Lichfield's Conservative MP Michael Fabricant has recently published his party's view of the benefits there will be for our area on the back of Brexit.

Similarly to a majority of our American cousins difficulty with soon to be ex-President Trump we have trouble agreeing with Mr Fabricants "facts" let alone his conclusions.

Councillor Helen Hall writes:

In 2019 Burton upon Trent was selected to be one of 100 towns that was eligible to bid for up to £25m from the Government's Towns Fund. In order to do this, a Town Deal Board was established made up of representatives from the community, public, and private sectors.

As part of the application process, the Town Deal Board has been tasked with creating a Town Investment Plan for Burton, a document which sets out the vision and ambitions for the town if it were successful in its funding bid.

From Councillor Helen Hall on 10 Sept

Delighted that the gullies have been emptied on Uxbridge Street (my side of the street) for the first time since I joined the council. I'm hoping that the drains I listed around the town will also get done, especially, the numerous ones in Wetmore Road

Cllr Hall writes:

In the current crisis, businesses in East Staffordshire could be eligible for rates reductions and/or business grants. ESBC have contacted all eligible businesses, but a response needs to be made back to the council to claim your entitlement.

Payments started to be made just before Easter, and applications are being processed as quickly as possible. If you have a small business premises or retail, leisure and hospitality premises you should be eligible for either the £10,000 or £25,000 grant (depending on your rateable value), and if you have not received a letter from the council please email the revenues team on nndr@eaststaffsbc.gov.uk.

Liberal Democrats in Lichfield, Burton and Tamworth constituencies started the new year refreshed and determined to do better in future elections.

A well attended and lively members and supporters meeting in February discussed the recent General Election - both national and our own local campaigns.

The meeting was led by Lichfield Councillor and GE candidate Paul Ray and East Staffordshire (Burton) Councillor Helen Hall. All three constituencies had increased their share of the vote but there was much to learn for us all. Views on the national campaign were to be passed onto the National Party review panel set up to learn from the 2019 General Election and the months leading up to it.