Leeds Liberal Democrats

A key policy promoting food growing in Leeds may not rise to the occasion as a key ingredient is missing warned a senior Councillor.

'Feed Leeds' is the name of the policy that the Council hopes will encourage more people in the city to grow their own food. Councillor Stewart Golton (Leader, Liberal Democrat Group) has raised concerns as the group which represents the city's allotment growers have told him that they are angry at not being involved in the project.

Councillor Stewart Golton (Lib Dem, Rothwell) has welcomed the news that two bridges over the canal and River Aire at Woodlesford are to be brought back into use. The works will connect the Wykebeck Valley Way with Rothwell Country Park.

The two redundant rail bridges will be refurbished by Leeds City Council, following an agreement with the current landowners, the Coal Authority. The works will cost around £500,000 and will allow for a cycleway to be built from Pontefract Lane below Temple Newsam, around part of Skelton Lake, over the renovated bridges and then along a refurbished track to connect into Bullough lane at Rothwell Country Park.

Lovell Park Road Bridge in Little London is set to benefit from a final set of repair works after a long period of partial closure. The Bridge has been operating a one way system since 2010, but defects to its structure were first discovered in 2001.

The Council's Executive Board gave the go ahead for the final stages of a multi-million pound repair scheme to the Bridge. Work is scheduled to commence in June this year and is expected to be completed in March 2013. It is anticipated that the Bridge will be in full working order to tie in with the opening of Leeds Arena.

Leeds University Union held its first ever Landlord Awards on 17 April. Councillor Penny Ewens attended the ceremony and has praised the work that the Union is doing to improve relations with student landlords and so with the local community in general.

Students were asked to put forward their own landlords for awards in eight different categories. This is the first time that such a ceremony has been held by a University in this country.

Lib Dem group leader Cllr Stewart Golton (Rothwell) is raising questions over delays to the expansion of food waste collections.

Leeds City Council currently collects food waste in Rothwell and is planning to expand these collections to a neighbouring area this year. Carlton is an obvious candidate for this as it is the only area in the Rothwell ward that doesn't currently get food waste collections. The introduction of food waste collections would see black bin collections cut to once a fortnight but would residents would get double the number of recycling collections and weekly food waste collections.

Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon ward) has welcomed the allocation of funding to train two Youth Service staff members to transport young people to events and activities throughout the city.

The North West Outer Area Committee has allocated £2460, with £615 of this being allocated to Otley and Yeadon ward, to fund the training. The funding will pay for the two staff members to gain a driving qualification to drive passenger minibuses, and will also pay for additional staff to supervise classes whilst the Youth Service members are out on the driving course.

Yeadon Councillors Colin Campbell and Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon ward) are delighted that funds have been allocated to pay for a gardener to help brighten up the town ready for the summer months.

Councillors at the North West Outer Area Committee meeting have assigned£10,777 to pay for the gardener to help maintain the grounds of Yeadon Tarn, the High Street and Yeadon Cemetery. The gardener will be working two days a week in the area, undertaking general gardening duties.

At this afternoons meeting of Leeds City Council a move to formally recognise a gay quarter in Leeds was rejected by Leeds City Council.

Cllr Stewart Golton, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, expressed his disappointment that both the Labour and Conservative Groups had withdrawn their support for recognising a Gay Quarter around Lower Briggate in Leeds.

Councillor Mark Harris (Lib Dem, Moortown ward) has praised the efforts of local churches by giving them a helpful cash boost to help fund children's activities and luncheons.

Moortown Baptist Church, Meanwood Methodist Church and Stainbeck United Reformed Church have benefited from a share of £700. The money has been given from Cllr Harris' MICE (Members Improvement in the Community and Environment) fund.

Councillor Stewart Golton (Lib Dem Group Leader, Leeds City Council) has welcomed a consultation to simplify processes for local authorities when making traffic orders. The consultation, from the Department for Transport (DfT), seeks opinion on making it easier for Traffic Authorities to advertise when making Traffic Regulation Orders.