sbc conservative group manifesto 2016.pdf

8/18/2019 SBC Conservative Group Manifesto 2016.pdf

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sbc-conservative-group-manifesto-2016pdf 1/16

PUTTING SOUTHEND FIRST

A PROMISE OFACTIONThe Conservative Manifesto forthe Southend Borough Councilelections on 5 May 2016



CONSERVATIVE MANIFESTO 2016

Putting Southend First, A Promise of Action 2




Putting Southend First, A Promise of Action 3

CONTENTSA PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE CONSERVATIVE GROUP LEADER 4

DELIVERING QUALITY VALUE FOR MONEY SERVICES 5

AN OVERHAUL OF COUNCIL SERVICES AND THE WAY WE OPERATE 6

CARING FOR THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT IN SOUTHEND 7

ADULT SOCIAL CARE AND HEALTH - HOME NOT HOSPITAL 8

INVESTING IN SOUTHEND’S YOUNG PEOPLE 9

SAFER AND STRONGER COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBOURHOODS 10

SOUTHEND TRANSPORT - KEEPING PEOPLE MOVING SAFELY 11

PROTECTING OUR PROUD TRADITION IN LEISURE AND THE ARTS 12

ENSURING DECENT HOMES FOR SOUTHEND RESIDENTS 13

THE CHOICE AT THIS ELECTION 14

YOUR CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES 15

For more information about the policies contained in thismanifesto, please contact us:

Rochford & Southend East Conservative Association, 11 Weston Road, Southend on Sea,Essex, SS1 1AS01702 826 500rsecaoffice@yahoo.comrochfordandsouthendeastconservatives.org.uk

Southend West Conservative Association, Iveagh Hall, 67 Leigh Road, Leigh on Sea,Essex, SS9 1JW01702 472 [email protected]




5 Putting Southend First, A Promise of Action

DELIVERING QUALITYVALUE FOR MONEY

SERVICES

Two thirds of Southend’s budget comesfrom Central Government and theremainder from council tax, business ratesand fees and charges. Southend’s budget,like most household budgets in the UK,have not been immune from the difficultfinancial period of the past few years.

Therefore the challenge for Council’s isto find ways to deliver more for less and togenerate income to help protect and payfor services. This does not mean takingthe easy way out and adding extra taxes

and charges on residents simply becausethe Council can do so.Council Tax is one of the largest

household costs, a Conservative Councilwill keep Council Tax as low as possible

and accept the Government’s Council Taxfreeze grant when offered unlike thecurrent Administration who have raisedCouncil Tax this year by 3.99%.

Fees and charges for a number ofservices are set by statute and thereforeoutside the control of the Council. Wherethose fees and charges are within thecontrol of the Council, a ConservativeCouncil will not propose excessive hikes tomake a profit.

Whilst many services will still need face-

to-face communications, a ConservativeCouncil will invest in digital technology toallow the Council to deliver higher qualityand more convenient 24/7 services.

KEY POLICIES AT A GLANCEWe pledge to keep Council Tax as low as possible and accept theGovernment’s Council Tax freeze grant when offered. We pledge to restructure the Council’s Senior Management Team to deliversavings.We pledge to reduce the number of cabinet positions from 7 to 6 to reflectthe reduction in the Senior Management Team.We pledge to save £10,000 a year by abolishing free tea and biscuits forcouncillors at meetings.





AN OVERHAUL OFCOUNCIL SERVICES ANDTHE WAY WE OPERATE

A Conservative Council will dramaticallyimprove the services it provides to ourresidents.

We will evaluate everything we do findingnew innovative solutions with our partnersand build on the links with our valuedvoluntary sector.

There are some services, which theCouncil must provide itself, but manyothers can be provided more effectivelyand often cheaper by others agencies,organisations and voluntary or community

groups.All services will therefore be challengedto ensure that the best provider is beingused.

We will serve our residents withopenness, honesty and pride.

Decisions will be made in a transparentmanner by elected Members and not byunaccountable Officers.

We will never make decisions like theAdministration did on the proposal to closethe public toilets, where the portfolioholder claimed that the proposal wasmade by unelected officers bringing intoquestion whether Southend Council isbeing run by elected councillors.

A Conservative Council will never makedecisions in the pursuit of a good soundbite or if it makes a good headline in thelocal press.

KEY POLICIES AT A GLANCEWe pledge to open democracy by extending webcasting of Council meetingsto scrutiny and planning committees.We pledge to ensure that full working contact details are provided by allConservative councillors.We pledge that all decisions will be made in an open transparent manner byelected councillors.





During our time in office, Southend wonnumerous environmental awards from thecleanliness of our streets to our publictoilets.

Compare this to the currentIndependent Party/Labour/Lib DemAdministration who, supported by UKIP,within the space of one year, haveremoved 55 litter bins from residentialareas, abolished the doorstep textilerecycling sacks and taken nearly £1 Millionfrom the waste budget, raised gardenwaste charges and made 5 envirocrimeofficers who investigate fly tipping andissue on the spot fines for dog foulingredundant.

Despite repeated Conservative

questioning, the Administration can notgive any guarantees that Southend willretain its weekly waste collection and thatthe public toilets will remain open.

Conservatives know that Southendresidents appreciate their parks and openspaces, as witnessed by the huge numberswho use them every week.

A Conservatives Council will ensure ourparks and open spaces are cleaned andmaintained regularly.

At the local elections on the 5th May,residents will have a clear choice, betweenan Administration intent on harming ourenvironment or the Conservatives, theparty of a cleaner and greener Southend.

CARING FOR THE LOCALENVIRONMENT IN

SOUTHENDKEY POLICES AT A GLANCE

We pledge to retain our weekly waste collection which is under threat fromthe Independent Party/Labour/Lib Dem Administration.We pledge to keep our public toilets open and reverse the currentAdministrations policy of removing litter bins in residential areas.We pledge to freeze the charges for the garden waste recycling service inwhich over 19,000 households saw a rise of up to 37%.





ADULT SOCIAL CARE ANDHEALTH - HOME NOTHOSPITAL

By common consent the biggestsingle issue facing local governmentover the next ten years is the provisionof adult social care. We are all livinglonger and so more of us are relying onthe health services and localauthorities for care in the community.

We are acutely aware that most olderpeople would rather live in their ownhomes in dignity.

Yet, there is too little integrationbetween care in hospital, care in thecommunity and care at home.

This results in increased costs andincreased demands on hospitals, whichresults in more demand for healthservices whilst being more expensive.

A Conservative Council will ensure

that that no sheltered housing will beclosed and will continue to improveand invest in our sheltered housingstock.

In April 2013, responsibility for PublicHealth functions were transferred toCouncils. Southend Council is expectedto demonstrate leadership in tacklingthe causes of ill health and reducinghealth inequalities. Unlike thisAdministration, we will not waste over

£3,000 of the Public Health budget bysponsoring football matches.

A Conservative Administration willmake ensure that the Council workingclosely with the voluntary sector fulfilsits leadership role in this area.

KEY POLICIES AT A GLANCEWe pledge to ensure that older people in Southend continue to receivedignity in care.We pledge to invest in and improve our sheltered housing stock and ensurethat no Sheltered Housing is closed.We pledge not to waste money from the Public Health budget by sponsoringfootball matches.We pledge to act to ensure that the proportion of people living withundiagnosed HIV in the borough is halved by 2020.





INVESTING IN SOUTHEND’S YOUNGPEOPLE

Education is the key to a fulfilling andworthwhile life. Regrettably, too manyyoung people leave primary school withless than the accepted standard of Englishand Maths necessary to perform wellwhen they enter high school. We willreverse the cuts to the schoolimprovement budget.

Head teachers and Governing bodies areaccountable for the education standardsthey provide. A Conservative Council willmake it a priority to use all its powers to

increase school standards.Conservatives are committed tosupporting young people developproductive and positive lives. AConservative Council will continue to

support youth organisations that giveyoungsters access to improvedopportunities.

As Conservatives we acknowledge thatthe early years of a child’s life will shapethe rest of their life and we acknowledgethe work done by Children’s Centres. AConservative Administration will thereforekeep all our children centres open, wherethere is a demand.

Early intervention and diagnosis iscritical to a successful outcome for

children with additional needs. AConservative Council will continue tosupport the needs based interventionprogrammes for all our children.

KEY POLICIES AT A GLANCEWe pledge to continue to support Grammar School education in Southend.We pledge to continue the investment in play equipment in our parks andopen spaces.We pledge to keep Children’s Centres open where there is a demand. We pledge to continue to support and invest in our adoption and fosteringservice to provide homes for those in care.We pledge to work towards a target of every child attending a good oroutstanding school.





SAFER AND STRONGERCOMMUNITIES ANDNEIGHBOURHOODS

We all want to live in a clean and safeenvironment. But too many people takethe public realm for granted and don’tmind if they disturb or upset theirneighbours, cause harassment or commitcriminal behaviour.

Enforcing safer communities will be apriority for a Conservative Administration,with a zero tolerance to anti-socialbehaviour.

A Conservative administration will makesure that everyone plays by the same rules

so that we all enjoy living together.Residents feel safer when they see morePolice in their neighbourhood.

A Conservative Council will work with the

Essex Police & Crime Commissioner toprovide positive, visible and active policingwith police officers spending more time onthe beat.

Additionally, we will ensure that all CCTVcameras are fully functional and effectiveand used for crime prevention.

Fly tipping and dog fouling continues toblight our neighbourhoods. A ConservativeCouncil will reverse the cuts to theEnvirocrime Team which investigatesillegal fly tipping and issues on the spot

fines for dog fouling.We will also explore the possibility ofextending these powers to PoliceCommunity Support Officers.

KEY POLICIES AT A GLANCEWe pledge to reverse the cuts to the Envirocrime Team which investigatesillegal fly tipping and issues on the spot fines for dog fouling.We pledge that elected Conservative councillors will attend PoliceCommunity Meetings to put residents concerns to local policing teams.We pledge to work with the Essex Police & Crime Commissioner to providevisible and active policing in our communities.We pledge to give a reduction in Council Tax for those wishing to becomeSpecial Constables to increase Police numbers in the town.





SOUTHEND TRANSPORT -KEEPING PEOPLEMOVING SAFELY

It is hard to take pride in your area if thepavement outside your home is brokenand your road littered with pot holes. AConservative Council will continue thecapital investment in the repair andre-surfacing of our roads and pavements.

Unlike in neighbouring districts, theformer Conservative Administrationpledged to keep our street lights switchedon at night. We invested in LED lighting toreduce our electricity costs.

A Conservative Council will continue to

invest in LED lighting and roll it out toevery street in the borough.Southend Conservatives recognise that

for many people cars are a necessity and

not a luxury. People need to park their carsand should not pay more than isabsolutely necessary.

When we ran the last Administration, carparking charges were either frozen orreduced in 6 of the last 7 years. Despitethe current Administration when inopposition claiming that car parkingcharges were too high and affecting localbusinesses, in their first year in power,they hiked up car parking charges onaverage by 11% and by 20% in the Town

Centre.A Conservative Council will freeze carparking charges and where possiblereduce them.

KEY POLICIES AT A GLANCEWe pledge to continue the capital investment in the repair and re-surfacingof our roads and pavements.We pledge to continue the investment in LED lighting to ensure that all of our13,000 street lights remain switched on at night to keep our roads safe.We pledge to freeze car parking charges and where possible reduce them.We pledge to seek funding for improvements to The Bell and Kent Elms

junctions on the A127.





