Conduct Of The Honourable Member For Pendle

EDM number 1009 in 1995-96, proposed by David Rendel on 18/06/1996.

That this House deplores the criticisms made by the honourable Member for Pendle of a presentation of long-service awards to staff of Pendle Borough Council by the Labour Mayor; congratulates Liberal Democrat-controlled Pendle Borough Council on its enlightened employment policies which include long-service awards for staff who have given 25 years public service and notes that the present policy was recently agreed with the full support of the Labour opposition; notes that similar policies are being pursued by the Labour-controlled councils of Burnley, Rossendale and Blackburn (in Burnley's case at considerably greater expense); recognises that the revenue budget of Pendle Council has been capped at approximately the same level for the past five years and congratulates the Council on its efficient financial management and radical and forward looking restructuring which has allowed it to avoid any cuts in service to this point; approves the actions of this forward-looking authority in already taking early and prudent steps, entirely openly and in the full glare of public debate, to deal with the expected further shortfall of ú800,000 in its revenue budget for 1997-98; and notes that no other council in Lancashire, including those controlled by the Labour Party, hands out ú5 to its over-80s at Christmas and that this unique practice can unfortunately no longer be afforded at a time when essential services are now at risk from Government-enforced cut-backs.

This motion has been signed by a total of 10 MPs.