Welcome to Daventry colleagues!

In preparation for the probable joining of Lutterworth with Daventry in the future Boundary changes, Lutterworth Branch invited members of Daventry to attend our February Branch meeting. Six Daventry members attended, and we were pleased to meet each other. Keeping business to a minimum, we had a brilliant talk on EMA by Professor Sue Maguire, and the evening was most successful. We look forward to meeting at political and social events in the future.

Electoral Boundaries - Secondary Consultation

For those who don't agree with me about the desirability of leaving South Leicestershire consituency for the delights of Daventry (and I admit that is currently pretty much everybody) the Boundary Commission has announced the dates for its secondary consultation.  That means the chance to comment on all the consultations submitted in the first phase.

This may sound like unnecessary duplication but my experience with the Local Government Boundary Commission suggests that the comments-on-comments tend to be the ones that carry most weight.

The consultation runs from noon on March 6 2012 to noon on April 3 2012.  Both Branch nights, I note.  Beyond coincidence, surely?

January Branch meeting

At our January meeting, we again discussed the Boundary Commision decision. It looks like we will be joining with Daventry, so we will need to get to know our prospective new comrades.

Other news - the GC held an excellent meeting on education last month with a well-informed speaker from London; the meeting in February will be on funding of voluntary legal advice, which is facing cuts, just when people most need it.

We discussed the 2 new housing developments proposed for Lutterworth.

At our fund-raising Gala dinner, over 50 people attended, and over £500 was raised.

Happy Christmas!

Wishing a Happy Christmas to all members and readers, from Lutterworth Branch.

We had 2 festive Branch/Constituency events:

The annual Gala dinner of the South Leicestershire Constituency was well-attended, and included a lovely meal; music; an informative speech from Liz Kendall, (Leicester West), and was held at our usual comfortable venue of Braunstone Town. A raffle, and a most professionally executed auction of items including Houses of Commons and Lords goods, raised funds for the Constituency. We hope the Boundary Commission does not decide to break up our Constituency! Our views have been expressed to the Commission, and we await their decision.

Our Christmas Quiz was on - guess what!! - politics! It was a very successful and enjoyable event, held in Brauton-Astley, with quite stunning displays of knowledge from some participants! A very pleasant evening was passed, with festive drinks and nibbles, and the raffle raised a nice contribution for our funds! Many thanks to David for organising it again!

Happy Christmas to all, from the Branch

October Branch meeting

At the October Branch meeting, we discussed the extraordinary Boundary Commission plans to put Lutterworth with Daventry. This would create a strange Constituency covering an area crossing county and service delivery boundaries. We have taken steps to support an alternative plan of keeping S Leicestershire much as it is, as proposed by the Democratic Audit Group of Liverpool University, (see www.democraticaudit.com for further details)
Our speaker was Tristan Koriya on Social Housing. He explained how it is currently in crisis with a severe shortage of suitable homes, and how this adversely effects employment, health and education. The reckless Government proposal of having Council Housing for only a limited tenancy would further increase these highly undesirable effect, and would be likely to lead to break down and destabilisation of communities. Suggestions inclded raising stamp duty on second homes to contribute towards social housing; better regulation of private renting of property; and tax breaks for good private landlords.
We are looking forward to our speaker at the November meeting: Professor Sue Maguire of Warwick University on Youth Unemployment.

We're all off to Daventry!

Only 7 days ago we sat at the branch meeting and wondered, what's the most bizarre outcome for us in the Boundary Review? Joining Harborough, Hinckley - even Rugby? No - we're all off to Daventry in 2015. The good news, the branch has no need to change - Misterton and that well-known suburb of Daventry, Broughton Astley, are in the new constituency. And there is still a Braunston, it's just not that Braunstone.

Full jaw-dropping details are best enjoyed in the preliminary report itself. Clicking on the post title should take you there.