Southend Labour local election manifesto 2016

8/18/2019 Southend Labour local election manifesto 2016

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SOUTHEND LABOUR

MANIFESTO FOR THE MAY2016 LOCAL ELECTIONS

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN

SOUTHEND


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Introduction by the Leader

of the Labour Group,

Cllr Ian Gilbert

Southend is in many respects a great place to live

and work. We are on the coast, near to London,

have two rail links to the capital and our own

airport. We have proud communities, good

businesses and thriving culture.

Yet I have been spurred on by a sense that our town is nowhere near as

good as it could be. As a borough we have serious housing problems, both

in terms of lack of houses for young people looking to set up home, and

poor quality houses where areas are ruined by badly maintained property.

In Southend, as well as elsewhere in the country, homelessness is growing.

There is still much more we can do in terms of attracting investment to the

town. We must do more to promote the town and its businesses, and

challenge some negative perceptions. Whilst government policy is making

it extremely difficult, there is still more that can be done to make sure thatdevelopment in the town meets residents’ needs.

Crime and anti-social behaviour is a serious concern, as even theConservative Police & Crime Commissioner describes Essex Police’s fundingsituation as ‘perilous’. As a town, our skill levels lag behind those of othersimilar places, and the gap in life expectancy between residents living inthe rich and poor areas of the town remains shockingly high.

Over fourteen years, the Conservatives failed to tackle these problems.They have no answers left.

Since the Conservatives lost power, allowing a new non-Tory

administration to run the council, I believe we have started to take solid

steps in the right direction. Nevertheless there is much more to do, and this

document lists steps we seek to take over the coming year.


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Deputy Leader of the Labour

Group,

Cllr Julian Ware-Lane

The elections in May are vitally important. As the Joint Administration approaches its second birthday,residents across the borough are already seeing whata listening administration can do. To carry on thegood work we have to stay in control, otherwise wewill see a return of a wasteful Conservative administration hell-bent onchanging Southend-on-Sea for the worse.

We are in challenging times financially, and local authorities across the UKare having to make some very tough decisions. We, in Southend-on-Sea,are also faced with another year of Government cuts, and yet the localLabour Party remains upbeat and ambitious.

It is worth reminding ourselves of Labour's achievements over the last twoyears:

First council houses built in a quarter of a century in the borough.

All libraries still have full-time paid staff.

The roll-out of LED street lighting, rescuing the poorly financed plans of the previous administration.

Repairs to many road surfaces.

New street cleaning and rubbish collection contract that is already saving tax-payers a million pounds a year.

Queensway regeneration.

Action on the derelict buildings in Victoria Avenue.

Review of the previous administration’s plans for the Shoebury sea wall flood defences, which led to those plans being scrapped.

New pedestrian crossing at Kent Elms corner.

All decisions taken by the Joint Administration are carried because of astrong and disciplined Labour presence. Without a strong Labour group inthe council chamber Southend-on-Sea cannot move forward.


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A greener townContinue, and where feasible speed up, investment in green technology to

the benefit of both the environment and the local economy, including

continuing to expand the installation of solar panels on council owned

buildings.

Push for new homes to be built to the highest environmental standards.

The council should continue to take a lead in this by ensuring new council

housing is built to the highest standards.

Preserve green spaces across the town. Plant more trees generally and

create a new urban wood in the borough.

Actively promote Southend Energy Company and build on the financial,environmental and community benefits that it is already delivering

Cyclists need to be considered in any new housing and road improvements,including new cycle paths in any new large-scale development. Theexisting network should be improved, including making better use of widepavements for cyclists particularly around schools, making school journeyshealthier and safer. More dedicated cycle paths and stricter enforcement

should help reduce cycling on pavements.


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Business and growthContinue to push for the council to attract businesses to Southend,

including the implementation of cutting-edge digital strategy in a way that

makes super-fast broadband available to both the public and private sector.

Prioritise culture-led regeneration, building on our vibrant arts, music and

entertainment scene, attracting creative businesses and changing

perceptions of our town.

Aim to make Southend a Living Wage Borough (as defined by the Living

Wage Foundation - www.livingwage.org.uk) People are entitled to secure

employment and we will seek the eradication of zero-hour contracts at the

council and by its sub-contractors.

Keep the town centre vibrant and viable by bringing forward plans to

renew the High Street, giving consideration to the impact of other planned

or possible retail development in Southend.

