What was announced? The Chancellor George Osborne announced today that the banking levy rate for the first year is being increased. This will mean that the bank levy raises £2.5bn in 2011 - an increase of £800m. The levy will raise £10bn over the course of the Parliament
Blackburn with Darwen Liberal Democrat Councillor, Mohammad Rizwan was presented with a National Award by his union USDAW last month.
The ruling Labour Group again denied the Liberal Democrat Group a place on Blackburn with Darwen's Executive Board. Despite have 9 seats on the Council they are not allowed to sit on the body that makes most of the key decisions.
At the last Blackburn with Darwen Council meeting Labour councillors failed to stick up for what they believed and were forced by the party whips to toe the party line.
Blackburn with Darwen Council has benefited from a scheme to help council who are losing out because they have seen the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, given by the government, cut. This scheme which Labour always planned to end next year helped many of the most deprived areas.
Cuts have to be made across all areas of government spending, and local government is no different. The Lib Dems' top priority has always been to ensure that the local government finance settlement is fair, and protects councils in the most deprived areas. Despite the huge pressure on public finances, the Coalition has taken unprecedented steps to protect councils most reliant on central government funding.