Richard Baum

The sun was shining (on occasion) as I began my first month as your local Councillor. It was a steep learning curve as I attended my first ever Overview and Scrutiny meeting as the Lib Dem spokesman on Performance and Resources. I also attended my first Local Area Partnership.

The Lib Dem group was strong in its opposition to congestion charging, launching the burysaysno website and sticking to our position on this matter throughout. We’ve been clear - why should Manchester pay for public transport AGAIN through congestion charging when we should have first rate public transport already? Why is a scheme silly enough to charge people for driving from Prestwich to Whitefield being given serious consideration? And how can we look people in the eye and say we represent them when we’re charging the poorest a fiver a day to get to work?

June also saw the annual Prestwich Carnival, which was a roaring success. Sadly not all aspects of culture in Bury were as successful, and Prestwich Lib Dems led calls for local creative industries to be given support as they were threatened with eviction from premises in Bury. The campaign was a success and a number of businesses were saved.

We had a new Prime Minister in Gordon Brown, and I was appointed to the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority. It was all change for the nation…

Rick