THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

You can help us even more by making a quick donation to our campaign!

Liberal Democrats from both Hull and the East Riding have called for changes to how the council's pension funds are invested, following the news that both authorities have recognised the climate emergency.

The Liberal Democrats do not want to see any further investment in fossil fuels that would result in more severe flooding and land loss to rising sea levels. Flooding and land loss have already caused significant harm already in the region.

This has led to concerns raised in both Hull and the East Riding regarding the East Riding Pension Fund's investments in the fossil fuel industry.

Hull City Council today (25/2/21) met to decide its budget for the next financial year.

The debate saw Labour councillors admit their budget would see the council 'stand still' before voting it through. The Liberal Democrats presented an alternative plan, aimed at moving Hull forward, with a number of new spending commitments on roads, crime prevention, and mental health services.

The Liberal Democrats state that the city faces tough times ahead and have put together a proactive alternative budget to face it head on. Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Hull City Council, Cllr Mike Ross, said: "Now is the time for real leadership to face the challenges ahead and this Labour 'standstill' budget just doesn't do that."

The Liberal Democrats have today announced their alternative budget proposals ahead of the annual Hull City Council budget meeting. The party intend to invest £500,000 into a Crime Prevention Fund, nearly £1m for cleaner & greener communities all while undercutting Labour's Council Tax hike by 1% point.

Liberal Democrat Councillors are presenting their alternative budget plans as ones that will help Hull rebuild and move forward after the devastating impacts of Covid19, alongside years of an outdated Guildhall Labour administration.

Liberal Democrat Councillors will be pushing for funding for the city’s high streets, a fund to crackdown on rogue landlords in the private rented sector, while cutting the council comms budget, such as the "Love Labour" vanity project, "Love Hull ", saving £137,000.

The Liberal Democrats have added their weight to efforts to save the Kirkella fishing vessel. They have launched a petition that reached over 270 signatures in just 48 hours. They have also taken the issue to Parliament, with a Written Parliamentary Question tabled by Liberal Democrat Baroness Harris of Richmond.

Baroness Harris and her Lib Dem colleagues asked a number of questions about the fishing arrangements post-Brexit, including an explicit question on Hull's Kirkella Trawler. The question was:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to compensate (1) the crew of, and (2) those employed through the supply chain of the catch from, the Kirkella trawler which has been unable to operate due to not having access to distant fishing waters.