Councillor pushes social enterprise cause at Lib Dem conference

Councillor Dale Mulgrew and Councillor Richard Kemp

Whilst attending the Lib Dem National conference in Liverpool, Rochdale's Lib Dem Deputy Leader - Councillor Dale Mulgrew pushed the cause of social enterprises at a meeting that was organised by the Co-operative Group.

At the meeting Councillor Mulgrew was able to directly question the minister responsible for Communities and Local Government - Andrew Stunnel MP and the Co-operative Group's Head of membership - Mr Russel Gill.

Also on the panel was the Local Government Association's Vice Chair - Councillor Richard Kemp, who once stood for Liverpool Council as a Liberal and Co-operative party candidate.

Councillor Mulgrew stated to the panel that as he was a proud representative from Rochdale, the founding town of the Co-operative movement, he was duty bound to ask a question.

He also mentioned that he had helped set up a social enterprise called Sunshine Care, that had recently been launched as a Home care co-operative.

Councillor Mulgrew went on to ask the Minister about the future challenges posed by an ageing population on health and social care services, and that the development of values driven and locally responsive social enterprise sector was in part the solution, however, in particular healthcare agencies should be doing more to commission from this sector.

Andrew Stunnel MP replied that under the current white paper proposals, Primary Care Trusts would be abolished and this would allow for Local authorities to have more of a say on the delivery of local health services.