Bexhill and Battle Liberal Democrats

Today's Queen's Speech has again shown that the Liberal Democrats are punching way above their weight - and we can be proud of that.

It included many of the long-term reforms we've campaigned for, such as reform of the banks. These will help build a sustainable future for our country.

In 2010, we took the decision together to enter into a Coalition Government so we could do the right thing for the country at a time of economic crisis. Today we've focused on helping families and supporting growth and jobs.

Vince Cable will regulate the banks so they can no longer be in a position to hold the country to ransom when their financial gambles don't pay off. And Ed Davey will establish the world's first Green Investment Bank and introduce electricity market reform to protect consumers, support low-carbon energy and invest in renewables.

We're also helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Steve Webb will help pensioners by introducing a flat-rate pension. We'll propose a way to modernise adult care and support, finally ensuring dignity in old age.

Today also clearly set out our collective determination to reform the House of Lords, an historic commitment of our party.

There's so much more we could highlight: Sarah Teather's work on improving support for children with special educational needs, our support for flexible working and shared parental leave and our proposals to strengthen the hand of farmers and other suppliers of supermarkets through an independent adjudicator.

Liberal Democrats from across the Constituency were at Catsfield Village Hall recently for Battle Branch's annual lunch. Over the years this event has attracted varied and distinguished speakers and is always an enjoyable and stimulating event.

This year guests participated in a lively question and answer session following an informative and topical address from Cllr. David Rogers. ACountyCouncillorfor thirty five years David is currently chair of the Local Government Association's Health & Wellbeing Committee. In this role he has been very involved in recent reforms to the NHS particularly as they affect local government.

Over 20 million working people will be better off next year after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government delivered the biggest ever increase in the income tax personal allowance in the Budget.

The massive £3.5bn tax cut for working people delivers:

• The biggest ever single uplift in the tax threshold
• A personal allowance of £9,205 in April 2013
• 21 million working people getting an extra £220 tax cut
• Brings the total tax cut for basic rate tax payers to £550
• Brings the total number of people lifted out of tax to 2 million.

Booking into the LibDem conference hotel in Gateshead, I was tapped on the shoulder. As I turned, a familiar face said "Are you first in the queue?" "Yes, Lembit" I said. "Second, again!" Lembit replied. "Yes, Lembit" I said. Seems to be his lot in life at the moment.

Having lived in the area for 20 years, I know the Geordies to be a warm, welcoming folk. Lembit responded to the warmth and took his time to answer questions and engage with the hotel staff - a real pro at work. It was a good start to the weekend.

Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg used his speech to the Party's Spring conference in NewcastleGateshead to call for the forthcoming budget to be a "budget for fairness" and pledged that it would help working familes.

The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that by 2015 Britain would have seen an end to control orders, the first gay marriages and the first elections to the House of Lords.

Fairer taxes, promoting green jobs, protecting your civil liberties - these are just some of the achievements of the Liberal Democrats in government.

We're building a freer, greener and more liberal country - and stopping some of the worst excesses of the Conservatives. Find out more in this infographic.

Battle's Lib Dem Councillors Kathryn Field and Kevin Dixon, alongside Robertsbridge Councillor Sue Prochack persuaded Rother District Council's Services Scrutiny Committee to arrange a separate meeting to properly debate The 'Next Wave' seafront project on Monday.

Rother's flagship project along Bexhill seafront has been heavily criticised in the local press, and by local pressure groups. The Scrutiny Committee had been due to discuss the almost completed project at a busy meeting on Monday, but seconding Independent Cllr Stuart Earl's motion, Cllr Kathryn Field said that Scrutiny should be seen to be looking at the Project in more detail. She said that the Committee should look at all aspects of Next Wave, including what did not go well, but also what parts of the Project were successful and could be used as 'Best Practice' in the future.

East Sussex County Council agreed its budget today, 7 February 2012. In his speech proposing this year's Liberal Democrat amendment Liberal Democrat Leader of the County Group, Cllr. David Tutt, was delighted to point out that although last year's LibDem amendment had been roundly dismissed by the Conservative Administration many of its proposals had in fact been put in place during the course of the year! In spite of saying last February that LibDem plans to spend some of the County's substantial reserves on capital projects were unworkable this has happened. Last February Tories laughed at LibDem plans to save money by having fewer meetings at expensive outside venues and by reducing the use of external consultants. Again during the last financial year this has happened.

Rother District Council' s ruling Conservative Group are set to create a massive £1 million hole in the Council's finances. At a recent joint meeting of the Council's two Scrutiny Committees the Conservatives voted en-bloc to recommend to Cabinet to accept a one off £117,000 grant from the Government in lieu of any Council Tax rise. However due to its 'one-off' nature the ramifications of this means that after 5 years, the Council will find itself worse off by £1,004,424, causing immense problems for the Council in balancing its books in the future without severely cutting services.

Saturday, December 3rd. Bexhill Buddhist Centre. Children's Awards

Sunday, December 4th. St Michael's Hospice. Lights on the Tree of Hope
3.00pm. St Peter's Church service
4.00pm Bexhill Hospital. Lights on the Christmas Tree
5.00pm. Little Common. Christmas Tree Lights

Monday, December 5th. Bexhill in Bloom Christmas Get-together