Seek to increase revenue by making more use of council-run facilities and

we are committed to keeping the Pier properly maintained and under

council ownership.

Promote Southend at incoming air and rail transport hubs, building on our

previous manifesto commitment to form a partnership with businesses to

better market and promote the town.


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Cleaner and saferBuild on the pilot ‘street blitz’ schemes and develop a strategy to utiliseenforcement powers and community initiatives to restore pride inSouthend’s street scene.

Consider introducing an amnesty for the collection of large rubbish items,timed to coincide with peak fly-tipping periods in a pilot area.

Make pavements more pedestrian friendly by repairing uneven pavementsand removing obstructions, tackling pavement parking and stoppingunreasonable expansion onto pavements by local traders.

Utilise the additional money in the council’s budget for highways and

pavements to bring about major improvements in our street scene.

Maintain a public sector hub, in partnership with the police, for thepurposes of coordinating action on serious crime in the borough.

Build on the good work of the council’s multi-agency anti-social behaviourteam to tackle it across the borough.

Promote neighbourhood watch and encourage its extension, and look to

extend powers to stop street drinking in known trouble spots.

Introduce a cap on sex entertainment licences and propose a limit on thenumber of casinos and gambling establishments.


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Children & schoolsProtect the existing network of children’s centres which provide a vital

service for so many children in the borough.

Encourage Southend Schools to serve

Southend's residents, and alsoencourage more utilization of unused

facilities in schools etc. out of hours

and during school holidays.

Protect adoption services and all

children’s social services in Southend,

and keep them fully in the public

sector.

Make sure priority is given to

preventing the evil of child sexual

exploitation, and stress the importance

of sex and relationship education.

Encourage the business community to

invest in further education andcontinue to lead the way on

apprenticeships.

Stronger CommunitiesKeep leisure facilities accessible and affordable to all, consider extending

the use of discount schemes to make sure that no one is priced out.

Deepen the relationship of the council with charities and the voluntary

sector as we work together to strengthen the community.

Press ahead with plans to develop a new care campus, in order to maintain

excellent standards of care in the public sector. This will bring together

residential care and services for people with disabilities.

Maintain the Essential Living Fund as a vital safety-net for the mostvulnerable.

Look into creating parish and town councils for all areas of the borough.


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TransportContinue the council’s successful record

in bidding for funds for road

improvements

We believe any new out of town

development should include proper

public transport provision, in particular

we will make traffic considerations in

respect of the new football stadium at

Fossetts Farm a priority.

Press for more real time information forbuses, and encourage bus companies tolook at creating more routes to better serve the whole borough. Consideruse of mobile phone apps etc in ticketing.

Park and Ride schemes have been successfully set up in other towns inEssex and we will look into whether a scheme can be set up to make journeys into our town centre easier.

Look to introduce a 20mph speed limit in appropriate residential streets.

HousingBuild more social housing. Improve standards in the town's large private

rented market. Take tough enforcement action on poor housing.

Bring empty properties back into circulation, especially any council-owned

properties

Bring together a full report on the effects of

additional planned or likely housing development

in the centre of town and any other areas of

possible high-density development, and act on

its findings.

Press ahead with the Queensway developmentin a way that safeguards the rights of existing

tenants and prioritises the creation of a

sustainable community.


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Our candidatesBelfairs DAVE ALSTON

Blenheim Park MATT DENT

Chalkwell TAYLOR BARRALL

Eastwood Park SEAN JONES

Kursaal HELEN McDONALD

Leigh MATT ZARB-COUSIN

Milton Cllr JULIAN WARE-LANE

Prittlewell MIKE FIELDHOUSE

Shoeburyness MAGGIE KELLY

Southchurch ROS SANDERS

St Laurence REG COPLEY

St Luke's D ONNA RICHARDSON

Thorpe ROD BIRKS

Victoria Cllr IAN GILBERT

Westborough Cllr ANNE JONES

West Leigh IAN POPE

The 2016 electionsPolling day is on Thursday, 5th May 2016.Polling stations will be open from 7am till 10pm.

The Police and Crime Commissioner election ison the same day, so everyone in Southend willhave two votes. The Labour candidate is ChrisVince.

Printed by SLCI and promoted by Martin Berry and Kevin Robinson on behalf of Labour Candidatesfor Southend Council, all of 268 Sutton Road, Southend on Sea, SS2 5ET. © 2016

Documents

Southend Labour local election manifesto 2016