Conservatives in Bath have launched their manifesto for the local council elections, with a number of promises which ‘put the interests of residents first’.
The manifesto outlines promises including tackling wasteful spending and improve local transport.
Conservatives have said that their manifesto represents an ambitious but deliverable set of proposals which address the priorities of B&NES residents and will put the Council on a sure footing to deal with the financial challenges facing the authority in the years ahead.
The wide-ranging document, entitled ‘putting residents first’, contains a number of pledges under six key themes:
- Tackling waste to keep Council Tax down – such as reducing the number of councillors, sharing more back-office services with other councils, and undertaking a ‘root and branch’ review of all Council spending;
- Improving local transport – with a focus on investment in infrastructure and action to tackle congestion and improve bus and rail services;
- Delivering more homes and jobs – with an emphasis on brownfield regeneration, support for new affordable housing schemes, and delivering up to £36 million of investment in Bath’s riverside Enterprise Area;
- Investing in children and young people – including investment to provide new Primary School places and upgrade ageing school buildings and children’s play areas;
- Supporting cleaner, greener and healthier communities – with a focus on working with residents to improve street cleaning, incentivising recycling, and investing in new leisure centre facilities;
- Ensuring dignity and choice for older people – with funding to provide grants for home adaptations to support independent living and ensuring joined-up health and social care provision.
Following the launch of the document, Conservative Group Leader, Councillor Tim Warren, said: “These local elections represent a clear choice for residents in B&NES – either four more years of waste, mismanagement and traffic chaos with the Lib Dems, or a fresh start with the Conservatives and clear plan to address the challenges facing our area.
“Whether it’s improving the journey to work, ensuring a place for your child at a good local school, or delivering the affordable homes and quality jobs our area needs – we have a strong vision for how to make our area an even better place to live, with a set of proposals aimed at improving the daily lives of residents.
“At the heart of our manifesto, and encompassing all our proposals, is a promise to put residents first – meaning we would work with local people to ensure the delivery of high-quality local services, and always put the needs of residents before the Council’s own pet-projects.
“We believe it’s time for change in B&NES, and hope that residents will give us the mandate the deliver this for them.”
The full ‘Putting Residents First’ Conservative manifesto for B&NES can be viewed at: www.bathnes-conservatives.com/manifesto.