The Warwickshire County Councillors Grant Fund for 2017-18 is now open for applications from community and voluntary organisations.

The Fund provides each of the County's 57 Councillors with a pot of £5000 to support small-scale projects within their division that support the following outcomes:

• Warwickshire's communities and individuals are supported to be safe, healthy and independent;
• Warwickshire's economy is vibrant and supported by the right jobs, training, skills and infrastructure.

At a recent full Council meeting, Paddox Liberal Democrats Councillor Tim Douglas raised the issue of upgrading changing room facilities at playing fields in Rugby.

Some of these facilities are suffering from vandalism and are in a very poor state, such as at GEC field, Whinfield Rec and Featherbed Lane. Local Liberal Democrats want to see Rugby Borough Council upgrade these facilities and ensure a policy is in place so they are suitable for as many people as possible.

At a full meeting of Rugby Borough Council on 18 July 2017, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group on Rugby Borough Council asked for clarification over the Council's green bin policy, which continues to cause confusion and frustration amongst residents.

Councillor Roodhouse asked:

At a meeting of the full Rugby Borough Council on 18 July 2017, Paddox Liberal Democrats Councillor Tim Douglas raised the issue about the importance of robust infrastructure to coincide with new housing developments.

Councillor Tim Douglas asked:

"Is Rugby Borough Council applying to the Housing Infrastructure Fund in order to ensure Rugby gets the infrastructure we need alongside any new housing?"

Warwickshire County Council (WCC) is currently undertaking a review of the concessionary travel scheme within Warwickshire. They have put together a survey to collect information about how people use their bus pass, and to collect any comments people may have about the current scheme.

The service was last reviewed in 2012, so WCC are undertaking a new review to find out how customers across Warwickshire use their bus passes and help WCC to decide whether they should consider changing the current discretionary elements of the scheme.

Rugby Liberal Democrat Councillors and campaigners in the Hillmorton area have welcomed the decision by the planning inspectorate on Wednesday 5 July 2017 that it had upheld Rugby Borough Council's rejection of the proposed development on Waldings Farm, off Barby Road.

Local Councillors and campaigners from Rugby Liberal Democrats had previously submitted objections to the proposal as well objecting to another planning application for a residential development of up to 113 dwellings off Barby Lane.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on Thursday 13 July 2017 for our Politics and a Pint evening at the Raglan Pub on Dunchurch Road.

We all like campaigning but sometimes it's nice to sit down and chat in a relaxed environment.

Lots of issues were talked about including who will be the next leader of the Liberal Democrats, Mrs May's Government, the Trump Presidency and local issues from roads, houses and Council services.

At the Special Council meeting on 21 June 2017 which voted on the Local Plan, Rugby Liberal Democrat Councillors supported a motion that would have seen more social or genuinely affordable housing.

Rugby Liberal Democrats want to see a fair society, where everyone has the means to get by and the chance to get on. It means being able to provide for your family, afford decent housing, and enjoy high-quality local services.

You will be aware that there has been a number of accidents on Percival Road and regular speeding. We have for some years been pushing at the local authority Warwickshire County Council to take action. We have secured a site meeting with WCC Highways and will be following this up with proposals for them to investigate. In order for us to shape the proposals we need your help as local residents to help us.

Rugby Liberal Democrats are very disappointed that a majority of Councillors did not support their amendment to the Local Plan which would have allowed the public to be consulted on the impacts of the traffic modelling study which was only released days before the Local Plan vote.

The amendment which was moved by Councillor Neil Sandison (Eastlands) and seconded by Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Paddox) was defeated by 17 votes to 14 with 7 abstentions. The amendment said: