A Record of Progress, A Promise of More




B&NES Conservatives launch local election manifesto

04/04/2011

Conservatives in Bath and North East Somerset have launched their Manifesto for the 2011 Local Elections, putting job creation, protection of services and sound financial management at the heart of their plans for the area.

Local Conservatives have said they will build upon their record of low Council Tax rises and financial responsibility in order to protect and improve the services residents receive from the Council over the coming years. In launching their Manifesto, Conservatives highlighted some key achievements delivered for the area over the past four years, including:

· Cutting Council Tax rises every year to a freeze this year; delivering £18 million of efficiency savings and delivering all major capital projects on time and on budget.

· Investing in the young and old; including new Elderly Persons complexes, new Dial-a-Ride buses, new school buildings and new Children’s Centres.

· Improving front-line services; including moving to same-day waste and recycling collections, introducing food waste collections, protecting Libraries and Mobile Library, and investing in local leisure facilities.

 

Conservatives have now set out their vision for the future of the area, promising to regenerate the local economy to create new jobs, deliver new affordable housing for local residents, and further increase Council efficiency to protect services and deliver low Council tax rises. Conservatives have pledged to:

1. Reduce the number of Councillors and senior managers, whilst delivering an additional £15 million of annual efficiency savings, and cutting the amount spent on Council offices to keep Council Tax as low as possible.

2. Protect and improve local services, including £200,000 for new street cleaning equipment and protection of Libraries, Mobile Libraries, Leisure, weekly waste and recycling collections, and services vulnerable residents.

3. Invest over £18 million in better facilities for local children, as well as tackling the 1,500 surplus spaces in Bath’s Secondary Schools to free-up £1.5 million a year to reinvest in local education.

4. Deliver more local jobs and housing, by investing in transport infrastructure and regenerating sites including Western Riverside, Keynsham town centre, and developing plans for the regeneration of Midsomer Norton and Radstock town centres.

5. Invest in local transport, including an additional £1 million to safeguard local public transport, new bus shelters with ‘Real-Time’ information displays, and ensure every area has access to Dial-a-Ride or community transport.

Conservative Group Leader Councillor Francine Haeberling said:

“The Conservative Manifesto sets out a bold vision for the future of our area. We will build upon our record of sound financial management in order to continue to protect and improve the services residents receive from their Council.

“Local Conservatives have a strong record of keeping our promises, delivering low Council Tax rises and standing up for our local communities.

“These local elections present residents with a clear choice. Conservatives have the plans to deliver the economic growth and new jobs our area needs, whilst setting out detailed proposals to cut Council costs so that we can continue to protect and improve the services residents value, particularly those to the most vulnerable.

“We are the only party with a positive vision to regenerate the local economy, invest in our young people, protect the elderly and the vulnerable, and improve local transport and tackle congestion.”