Adrian Sanders

Abolish Council Tax and Save £200million

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders is calling on the Government to end the unfair and inefficient council tax and help hard pressed families in Torbay.

Figures revealed by the Government show that council tax is approximately 70% more expensive to collect and administer than income tax and is almost four times as costly in bureaucracy than business rates.  In 2007-08, £484million was spent on the administration of council tax, over 2% of the money collected.

Bay MP Mr Sanders has claimed that changing to a local income tax would save the nation at least £200million.  Such a move would also remove the need for council tax benefit, reducing costly bureaucracy further.

Adrian said: “The Government should have a duty to reduce public spending where it can and provide the fairest and most efficient tax system.  It is clear that the public finances are overstretched and the Government should be embracing all opportunities to save money where they won’t have an effect on front line services.”

Government Encourages Dangerous Approach to Road Safety

Bay MP Adrian Sanders is calling on the Government to sort out its  approach to road safety in the face of apparent mixed signals given to local councils.

Mr Sanders is concerned that councils are not encouraged to identify or tackle potential accident black-spots until a number of injuries have occurred.  There are further concerns that councils such as Torbay will not consider placing pedestrian crossings or traffic calming measures unless a fatality has occurred.

The case of 11 year old Jed Dorean-Mitchell, who was seriously injured crossing the road outside Cuthbert Mayne school in February 2008 highlighted the need for a pedestrian crossing but over a year later no progress has been made by the council in addressing the problems of the road layout in the area.

In the Government’s recent assessment of transport in the Bay, it was revealed that all 3 road safety targets were being missed, although the appointment of a road safety officer would, it was expected, go some way to solving problems.

Adrian commented: “The Government encourages councils to measure casualties and take steps to tackle black spots but this is often too late when a common sense look at certain junctions and crossings will show that accidents are likely.  A more preventive approach could save hundreds of lives across the country.”

“All too often I have constituents highlighting problem areas and near misses but the council often says that as no one has died, they won’t do anything.  Like so many other things a more pro-active approach is needed by our public services.”

Government ‘Clueless’ on Business Closures

Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay has reacted with dismay after the Government admitted it had not looked at the effect of business rents on the economy.  Mr Sanders has expressed concern as many businesses in Torbay and across the country have highlighted high rents for business premises as one of the core problems in the current recession.

Hundreds of premises are empty across the bay and over 22% of retail space in Torquay is not currently being used.  High business rates, low footfall and competition from online and out-of-town retailers have been cited as other factors causing a decline in Torbay’s town centres.

Adrian commented: “To tackle the problems faced by small and medium businesses, the Government should at least make an effort to understand them.  We have seen so many shops and businesses close in Torbay and while Ministers have talked about helping industries, nothing seems to materialise in the real world.”

“The Government has the power and resources to make a difference on business rents but at the moment it is clueless and without direction.”

Adrian will be pressing the Government to look at practical measures to help businesses directly and via local authorities.

Shipping Industry Must Cut Emissions

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has been raising with Ministers concerns  over the high levels of pollution created by large ships, many of which are now moored off the Devon coast due to the credit crunch.

Claims have recently been made that European Governments had underestimated the health impacts of pollution, with a recent study showing that hundreds of premature deaths in Denmark resulted from high levels of shipping pollution.

With the English Channel as one of the World’s busiest shipping lanes, there are fears that there may be serious health impacts for coastal communities that have not been fully explored and that the Government is not looking at preventing.

Ships produce on average more than 50,000 times more pollution than a medium sized car. 

Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick has offered reassurances that emissions standards will be implemented but these are still some way off.  Caps on sulphur emissions will not fully be in place until 2020 and only ship engines built after 2016 will be subject to more rigorous technological standards.

The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has recently published a report condemning the Government’s lack of action.

It stated that ‘the Government’s position on the use of emissions trading to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from ships is too vague’ and that ‘the current methodology for calculating international shipping emissions underestimates actual emissions.’

Adrian commented: “This level of pollution, generated by the shipping industry, could pose a serious threat to people in Torbay and other coastal areas.  We have had a limited exclusion zone in the English Channel since late 2007 but there are so many more things the Government could be doing to reduce pollution.”

“Moreover we don’t know the extent of the problem.  Current research is too vague and the Government needs to look into this more and take steps now to reduce emissions.”

Carers Week 2009

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders is supporting Carers Week 2009 which is to  take place from 8 to 14 June, recognising carers as the UK’s Secret Service.

There are over six million people nationally who act as an unpaid carer for a relative or friend who has an illness or disability. An increasing percentage of carers are young people who often do not receive the support they need.

At £53.10 per week for a minimum of 35 hours work (at most £1.50 per hour), the current Carers Allowance provides insufficient compensation for the vital work that carers undertake and fails to acknowledge the billons of pounds that carers save the NHS every year.

A new website and helpline for carers has been launched by the Government (www.nhs.uk/carersdirect, 0808 802 0202). Although welcoming the development, Adrian has also argued that it failed to get to the heart of problem which is the lack of funding within the social care system.

Adrian commented: “Carers play an absolutely vital role within our society but their work is chronically under-recognised and under-funded. Carers Week rightly celebrates the hidden work of carers and highlights the advice and support that are available.

It is essential that the burden placed upon carers is not an overwhelming one and that the sense of isolation which can be experienced is reduced. I am proud to be supporting Carer’s Week and believe that the indispensable work of carers needs to be given the recognition that they so richly deserve.”

