North Chelmsford campaigner Tom Smith-Hughes

Tom is Essex County Councillor for Chelmsford North, which he has represented for over 20 years and is also a Chelmsford Borough Councillor for Patching Hall. He lives in the area where he has campaigned on many local issues, including Post Office closures, saving bus services and for CCTV at shopping parades. He is a governor at two local schools.

On the County Council, he is Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and Chairman of the General Scrutiny Committee. There the Lib Dems have held the Conservative Group to account for their mismanagement of issues, such as potholes, Council Tax rises, traffic congestion, school meals and school transport.

A key local issue is fighting the threat from the Conservatives of massive housing development in North Chelmsford. See www.cmld.org.uk/pages/planning.html Tom also wishes to see the Council Tax axed, a fairer deal for the elderly, more police on the street, better public transport and more community involvement in decision making

Contact Tom at cllr.tom.smith-hughes@essexcc.gov.uk or 01245-268 228

Recent news items from Tom Smith-Hughes

Thu 17th Dec 2009:

Essex County Council failing vulnerable children .

Essex County Council has been rated by OFSTED as 'poorly performing' in children's services, particularly as regards safeguarding, for the second year running. At this week's meeting of the whole Council there was unanimous support for a Liberal Democrat motion requesting that all county councillors should make the safeguarding of vulnerable children the highest priority.

Tue 13th Oct 2009:

Conservatives reject CO2 reduction campaign.

Essex County Council's ruling Conservative group has today refused to back a call for 10% cuts in carbon dioxide emissions during 2010. They voted down a Liberal Democrat proposal to join the (cross-party) 10:10 Campaign.

Wed 5th Aug 2009:

Conservative Councillors gag opposition Lib Dems - part 2.

The Conservative group that runs Essex County Council has once again attempted to stop the Lib Dem opposition from doing its job, of holding the administration to account. They voted today to remove the Lib Dem group's only full-time support staff member. This is in stark contrast to support for the Conservative councillors, who will continue to have 13 full-time, taxpayer-funded staff to support their cabinet members.

Fri 31st Jul 2009:

Conservatives split over Bank of Essex .

The ruling Conservative group at Essex County Council has dramatically split over its controversial decision to pump £50m of taxpayers' money into Santander - the Spanish bank that stepped in to run the so-called Bank of Essex. At a meeting on Tuesday some of the Conservatives voted to continue with a decision to extend the time during which the bank can lend money, whilst part of the group voted to stop the decision.

Thu 16th Jul 2009:

Conservative Councillors gag opposition Lib Dems.

The Conservative administration at Essex County Council has moved to block out the Lib Dem opposition, following last month's elections. They have removed all opposition county councillors from the council's important waste advisory board, where opposition parties have always previously been represented, and were considering imposing a Conservative to chair the council's main scrutiny committee, a job traditionally undertaken by the opposition.

Fri 8th May 2009:

Lib Dem election pledge - services not spin.

Liberal Democrats in Chelmsford and across Essex have launched their election campaign by calling for an end to £5 million spent on spin spent by the Conservative-run council, and a switch to improving basic services. Liberal Democrats will:-

Sun 3rd May 2009:

Essex Conservatives 'take leave of senses' and set up PR agency.

Conservative-led Essex County Council has announced plans to launch its own public relations agency - with Essex taxpayers' money. Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes said: "This is the point where the Conservative administration has finally taken leave of its senses."

Fri 1st May 2009:

Conservative Councillors ignore residents over housing sites.

Conservative councillors have voted to disregard the recent public consultation into the North Chelmsford Area Action Plan. An overwhelming 71% of respondents did not agree with the proposed "urban sprawl" to extend the northern edges of Chelmsford.

Mon 27th Apr 2009:

Mobile phone mast turned down by council but still goes up!

Mobile phone operator O2 has erected a phone mast close to the Kings Road Primary School, on the corner of Kings Road and Dixon Avenue. This is despite Chelmsford Borough Council consistently refusing it planning permission.

Fri 17th Apr 2009:

Lib Dems oppose council services privatisation.

The Liberal Democrats have condemned Essex County Council's "Transformation" project, which aims to privatise the delivery of most County Council services. They have stated that the council should be looking at ways of protecting and enhancing good quality, value-for-money services to the public.

Thu 12th Mar 2009:

Failing social services left children at risk from paedophiles, abuse and neglect [Essex Chronicle].

Today's Essex Chronicle reports:- Social services left children in the care of their mother, despite knowing she was sharing her home with a string of abusive partners and sex offenders. The shocking revelation comes as Ofsted published reasons behind its 'inadequate' rating of Essex County Council's safeguarding children services. Full story in the newspaper:- http://is.gd/n3CC. The Lib Dems have attacked the Conservative-run authority for being more concerned about its PR image than basic services. [Read more.....]

Tue 10th Feb 2009:

Essex Residents Need Services Not Spin say Lib Dems.

Less money on spin and more money on services, was the call from Liberal Democrats as the group announced its alternative budget at Essex County Council today (10 February). Also included in their plan was a one-off rebate, giving back taxpayers money that has been stockpiled by the ruling Conservatives for several years.

Wed 31st Dec 2008:

Lib Dems oppose 800 houses in north Chelmsford/Broomfield and 3200+ in Springfield.

Liberal Democrats in north Chelmsford will continue to fight plans for an "urban sprawl" extension that will close the gap between the northern edge of the town and Broomfield parish. Plans for up to 400 houses on the edge of north Chelmsford and up to 400 more on the edges of Broomfield are contained in Chelmsford Borough Council's final "North Chelmsford Area Action Plan". The Conservative-run Council has published its plan for consultation until 16th February.

Thu 18th Dec 2008:

Essex CC inadequate at keeping children safe whilst excelling at "spin".

Vulnerable local children are being let down by Essex County Council, according to Government inspectors. The Conservative-run authority is one of the eight worst councils in the entire country, including Haringey where Baby P died. However, the Council manages to be good at spending on press and PR.

Tue 9th Dec 2008:

Tories Play Election Games With Your Money.

Conservatives on Essex County Council are hoarding our cash rather than handing it out to hard-pressed residents now. Instead, they are hinting at "cash-backs" to be announced early next year, just before the council election.

Earlier Stories

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