The Lib Dems are freezing council tax for the third year in a row following a vote by full Council this week to approve the Liberal Democrat budget proposals for 2014-15. The Liberal Democrat listening budget will also invest in jobs and homes for the future and protect essential services.

Speaking to a packed chamber, and over 1000 people watching on the internet, Councillor Paul Crossley (Leader of the Lib Dems in B&NES and Councillor for Southdown) said:

“This administration has worked with Communities across Bath & North East Somerset to produce this budget, which has been the most consultative budget process in the history of this Council.

“We’ve listened, we’ve worked and reworked our proposals, and what we’ve produced is a budget the freezes Council Tax, invests in jobs and growth, and protects the services that our residents care about the most.”

Council also approved a proposal to invest £1 million in a Green Investment and Job Opportunities Fund could create many new jobs in the local renewable energy industry.

The idea is for the Council to invest in local renewable energy, such as solar panel technology and hydro-electric power, which could create jobs for those projects and yield a net return to local taxpayers of a predicted 2% per year from the electricity generated repaying the investment within 15 years.

Councillor David Martin said “Our area is a hotbed for hi-tech industries, including renewables. This proposed investment by Bath & North East Somerset Council would take advantage of a culture of innovation to create new jobs, develop a low carbon community less dependent on fossil fuels and further enhance our reputation as a green powerhouse for renewables both south west and nationwide.”

The Council will work in partnership with a local energy provider that would be selected through a procurement process.

Bath Guildhall has flown the rainbow flag all week to mark LGBT History month. This is the first time that BathNES Council has celebrated the lives and achievements of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans people this way.

In recent years, rights and recognition for gay people have improved hugely. The Equalities Act 2010, the partial lifting of the ban against gay men giving blood in 2011, and now the opportunity for equal marriage have been delivered by Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat governments.

At party conference in 2011, the Equalities Minister Lynne Featherstone announced that the government would introduce equal civil marriage for same sex couples. Sitting in the audience, I have never felt prouder to be a Liberal Democrat, and part of the movement delivering equal marriage. Same sex couples will be able to wed from next month, thanks to the Liberal Democrats in government.

However, growing up and discovering one’s sexuality is still difficult for many adolescents. BathNES Council’s programmes to tackle homophobic bullying in schools have recently won an award from Stonewall. To mark LGBT History week, the council has produced a video highlighting support services.

Such progress in LGBT rights strongly reflects an increasingly socially liberal society in Britain, driven in part by increased visibility of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people.

I’m gay. I’ve always known, and I’ve been out to my friends, family and colleagues for many years. My sexuality has little relationship with my political or professional life, but I think that it is worth stating nonetheless. Anyone struggling with their own sexuality, or others treatment of them because of it, should know that it gets better.

– Nicholas