abuse of the councillor’s expenses system as the local elections draw closer. They have asked the Town Clerk and the internal auditor to investigate any possible abuses of the system. Cllrs Longley (left)...
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By Rachel Charman Former Conservative MP for Rochford and Southend East James Duddridge faced his opponents at a hustings organised by the Milton Community Partnership yesterday evening. The event, held at St Mark’s Church, Southend, drew a large audience and debate was heated. Mr Duddridge and his opponents, Kevin Bonavia (Labour), Graham Longley (Lib...
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By Rachel Charman The report from the public consultation on MPs’ expenses, led by Sir Ian Kennedy’s Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority was released yesterday. The report recommends that MPs living within commuting distance of Westminster will no longer be able to claim expenses for a second home. Those outside commuting distance are allowed to...
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By Rachel Charman Cllr Graham Longley, the Liberal Democrat group leader, is to raise concerns with the Council about dredging in the River Thames. The work began on 8th March and is being carried out by DP World. The aim of the project is to make the Thames deeper in order to allow the...
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By Rachel Charman The leader of the Liberal Democrat councillors Graham Longley has commented on the changes to Southend Council Tax. In yesterday’s cabinet meeting, Southend Borough Council proposed an amendment to its draft 2010/11 budget that it claims will boost tax payers. The Cabinet today recommended to the Council to approve a General...
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By Rachel Charman Labour PPC for Rochford and Southend East Kevin Bonavia has claimed that Liberal Democrat Cllr Graham Longley and Independent Cllr Ron Woodley are out of touch on the issue of councillors’ expenses. Earlier today, Cllrs Longley and Woodley announced that they have launched an investigation into councillors’ travel expenses, involving the...
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By Rachel Charman Graham Longley, leader of the Liberal Democrat councillor group and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Rochford and Southend East, has teamed up with Independent councillor Ron Woodley in an investigation. Cllr Longley told Councilbust.com that in the light of some information he recently received, he and Cllr Woodley have asked the Town...
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