East of England Liberal Democrats hold a Successful Conference in Cambridge

Today, 20th October, 2012, the East of England Liberal Democratsheld a well-attended regional conference in the Cambridge Regional College at King Hedges Road, Cambridge.

With a mix of conference motions to debate, training sessions and opportunities to meet and question MPs, peers and ministers there was more than enough to keep delegates busy throughout the day.

Conference proposals for:
* further rail development and rail electrification in the region
* appropriate release of publicly owned land to increase the construction of homes for rent and sale
* greater flexibility for the rent and leasing of affordable homes
* a fair and independent inspection scheme to ensure standards of council, RSL and private rented homes
were carried.

A trail-blazing motion from the Hemel Hempstead Local Party saw the crucial matter of water supply debated at a Liberal Democrat conference for the first time. The inequalities across the UK between demand for water and its supply, coupled with chaotic pricing arrangements and a dangerous over-reliance on ground-water abstraction in the East of England were highlighted. With no body, regulator or minister responsible for ensuring either adequate supplies to particular regions or localities - or even for any system of co-ordination of water supply - the proposers put forward the suggestion of a single agency to manage a national water supply network similar to the National Grid for electricity. There are plans to bring this debate to the Liberal Democrat Federal Conference next year in Glasgow.

The highlight of the day was a speech on the economic situation by the Rt Hon Danny Alexander MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury.