Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, attended the opening of a new Maximus Office in Bracknell last Friday, the 9^th of September 2011. Dr Lee is pleased by the work that Maximus is providing in Bracknell by helping local, long-term unemployed back into work.

Maximus partners with the UK governments to provide efficient, high quality essential services to citizens. Through long-term sustainable employment, Maximus puts people on a path to self-sufficiency and improve their lives. With over 20 years of success in the UK, they have managed a broad range of welfare-to-work and related employment and training programmes to deliver positive outcomes for job seekers, employers and governments alike.

Dr Lee commented: “I am pleased that Maximus opened a new office in my constituency. Maximus efforts make a difference to people’s lives by helping unemployed people to overcome personal and professional barriers and connecting them with meaningful employment. I am pleased to see their commitment to the local community”

Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, has welcomed the Community Savings and Loans (CSL) plans from Berkshire Credit Union to raise attainment for Bracknell communities and to bring about sustained improvements through offering savings and affordable loans.  The social benefit of Community Savings and Loans to the people of Bracknell is irrefutable.

The Berkshire Credit Union has grown rapidly over the past year and has increased to nearly 900 members with savings of over £400,000.  Savings are re-invested in local community projects.  CSL loan book has grown from £107,000 to £235,000 at July 2011 a growth of 119%.  The impact of this lending is highly significant as the union pays a dividend to lenders – in effect a profit share.  This compares favourably with mainstream institutions, since there are no “hidden criteria” or other “conditions” to restrict the customer group.  The aim is to create a climate that empowers local people and communities in building a big society that will take power away from politicians and give it to people.

Bracknell has greatly benefited from CSL projects.  The Berkshire Credit Union delivered presentations and activities to the District Council and a range of community groups including mobile home users at Warfield Park and offered a range of services to Bracknell Forest Housing Ltd.  They have also undertaken negotiations with the local volunteer centre and Citizens Advice Bureau to seek an operating base in the town for September.

Dr Lee commented: “I am pleased that CSL is doing such a great job in making our society better off by helping people to engage in entrepreneurial activities that will benefit our communities and economies as a whole country.”

Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, has welcomed the Government’s plan to localise business rates. Councils will get to keep their own business rates under new local government financing proposals that will be fair and benefit those that grow financially.

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles has presented the findings of a six-month review into council finance that sought to repatriate rates; create a financial incentive for councils to promote local growth; reduce dependency upon central Government grant; and maintain protections for business and vulnerable areas.

The National Audit Office has criticised the current system maintained by Labour as ‘highly complex and not transparent’. Ministers believe a new system is needed to end a long-standing problem where councils have no direct growth incentive, to build stronger relationships with business and to put councils in charge of their own financial circumstances.

Importantly, there will be no change to the way business pays the tax, who is eligible for discount, or the way it is set nationally. National discounts and rate relief will also continue to be supported, meaning no change to such groups as charities, amateur sports clubs, voluntary groups, those in hardship, and eligible rural or small firms. By contrast, Labour increased rates by stealth via cutting rate relief.

The Government has doubled small business rate relief, to help half a million small firms, funding the extra scheme for two years from 2010 to 2012, and is making it easier for small firms to get small business rate relief automatically, through changes in the Localism Bill.

Dr Phillip Lee commented: “The current system of local government funding inherited from Labour is broken. It is confusing, arbitrary, complex and widely seen as unfair. Our plans to allow councils to retain their locally-raised business rates will free councils from dependence upon central Government grant and give them a strong financial incentive to drive local economic growth. No longer will local areas’ money be snatched away by Whitehall. This is localism in action and exactly what councils want. It will be much more straightforward. By letting councils keep the products of enterprise we will end their disparaging dependence on government handouts, finally start rewarding economic growth and support local firms and new jobs.”

Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, asks the Deputy Prime Minister about the Government’s plans to reduce inequality at Prime Minister’s Questions, 21st July 2010

See Hansard extract here:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm100721/debtext/100721-0001.htm#10072126001980