The Liberal Democrats do politics differently. We believe that councillors should make a difference by working all year round - not just at election time.

Campaigner Geoff Reid and the Lib Dems have been busy in Eccleshill: campaigning for a car park on the Delph to relieve problems on Stony Lane, campaigning for the new railway station at Apperley Bridge and supporting Ravenscliffe residents with a petition to make Incommunities repair the broken fences and sort out the empty homes in the area.

Once again, Labour have let down local people by not playing a part in setting the Council's budget.

The Council is balanced with no Party having a majority of seats so Political Parties have to work together to settle the Council's budget. Labour did turn up to pre-budget meetings but they just took away the ideas of other political parties rather than working with others to get things done. All the main Liberal Democrat ideas were included along with some from each of the other two parties.

Cllr. David Ward has hit out at Tory proposals to axe over ₤5m from the budget for Adult Services.

He said, "The budget is under huge pressure with people living longer, an increasing number of people with learning disabilities and people requiring more care as they get older. The department needs ₤5.5m to cope with everything from more adults with learning difficulties, to more school leavers with physical disabilities and more people needing help to live at home."

One in five primary school children transferring to secondary school in September have not been allocated their first choice school. 95% have been allocated a place from their three preferences and only 366 were not allocated to any of their preferred schools.

Cllr David Ward, education spokesman for the Council's Liberal Democrat group, said: "Efforts have been made to try to provide additional spaces. We have got the expansion of places under phase three of the Building Schools for Future programme in particular which should improve the figures in the future."

Cllr Jeanette Sunderland, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Bradford Council has asked for councillors' declarations of interest to be put onto the council's website.

"All councillors have to fill in a form and make public any financial or other interests which might be seen to influence decisions they make. For example, if the neighbours want to build an extension to their house, a councillor on the planning panel should declare their interest and leave the room. The public also have a right to know whether a councillor is member of an organisation or holds shares in a company which might be bidding for contracts from the council.

Cllr David Ward has asked why rose beds are being replanted in Saltaire by Incommunities but residents across Thorpe Edge, Ravenscliffe and Fagley are being told that they cannot have important environmental works such as fences repaired. Incommunities say they can only pay for work to meet the Decent Homes Standard and not fences to improve security and the environment.

Councillor David Ward will present the Liberal Democrat plans for education in the district at the up-coming Council's budget-setting meeting. He will highlight a proposal to improve children's' experience of language during their first three years of life.

"Every year since 2000, when Labour lost control of the Council, the Liberal Democrats have included new money in their budgets to make sure that education remains the council's top priority.

David Ward has expressed anger about an extension which has been built at 12 High Street, Idle without planning permission.

He first reported the problem to the council in November and the council then visited the property and ordered the owner to put it right by the middle of December.

Now the council is preparing to serve an enforcement notice ordering the owner to demolish the extension.

Councillor David Ward has described the plans to turn the Broadway site into a community garden as ' Too little, too late."

He said,

" While I welcome this last ditch attempt to put something back into the city centre it is too little , too late. A lot of the businesses in the area have already gone. Frankly, far from greening it, Westfield should be on site, building a shopping centre. I want to know exactly how much Westfield are contributing because the council tax payer has already put £34m into the site."

Lib Dem Councillor David Gray has written to over six hundred households asking for their views about a review of the speed limit on Bolton Road and Queens Road.

The consultation is taking place because Bradford Council can now review speed limits on A and B roads and make changes. The Highways Department of the Council says that the speed limit on Bolton Road and Queens Road could be reduced to 30 mph.