We are asking what role can local communities play in creating local projects and systems in helping to tackle climate change. We are keen to hear your ideas.

Work to clear the Biart Place site in readiness for a major regeneration project looks set to start by the end of January.

Rugby Borough Council has appointed Manchester-based company O'Gara to dismantle the tower blocks and apartment block on the site, and demolish the garages.

The council has now secured prior approval for the deconstruction project and O'Gara plan to move on to the site by the end of January.

The project looks set to take up to a year to complete, with O'Gara first securing the site before erecting full-height scaffold towers at the blocks complete with sheeted, flame-retardant covers to reduce both noise and dust.

The firm also intends to use further dust reduction measures throughout the deconstruction process, with both tower blocks being taken down floor by floor.

The approval for the project also includes restrictions to on-site working hours to minimise disruption to nearby residents.

Responding to new statistics revealing knife crime is at a 10-year high in England and Wales, Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Daisy Cooper said:

"With knife crime at its highest in a decade, the Conservatives' approach to knife crime has clearly failed.

"They have unnecessarily criminalised thousands of young people, made them more likely to offend by locking them up on pointless short sentences, and undermined trust in the police through a surge in suspicion-less Stop and Search.

"Liberal Democrats are calling for the Government to stop wasting money trying to seem tough on crime, and instead spend it on the things that actually make our communities safer. We need more community policing, more youth services and a proper public health approach to serious violence."

The Liberal Democrats have agreed the timetable to elect the next leader of the Liberal Democrats.

At a meeting of the party's Federal Board in London, the party agreed to open nominations for candidates on the 11th of May and close them on the 28th of May.

The ballot will then open on the 18th of June and close on the 15th of July, after which the party will announce the next leader.

In the meantime, Ed Davey MP and Party President Mark Pack will continue as joint acting leaders of the Liberal Democrats.

Speaking after the meeting, Liberal Democrat Party President Mark Pack said:

"I want first to thank Jo Swinson for her determined leadership of the Liberal Democrats.

"The Liberal Democrats are the home for everyone who shares our vision of an outward-looking, caring country that celebrates diversity and benefits from high-quality public services.

"With our party membership at record levels, I urge everyone else who shares our values to join us in the coming days and vote in the leadership election."

Candidates must be Members of Parliament and be proposed by at least 10% of other members of the Parliamentary Party in the House of Commons. They must also be supported by 200 members in aggregate in not less than 20 local parties.

Nominations for candidates will open on the 11th May, after the local elections. Nominations will close on the 28th of May.

The ballot will then open on the 18th of June and close on the 15th of July, after which the party will announce the next leader.

Responding to reports that Boris Johnson is considering relocating the House of Lords to the north of England, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Constitutional Relations Wendy Chamberlain said:

"Boris Johnson is the man who tried to silence our democracy by unlawfully shutting down Parliament. How can anyone trust him to fix our broken politics?

"Our politics doesn't need piecemeal change. It is in need of an urgent and radical overhaul. It is time to hit the refresh button.

"That's why Liberal Democrats are fighting to give real power to people with an elected House of Lords, a fairer voting system and to ensure 16- and 17-year olds have their say at the ballot box."

Please see the Liberal Democrat 'Our Plan to Mend Our Broken Politics' here.

Plans include:

Responding to the Education Policy Institute's Annual Report on access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), Liberal Democrat Group Leader on Warwickshire County Council, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse said:

"The state of children's mental health services across the country is deeply worrying. It is unacceptable that children who have experienced abuse or have diagnosable mental health conditions are being turned away from treatment.

Responding to news that Beales Department Store may have to call in administrators, Sarah Olney MP, Liberal Democrat Business Spokesperson, said:

"This weekend we've seen Mothercare close its last branches, Debenhams shutting more outlets and now Beales announcing that they are at risk of collapse. Every closure will see people around the country face the bleak prospect of losing their jobs and livelihoods.

"The internet age means shopping is changing. But that doesn't mean we should accept seeing our High Streets hollowed out. Too many online stores rake in profit but pay little or no tax, while High Street shops are saddled with costly business rates and exorbitant rents.

"The Government must urgently look at radical reform, or consider scrapping business rates completely. This system is not fit for purpose in 2020. With more uncertainty ahead thanks to the shadow cast by the Johnson's Brexit agenda, Ministers must do everything possible to ensure retailers across the UK have a chance to stay in business.

"What's more, we must find ways to tax companies operating online more effectively, to ensure a level playing field for retailers."

A huge thank you to everyone in Rugby & Bulkington who voted Liberal Democrats at the General Election on Thursday 12 December 2019, and everyone who supported us during the campaign.

The outcome of the General Election is obviously disappointing, but there is much to be positive about. We increased our vote in Rugby & Bulkington from the 2017 election (+ 2.7%) and natioanlly we increased our vote share by over 4% coming second in 91 seats across the country.

The Liberal Democrats have set out a bold plan to end rough sleeping within five years, spanning social housing, welfare, local authority funding and legal changes.

The package of measures to prevent rough sleeping include:

• Scrapping the Vagrancy Act
• Introducing a "somewhere safe to stay" duty on local authorities to provide immediate emergency accommodation
• Abolishing Section 21 "no fault" evictions
• Increasing Local Housing Allowance payments
• Providing accommodation and support for survivors of domestic abuse
• Extending the "move on" period for refugees from 28 days to 56