PROTECTING OUR PROUDTRADITION IN LEISUREAND THE ARTS

Southend’s beaches are some of thefinest in the UK. The spectacular lights andfountains are a striking feature of CityBeach. A revamp of Shoebury East Beachhas created new picnic areas and carparking facilities meaning that more landhas been made available for residents andvisitors to enjoy.

The previous ConservativeAdministration invested in and improvedthe Pier with extensive work to thestructure and the Royal Pavilion which saw

visitor numbers increase. The currentAdministration threaten to destroy thePier’s revival by increasing Pier entrycharges by 20%. A Conservative Councilwill freeze Pier entry charges.

A Conservative Council will continue toinvest in the seafront and the Golden Mileto ensure Southend remains a top visitordestination.

At a time when local authorities areclosing leisure centres all over the country,the previous Conservative Administrationinvested in a new swimming and divingFacility at Garons Park whilst refurbishingShoeburyness Leisure Centre and BelfairsSwimming Pool. A Conservative Council willcontinue to invest in our leisure facilities.

Cycling is a leisure pursuit enjoyed byresidents and visitors to the town. As aleading cycling town we continue to investin improved cycle routes.

KEY POLICIES AT A GLANCEWe pledge to continue to invest in our sea front to ensure Southend remainsa top visitor attraction.We pledge to make sure Southend becomes an all year round visitordestination.We pledge to freeze Pier entry charges to increase visitor numbers as werecognise the Pier’s importance to the Town.





ENSURING DECENTHOMES FOR

SOUTHEND RESIDENTS

Whilst there is an aspiration for many toown their homes, Conservativesunderstand the need to provideacceptable and affordable housing forresidents.

Southend Conservatives support councilhousing.

We are delighted that the currentAdministration have continued with ourpolicy of building new Council housing onderelict garage sites, protecting the GreenBelt in the process.

We believe in Southend homes forSouthend people. A Conservative Councilwill review the housing allocation policy toensure that it is fair and helps Southend

residents.We will work positively with tenant

participation groups and retain SouthEssex Homes as the managementcompany of the Council’s housing stock.

A Conservative Council will make full useof the flexibility available to the council interms of types of tenancy agreementsoffered to tenants, in order to make bestuse of a limited housing stock.

Southend Conservatives also recognisethe noble aspiration for many hardworking

residents to climb onto the housingladder. A Conservative Council wouldsupport Council tenants right to buy theirCouncil home.

KEY POLICIES AT A GLANCEWe pledge to continue supporting South Essex Homes as the managementcompany of the Council’s housing stock. We pledge to support the investment in the Council housing stock to ensureall properties remain at the decent homes standard level.We pledge to continue building Council houses on derelict garage sites toincrease Council housing supply.We pledge to keep Council rents as low as practically possible.





YOUR CONSERVATIVE

COUNCIL CANDIDATESHELEN BOYD BLENHEIM PARK

DAVID BURZOTTA CHALKWELL

CHRIS WALKER EASTWOOD PARK

SIMON GITTUS KURSAAL

JONATHAN HODGE LEIGH

DANIEL NELSON MILTON

DAVID GARSTON PRITTLEWELL

SUE ABRAHAMS SHOEBURYNESS

ALEX BRIGHT SOUTHCHURCH

MARK FLEWITT ST LAURENCE

DEREK JARVIS WEST SHOEBURY

JOHN LAMB WEST LEIGH

DARYL PEAGRAM WESTBOROUGH

DENIS GARNE VICTORIA

JON BACON THORPE

DEL THOMAS ST LUKES

ALAN DEAR BELFAIRS



Promoted by Tony Cox, on behalf of Southend Conservatives, all at 11 Weston Road, Southend on Sea, Essex, SS1 1AS.

sbc conservative group manifesto 2016.pdf

Documents