Cllr David Ward, chair of the Bradford North Area Committee has responded to a Home Office consultation which could give more powers to councils to crack down on alcohol-related crime.

He said,

" Residents in Idle have been frustrated by the council's inability to quickly shut down places which abuse the law including sell alcohol to under aged drinkers. The council recently revoked the licence of the Idle Village off-licence because of police allegations about underage sales and complaints by residents including a substantial petition.

Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats held an open meeting in Idle Parish Church, visited the Hindu Temple in Leeds Road and toured Horton Park Surgery where he met people who had been helped by the mental health charity Mind.

The question time in Idle is the latest in a series of Nick Clegg's successful 'Outside Westminster' events where local people can ask him any question they choose.

Bradford North Area Committee is set to money for two projects; one for dementia sufferers and their carers and one for extra work with young people.

Bradford Alzheimer's Society will get £6,600 to run singing sessions helped by a musician from Northern Orchestral Enterprises Ltd for dementia sufferers and their carers. At the end of he projects they hope to give a concert for families and friends and make a CD. As well as being fun, singing helps breathing and posture.

Councillor David Ward chair of the Bradford North Area Committee is calling on Bradford and Airedale Hospitals do their part to tackle knife and other violent crime.

Cllr Ward believes there is a strong case for hospital accident and emergency units and the police to work together to identify knife and violent crime blackspots.

Residents in Idle are furious that Thomas Cromptons will not collect a rubbish skip that has been left by the company in the road for weeks.

"We have phoned them but they refuse to deal with it saying it is to do with 'data protection' " said local resident Lisa Clark. "The skip is regularly set on fire and the ash and rubbish blows everywhere. Other than the absolute mess it makes it really is dangerous to have something regularly on fire in the road."

Figures released by the Liberal Democrats today show that the West Yorkshire Police Force could get an extra 362 officers if the government scrapped its plans for ID cards and use the money to recruit new front-line officers.

West Yorkshire currently has 5,864 full-time equivalent police officers and is the only force in Yorkshire which is currently growing. Across the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber, the number of police offices dropped by 126 between September 2007 and September 2008. Under Lib Dem plans that number would increase by 819.

Liberal Democrats in Bradford and Shipley will soon be heading off to the party's spring conference in Harrogate. Doors to the conference will open on the evening of Friday 6th March. It will close on Sunday 8th with a speech from party leader, Nick Clegg MP.

Those attending from Bradford include Cllr David Ward, chair of the Bradford North Area Committee.

Lib Dem Youth and Students in Bradford East are campaigning to raise the issue of homelessness among young people using fashion, music, poetry and art. "We wanted to raise the issue because often due to low wages, unemployment or family break up homeless young people exist out of sight due to 'sofa surfing' or staying with friends, or living in squats or hostels. They are not very visible and do not often contact their local council for help" says Stacey Yeadon. "We held an event to explore the issues and challenge the stereotype of a homeless person being someone who sleeps rough on the street and to raise money for Bradford Nightstop who provide help and accommodation to homeless young people in Bradford. Working with our PPC, David Ward, our 'Homless not Hopeless' campaign is working to get people to think more about the problems facing young people trying to get a home."

Cllr David Ward , the Liberal Democrats spokesperson on education in Bradford District has welcomed the new proposals to put more money into education.

According to research released recently, an extra £2,430 would be needed for each pupil who gets free school meals to bring the level of spending per head up to that in private schools. 18,028 pupils received free school meals in the district and this cost £43.8 million.

Cllr David Ward has expressed real concerns about the future of the Building Schools for the Future programme ( BSF ).

He said, We have moved from a situation where everything is positive to a situation where everybody has concerns about it. The more delays there are in phase two, the more uncertainties there are about phase three. I am really concerned that the wheels are beginning to fall off."