This year the Liberal Democrats at Lewes District Council are having another go at getting renewable energy higher up the planning agenda when it comes to building new homes.

Last October Lib Dem councillor Vic Ient proposed that all new housing and commercial developments incorporated renewable energy in them. The proposal was lost by 1 vote so he has had to wait 6 months in accordance with the rules of the council to put the motion again.

On Monday the 16th at the Full Council meeting the matter will be considered again. Cllr Vic Ient said "I hope the controlling Conservatives will now back this proposal. Since last October we have had the Prime Minister Theresa May's  "cleaner greener" planet declaration promising a 25 year plan by the government to improve the environment. My motion gives the opportunity for the Conservatives here in Sussex do their bit to meet these objectives."

Cllr Vic Ient's motion is based on government policy set down during the Lib Dem/ Conservative Coalition and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) issued in 2012 which says:

“Support the transition to a low carbon future in a changing climate……” and later continues: “and encourage the use of renewable resources (for example, by the development of renewable energy);”

Sarah Osborne, the leader of the Liberal Democrats at Lewes District Council said, "It's a fraction of the cost to build in renewable energy systems into a new house, and there will be a real bonus for the new residents as it will mean their fuel prices will be lower and at the same time they will be helping reduce the amount of CO2 going into the atmosphere."

NB: Prime Minister Theresa May's "cleaner greener" planet declaration is based on a wider plan, produced by Michael Gove’s environment department, covering areas including land use, tackling climate change and poor air quality. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/governments-vision-for-a-greener-future-launched

The Liberal Democrats have today claimed victory as the Conservative government bowed to pressure to take decisive action on empty houses, by giving new tax powers for councils.
 
The government has accepted the principle of an amendment from Lib Dem Peers (Baroness Pinnock and Lord Shipley) to set in place an escalator of council tax charges. This would mean that the longer a property was left empty, the more council tax would have to be paid.

Last week Lib Dem leader, Vince Cable called for an increase in council tax for properties that have deliberately been left empty as part of a wide ranging keynote speech on tackling the country's housing crisis.

Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE says,

Today is the first ever National Windrush Day – 70 years since the arrival of HMS Empire Windrush.

Onboard the former German cruise ship were around 500 settlers from various Caribbean islands, including Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago, who had been invited to help rebuild post-War Britain.  They would go on to build their lives in Britain, contribute to our way of life and help make Britain prosperous.

Many, including my family, filled labour shortages in the National Health Service, which was founded just a fortnight after the ship reached Britain.

Lewes Liberal Democrats are proud to support Lewes Clean Air Day 2018. Clean Air Day is on 21^st June and in Lewes it will be celebrated on Saturday 23^rd June by putting people first and taking cars off Cliffe High Street from 10:30am until 5pm.

The Liberal Democrats have welcomed today's ruling by the Supreme Court categorising Pimlico Plumbers' employees as workers rather than self-employed, meaning that they are entitled to basic employment rights such as holiday pay.

The ruling is likely to have a knock-on impact on ongoing legal battles against other prominent businesses in the gig economy such as Uber and Addison Lee.

LibDem Janet Baah has been made mayor of Lewes. At her ceremony, she called Lewes a town of courage and champions.

Liberal Democrat councillors on Lewes District Council succeeded in securing a budget to celebrate the success of women in getting the vote 100 years ago, and to promote women's participation in local government. There will be an event on 9th July at Pelham House in Lewes designed to do just that.

The event is free, but booking is essential. Book at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vote-100-event-in-lewes-tickets-45234640026?aff=es2.

The new Southern Rail timetable which comes into force on 20 May sees extra trains, new carriages, new connections and other welcome improvements to train services for commuters. The good news seems to be spread right across the country – except in Lewes, which loses out under the new timetable.

Kelly-Marie Blundell, PPC for Lewes Constituency, is speaking out against Upskirting and calling for it to be illegal in England and Wales following reports that children as young as 10 years old are becoming victims.

Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse has a bill in Parliament which looks to ban the offence, and Kelly-Marie Blundell spoke to BBC Radio Sussex about the issue on Monday 14^th May 2018