Adrian Sanders

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.

Empty Homes Deepen South West Housing Crisis

Figures unearthed by Torbay MP Adrian Sanders have shown that there are over 70,000 empty homes in the South West, with over 3,000 in Torbay alone.

With over 6,500 families on the housing list in Torbay, Adrian is calling on the Government and the Council to do more to ease homelessness and the wide range of problems that result and cost society considerably.

With almost half a million social homes being sold off in the last 10 years, and only 175,000 new ones built, the housing shortage is affecting those on low incomes the most.  Pensioners and low paid workers are finding it increasingly difficult to find suitable accommodation, especially if their housing needs change suddenly.

The Housing Act 2004 allows councils to utilise empty dwellings to ease homelessness through Empty Dwelling Management Orders.  These have not been widely used in the South West. 

Adrian is also advocating the abolition of VAT on rebuilding work, to encourage empty homes to be brought up to a good standard.  While Greenfield building developments pay 0% VAT, rebuilding and renovation incur 15% VAT.

Adrian and the Liberal Democrats are also calling on the Government to extend support for buying empty homes for social use.  Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has announced funding for around 5,500 home purchases nationwide but this total would not even house those on Torbay’s waiting list.

Adrian said: “The lack of suitable, affordable housing in Torbay is one of the biggest issues the area faces.  With good housing and infrastructure comes a better quality of life and a more productive economy.  The Government is wary of investing in this area but it has ignored the immense financial benefits reducing homelessness brings; poor housing leads to poor health, anti social behaviour, low aspirations and a poor sense of community.”

“There is so much that can be done to increase the housing supply without building on Greenfield sites.  Bringing even half of the empty homes in Torbay into use would be such a boost to so many families and would immensely benefit our local communities.  Good housing must be at the centre of national and local policies to tackle social deprivation.”

Adrian has now written to Housing Minister Margaret Beckett and Torbay Chief Executive Elizabeth Raikes, urging progress on this issue.

Adrian Sanders MP is super supportive of Mind’s Get it off your chest campaign

Adrian Sanders, MP for Torbay, is urging men to Get it off your chest in support of the leading mental health charity Mind’s new campaign on men’s mental health. The campaign aims to get men to recognise the importance of talking about their problems and seek help when times get tough, particularly during the recession.

Mind’s new YouGov survey found that almost 40% of men are worried or low at the moment and the top 3 issues playing on their minds are job security, work and money. One in seven men will develop depression within six months of losing their jobs (1) and unemployment also increases the risk of suicide with research showing that two-thirds of men under 35years were out of work when they took their own life (2).

Even though men and women experience mental health problems in roughly equal measures men are far less likely to discuss their feelings and seek the help they need. Only 31% of men would talk to their family about feeling low compared to nearly half of women and only 14% of men (35-44yrs) would see a GP if they felt low compared to 37% of women. The consequences of suffering in silence can be fatal - 75% of all suicides are by men (3).

Mind’s Get it off your chest campaign is calling for a first strategy on men's mental health, to match the existing women's mental health strategy. Supporters with personal experience include Lord Melvyn Bragg, Alastair Campbell, Stephen Fry, actor Joe McGann and Heart FM DJ Matt Wilkinson.

Mind’s Chief Executive Paul Farmer said: “The problem is that too many men wrongly believe that admitting mental distress makes them weak and this kind of self stigma can cost lives. When men do look for help, they can be put off by health premises that are geared more towards women. Men told us that GP surgeries offering women’s magazines can feel like a hairdressers and make them feel uncomfortable. Treatments could be more ‘male friendly’ too. It is a major health inequality that a mental health strategy exists for women but not men.”

(1) Kivimaki M. et al. (2007), ‘Organisational downsizing and increased use of psychotropic drugs among employees who remain in employment’, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 61: 154–8

(2) Association of Public Health Observatories (2007) Mental health: indications of public health in the English regions

(3) Office for National Statistics (2009), Suicides

Torbay MP Welcomes Report on Event Licences

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders, member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, has welcomed the findings of the Committee’s report on Licensing Legislation.

The recommendation to allow councillors to be able to represent residents’ views on temporary event licences has been particularly welcomed.  The recommendation comes after the issue was raised by Preston Councillor Dave Butt, leading to a submission to the Committee that was supported by Adrian.

