Last week I was writing about Cllr Maureen Walsh resigning from the Tory group on the Council.  I was interested to know why the Conservatives were being less than honest in their leaflets.

Syd Lloyd, another Tory councillor, didn’t want to answer that and, in time honoured fashion, challenged me on something totally different to distract attention.

Syd said that Lib Dem claims of Tory cuts were untrue and challenged me to provide evidence.

Well, I can only suggest that Cllr Lloyd reads the material his party is putting out.

In their recent newspaper, the Conservatives called for free parking in Council car parks.  Reasonable idea, of course - worth considering.  In the run-up to Christmas, the Lib Dems found ways to offer free parking on several days.

But I oppose it as a general scheme because the money from car parking in Stockport (several million pounds of revenue) pays for parking enforcement and a range of other services.  If the money doesn’t come in,  it means cuts to Council services.

The Lib Dems are working hard to improve parking enforcement at the moment - it seems odd that the Conservatives are calling for something that would reduce parking enforcement further,  leading to more cars parking illegally on our streets.

Stockport Council has continued to keep the pressure on rogue traders in a bid to safeguard borough residents. The crack-down focused on targeting rogue traders who prey on the elderly and vulnerable members within the community. The Council’s Trading Standards, Licensing and Environmental Services teams worked in partnership with Greater Manchester Police, the Bailiffs Department and the Vehicle and Operators Service Agency (VOSA) as part of the operation. As part of the Operation Storm:

• Around forty vehicles were stopped by the police and four vehicles were seized as the drivers had no insurance.
• Traders were advised by the Council’s Trading Standards team on business documentation and their legal responsibilities.
• The Council’s Environmental Services team also advised traders on their legal duties and are writing to a number of traders for carrying waste without holding a waste carriers licence.

The Council’s Licensing Team came across an alleged bogus charity collector who had taken possession of numerous items of clothing donated in good faith to the National Blind Children’s Society. The items have now been passed on to the charity and a full investigation into this has been launched by the Council’s Licensing Team.

Anyone with concerns about rogue traders should call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit www.stockport.gov.uk for further information.