Coun Tony Dobson
Conservative group leader
IN my column this week, I thought I would highlight some national initiatives that have a local impact and also respond to concerns that I receive correspondence on from local residents.
Recently the Prime Minister announced that 50 more towns will share £1 billion of funding to reenergise their high street.
This funding is part of the Prime Minister’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund announced earlier which will ensure that towns are getting the improved transport and broadband connectivity that they need to create more jobs.
With our towns and high streets facing challenges, the Government are committed to reenergising these communities, but our local council has to be committed as well, take that money and invest correctly.
Boris Johnson and the Conservatives’ plan to bring the change people voted for. We will realise the benefits of Brexit and get our country back on the road to a brighter future by:
1. Getting Brexit done 2. Making sure Britain is prepared.
3. Making sure people start seeing the £33.9 billion cash and the additional £1.8 billion committed in their frontline NHS services.
4. Hiring 20,000 new police officers and giving them the powers to keep our streets safe.
5. Properly funding our schools so every child gets more guaranteed minimum funding.
6. Delivering a strong economy to fund the public services we all rely on.
The Prime Minister has announced a £25 million cash boost for hospices.
This extra funding will protect hospices and palliative care services which support around 200,000 in the UK each year. The money will also support the sector by relieving workforce pressures as well as introducing new services – such as out-of-hours support, respite care and specialist community teams.
We are helping families with the cost of living so they have more money in their pockets:
The Resolution Foundation found the proportion of low paid jobs is at the lowest level since 1986 thanks in part to our National Living Wage.
In 2016 the proportion of employees on low pay fell below 20 per cent for the first time since 1986.
It has continued to fall since, with almost 200,000 workers lifted out of low pay last year’. We increased the National Living Wage to £8.21 this year, benefitting 1.8 million people
We have increased the personal allowance to £12,500 a year early so that people can keep more of what they earn.
We have cut income tax for 32 million people and taken 1.74 million people out of paying tax altogether. An average rate taxpayer is paying £1,205 less tax this year than in 2010-11.
Also, by the end of this summer, every Job Centre in the UK will have a dedicated domestic abuse point of contact, supporting victims of domestic abuse.