Federal Conference Committee met via Zoom call on Saturday, 10 July for the agenda selection for our Autumn Conference 2021. The meeting was a lengthy one, which was in part due to the large selection of motions received.

A few announcements before the report; as you may be aware Geoff Payne, departed the FCC in early May, and I am delighted to have been elected the new Chair of FCC. All of us wish Geoff the very best for the future. A recount was held for the vacant place on the Committee, and I am delighted that Keith Melton has joined as our new member of the Federal Conference Committee. Chris Adams has also been elected in the vacant Vice-Chair position and will take responsibility for the General Purposes Sub Committee.

At SHDC's Executive meeting held last Thursday it was reported that the Council's waste collection contractor, FCC, has shown an improvement in its collection service.

Cllr John Birch says "At the height of its dismal performance it was being reported that FCC was missing up to 1600 household recycling collections each day. Following widespread public outrage and pressure from SHDC councillors at two lively council meetings FCC took immediate steps to improve its performance. The missed collections at the beginning of July were reduced to 200 per day. However, this is still not good enough as there shouldn't be any missed collections.

Our political opportunity

Sarah Green's brilliant victory in Chesham and Amersham shows the huge political opportunity for us - as long as we can continue to apply the lessons from our 2019 election post-mortem.

As part of this, a trio of motions have been submitted for our autumn federal conference. One is from the Federal Board (FB) on the party's strategy. The other two are from the Federal Policy Committee (FPC), on the party's values and our policy platform. Hopefully all three can be debated in sequence, so we agree values, strategy and platform in a joined-up way.

As you may have noticed, this Conservative Government doesn't like to be challenged.

Just look at how angry and red-faced Boris Johnson gets at Prime Minister's Questions every week. Just listen to how often Ministers rail against lawyers and the courts, because judges sometimes rule against them. Just remember how they refused to do interviews with journalists who might dare to ask difficult questions.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Newton Abbot and County Councillor for Dawlish has warned that small businesses face a 'black hole' in support, risking thousands of closures and job losses:

"Furlough begins to taper away and the business rates holiday comes to an end on July 1st. However, restrictions are set to remain in place until 19th July.

Responding to the news that the Government has planned to cut Pupil Premium funding by some £90million, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Newton Abbot and County Councillor for Dawlish commented:

"Liberal Democrats warned the government months ago that the most disadvantaged children would lose out on support because of the Government's shameful penny pinching.

Why support them for this long and then not see them through to the end?

Furlough is beginning to taper away and the business rates holiday is also coming to an end on July 1st. However, restrictions are set to remain in place until 19th July.

This Government seems incapable of hearing the many voices telling them loudly and clearly how desperately small businesses need support to help them cope with the extra period of restrictions, and beyond.

Liberal Democrats showed that we are a force to be reckoned with.

Last night Liberal Democrats gained a 25% swing in Chesham and Amersham electing our 12th MP, Sarah Green.

We struck at the heart of the Conservatives' blue wall and took one of their safest seats.

Liberal Democrats showed that we are a force to be reckoned with. We have a team to match anyone.