Yahoo News Liberal Democrats will 'work hard for Hull' as Labour say they 'can't switch fountains on'
Hull's Liberal Democrat leader has pledged that his party will work hard for the city as Labour accused them of failing on the basics in their first post-election council clash.
Cllr Mike Ross, leader of the ruling Liberal Democrats on Hull City Council, said he now wanted to see more Government help for local authorities while welcoming voters' support locally. Labour opposition leader Cllr Daren Hale said the political tide was turning in Hull and claimed the ongoing closure of facilities and traffic problems showed the ruling group was failing.
It comes as councillors met for the authority's annual general meeting on Thursday, their first since local elections earlier this month. The elections saw the Liberal Democrats keep control of the council but with a net loss of two seats to Labour, with the parties now on 31 and 26 councillors respectively.
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The meeting saw Liberal Democrat Mark Collinson chosen as Hull's Lord Mayor and Admiral of the Humber for the coming year. Cllr Collinson, of University ward, was elected onto the council in May after losing his seat while serving as deputy mayor in 2011.
He said his appointment was a continuation on from his previous post but with some years in between. Cllr Collinson said: "You might find that I've gotten a bit rusty in between, but hopefully not."
Liberal Democrat Cllr Cheryl Payne, of Derringham ward, was selected to be the deputy mayor, a post vacated after previous occupant John Robinson lost his Avenue seat in the election. Cllr Ross said the election had been close between his party and Labour but the swing towards the latter seen elsewhere had not taken place in Hull.
The council leader added he was now looking ahead to the prospect of a general election this year and was keen to see more from whoever takes charge nationally. Cllr Ross said: "After two years in charge the voters have given us two more, that's two more years of us working hard for Hull.
"This Liberal Democrat administration will leave no stone unturned in support local communities. I'm not overly optimistic about what we'll see from Labour if they win the general election, but I think the next Government must meet five key tests. Any new Government must provide fair funding for local government, extra funding to tackle crime, extra funding to help make places like Hull cleaner and greener, support to the local NHS and must provide support for jobs and growth."
Cllr Hale claimed not switching on the Queen Victoria Square fountains, reopening its public toilets and the closure of the Pickering Park paddling pool were Liberal Democrat failings.
He added they were also criticising the current Conservative Government despite the Liberal Democrats going into coalition with them in 2010. The Labour leader said: "The tide is turning in Hull because people have started to find you out.
"You've delivered an elected mayor that no one wants, there's traffic chaos and you can't even switch the fountains on in Queen Victoria Square.
"You reap what you sow, and where's your vision? You're on notice and on watch and we won't let you get away with shutting down the basic things people love."