Currently, only the police can offer objections on temporary event notices, which cover one off events lasting up to 4 days long, with up to 500 people attending.  The police can make representations on law and order concerns but local people, who may want to support or oppose any given event do not have the right to make their views known to licensing officials.

Adrian commented: “The lack of democracy in the licensing system is a problem and hopefully the Government will accept the recommendations of the report.  Whether people want to support a popular local event or complain about something that will bring noise and disruption to their neighbourhood, they should always be allowed to put these views forward to be considered by the licensing authorities.”

Government Confusion on Torbay Air Quality

Bay MP Adrian Sanders has voiced concern over mixed messages on air pollution in Torbay.

Questioning DEFRA Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, Adrian found that the Government is ‘satisfied’ with progress being made in Torbay in tackling air pollution.

A recent report by Government Office South West revealed, however, that ‘none of the three air quality targets [for Torbay] are “on-track”.  The report is responding to the council’s progress report on its local transport plan.

The report went on to say: “Public concern is also expressed about the continued deterioration in air quality for the Hele, Brixham and Paignton AQMAs (Air quality management areas).  Unfortunately the solution to improving these areas is reported as being based around modal transfer, which you are failing to achieve.”

Adrian is pressing Ministers to offer more substantive support to tackle air pollution and Mr Irranca-Davies highlighted grants available and help lines for local authorities to call.

Adrian commented: “The Government needs to get its story straight on air pollution.  One branch of Government has launched a scathing attack on progress while another thinks all is well.  I will be offering the council any assistance I can and I will be urging them to exploit fully the resources the Government is providing.”

Adrian Sanders MP asks mobile phone users – what’s the problem?

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders joins forces with Consumer Focus to help tackle problems faced by mobile phone users

In response to consumer complaints about the service they receive from mobile companies, Consumer Focus, the new independent champion for consumers, launched an investigation into the mobile phone sector this month. Adrian is backing the move and urging residents to take part by sending their top ‘mobile moans’ to the UK’s largest watchdog.

Adrian said “Public confidence in the mobile phone sector is low with more than 100,000 complaints received by the advice agency Consumer Direct in the last two years. I am very pleased that Consumer Focus will be championing mobile consumers’ rights and urge you to tell them about your views and experiences”.

Ed Mayo, Chief Executive of Consumer Focus, said: “Nine in ten UK households now use a mobile phone, more than have a fixed phone line. The challenges facing mobile phone users have moved on greatly since the first mobile call was made in 1985. Mobiles are at the heart of modern communication and those without access can face exclusion and disadvantage. It is crucial that all consumers get a fair and affordable deal.”

Bay MP Welcomes Council Commitment to Listen to Residents

Torbay MP Adrian Sanders has welcomed a commitment from Deputy Chief Executive of Torbay Council Caroline Taylor to look at rectifying the poor results shown in a recent survey of Torbay residents.

The results from the ‘Place Survey’ saw only about a third of residents approving of how the council acts on behalf of local people.  Fewer than 20% thought that they had enough influence on local decision making, reflecting Mr Sanders’ own survey of thousands of residents in 2008, where only 13% felt they were involved enough.

The Council is soon to unveil an ‘action plan’ to the Torbay Strategic Partnership to rectify the problems highlighted in the survey and Mr Sanders has been encouraging the council to do more to listen to residents and pro-actively take action on issues.

Adrian said: “The perception of mismanagement at the town hall and the overriding of the needs and wishes of Torbay residents is one of the major concerns people in the Bay raise with me.  Hopefully the council can now look closely at why people hold these perceptions and bring in meaningful change, not just in how the council presents itself but in the substance of what it does strategically and on a day-to-day basis.”

“The survey did take in the views of over 2000 residents but the Council should be listening to the views of all residents everyday, ensuring that consultations actually influence decision making.”

In a reply on behalf of Torbay Council, Caroline Taylor wrote to Mr Sanders saying: “The survey has allowed us to do an analysis on a Ward and Town basis and this will allow us to carry out local targeting and some innovative work in Ward areas to respond to various big issues raised.  There is also a quarterly residents’ focus group now in place to track changes in perception and concern before the next formal survey takes place in 2 years time.”