Government Should Consider Radical Solution to Bus Pass Funding Problem

Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay has unearthed figures that show the Government could save money by funding the bus pass centrally.

In an answer to Mr Sanders in the Commons, Minister Paul Clark claimed that centralising the administration would save £2.6million a year.  At the moment Torbay Council is losing out on up to £2million as Government reimbursement does not cover the whole cost to the local authority.

There are also problems with each local authority having to negotiate separately with bus companies on how much to pay for each concession journey.  Some councils will inevitably be better at negotiating with local companies.  A central negotiation system or a legally defined reimbursement level for bus companies would iron out some of the inequalities across the UK which are seeing Torbay council tax payers losing out.

Adrian said: “The scheme is a very good idea, but as is so often with this Government, it has been poorly implemented.  There is confusion over how the system works, with councils paying for journeys made by people from outside the area, which creates resentment.  The ridiculous bureaucracy of the funding formula leaves some councils out of pocket while some profit.  The Isles of Scilly for example receive money for the concession but have no bus services.”

“All of these problems could be solved by centralising the reimbursement to bus companies.  That this would save the tax payer £2.6million a year is an extra bonus.”

New Rules Following Torbay’s Cowboy Clampers

Following recent cases of rogue clamping firms A1 and CUFF in Torbay and other instances across the UK, the Government is now drawing up new regulations to clamp down on unfair practices.

The Government is currently consulting on what the regulations should say but Home Office Minister Alan Campbell has stated that they will address the following issues:

· Excessive penalties for releasing clamped cars

· Impounding cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped

· Inadequate signage warning drivers that clamping takes place

· Effective appeals processes for drivers

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders, who has been lobbying for new regulations, welcomed the consultation.

Adrian said: “So many people in Torbay were affected by these cowboy firms when they operated here in the past couple of years and it is heartening that the Government is now cracking down.  Some firms charged extortionate amounts to de-clamp cars or towed vehicles to Somerset.  These grossly unfair practices will hopefully be at an end soon.”

The consultation can be found here: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2009-vehicle-immobilisation/

Victory for the Gurkhas

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has welcomed the Government’s U-turn on the Gurkhas.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today announced that all Gurkhas who had served for more than 4 years in the British army will have the right to settle in the UK.

The successful campaign, fronted by Joanna Lumley, comes after pressure by opposition politicians, culminating in the defeat of the Government by the Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons last month. 

Adrian commented: “This is a very welcome decision.  It is absolutely clear that those who are willing to risk their lives for this country should be able to settle here.  The Government has finally realised that the public is behind the Gurkhas and this is a victory for all those who supported the campaign, including those who contacted their MPs.”

Minister’s ‘stubbornness’ as he refuses to consider council tax alternatives

Bay MP Adrian Sanders has voiced concern that Communities and Local Government Minister John Healey has flatly refused to even look at the implications of replacing or reforming the council tax system.

The current system of a regressive tax has traditionally seen above inflation rises and severely discriminated against many groups in society, particularly pensioners.

Mr Sanders’ recent residents’ survey, taking in the views of thousands of Torbay residents, found that 65% thought the council tax was an unfair way to collect money for local services and 67% would support its replacement by a local income tax.

The Minister refused to show what effects such a change would have for taxpayers and their communities and by refusing to assess different methods of taxation, the Government is denying the public an informed choice.

Over a quarter of Torbay households receive council tax benefit, which tries to iron out unfairness in the system but figures from age concern show that up to three thousand pensioners in the Bay could be missing out on the benefit as they are not aware they are eligible or are put off by the complicated bureaucracy. 

Adrian commented: “Council tax has always been a flawed system.  The whole way tax revenue is shared between local and central Government creates far too many anomalies and this leads to postcode lotteries.”

“Even more importantly, as councils are forced to raise taxes far above inflation, the rises plunge pensioners and low income families into poverty.  The elderly, especially those who have been prudent enough to save shoulder a disproportionately high burden for council tax and we must find a fairer system.”

“A local income tax, a tax on land or some other sort of levy may be a simpler and more effective solution but the stubbornness of this Government means we will never be able to judge these different systems side by side.”

Torbay MP Calls for Better End of Life Care

Torbay MP, Adrian Sanders has welcomed a Parliamentary report   recommending reform of how care is delivered for acute and terminal patients.

The report acknowledges that although the majority of people express a preference to die at home, 60% die in an acute hospital when there is in fact no clinical need for them to be there. This is in part due to a lack of specialised training in end of life care and a lack of co-ordination in services. Independent hospices also do not have long enough contracts with the NHS and this means that they are unable to plan ahead for future development and best manage their resources.

People could stay in their homes if equipment and home care support were provided in a more responsive and flexible manner.  Adrian has endorsed the recommendations of the Committee and will be supporting measures to bring about improvements through Parliament.

Adrian commented: “It is so important that end of life care is of the highest possible standard and that people have the opportunity to exercise their right to die in a place of their choosing.

We are fortunate to have an excellent hospice in Torbay, but funding shortages prevent Rowcroft Hospice from being able to improve its services and achieve its expansion plans. Longer funding cycles would obviously aid hospices like Rowcroft to be able to plan for the future and continue to help local residents receive first class end of life care in a home-like environment in which family members can also share.

The Government has been dragging its feet on this issue for far too long. I am glad that it is being addressed and hopeful that resources for end of life care in Torbay can be improved.”

Adrian has also been pressuring Cabinet Office Minister Liam Byrne and the Department of Health to address the funding shortages affecting Rowcroft, to ensure a full and effective service remains.