Lib Dems 'on your side' for Sheffield's close local elections

10.05.55am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 21st Apr 2006

Cllr Paul Scriven with local people from across Sheffield launching the 2006 manifesto

Sheffield Liberal Democrats have launched their manifesto for the local elections in May. The manifesto promises that if the Lib Dems take control of the council in May they will be 'on your side' to tackle issues which matter most to local people.

Sheffield City Council is currently delicately balanced. It would only take the controlling Labour group to lose two seats for them to lose overall control of the council. Labour currently have 44 seats, Lib Dems have 36 seats and the remaining 4 seats are split amongst smaller groups.

The Lib Dems manifesto highlights that many local residents are angry that the current Labour council makes unpopular decisions and doesn't listen to local people. Over the last two years the controlling Labour group have: -

(1) prioritised spending on basic services like pothole repairs, street cleaning and streetlight repairs in just a few favoured parts of the city

(2) imposed a huge 165% increase price hike on vulnerable people through Home Care charges

(3) made plans to spend £35million of taxpayers money to refurbish the unpopular Park Hill flats

(4) consistently delivered a huge council tax increase well above the rate of inflation

(5) made it harder for all road users to get around Sheffield through their 'anti-car' transport policy

Lib Dems have made a raft of pledges which include a commitment to low council tax through cutting waste in the Town Hall, extra investment for pothole repairs, a change in transport policy and greater local decision making for local people. Lib Dems have also promised to scrap Labours 'favoured area' policy and make sure every area gets a fair deal on local services.

Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrats, said: -

"Local people are telling us that the Labour council continue to ignore their needs, make unpopular decisions and neglect their local area. It's clear that Sheffield is ready for a change and ready for a council that is 'on your side' to deliver on local peoples priorities. People want a council that is not just city centre orientated, they also want to see action on issues in their local area"

"That's why our manifesto focuses on tackling the big issues for local people in Sheffield. We pledge more money to deal wit the state of our roads. We will drop Labours 'favoured areas' policy to make sure every area gets a fair deal on basic services. We will cut out waste in the Town Hall to deliver a low council tax"

"We will make this council focus on Sheffield's priorities, not Tony Blair's priorities as is the case under Labour"

Councillor Scriven added: -

"Be it on issues such as the huge 165% charge increase for vulnerable peoples services, or the plan to waste £35 million of taxpayers money on Park Hill or the 'anti-car' policy, people are fed up with Labour locally. Its time for a change, its time for a council 'on your side' no matter where you live. That's what the Liberal Democrats will deliver for Sheffield"

Please Note:

The full Sheffield Liberal Democrat manifesto 'On your side" 2006 can be downloaded on the front page of our website

Below is a brief summary of some of the main pledges within the manifesto: -

1. Millions of pounds will be devolved from the Town Hall to local area assemblies for street cleaning, graffiti removal, improving parks and green spaces and library services.

2. A branch and root review of Sheffield's road network to ensure traffic keeps moving. This will look at the appropriateness of some one-way systems, no right or left turns, traffic management schemes and 24-hour bus lanes.

3. A time limited think-tank called Sheffield On the Move to be set up. This to include motoring organisations, bus operators, planning officials, etc. The aim is to come up with innovative ideas to keep Sheffield moving.

4. A youth council to be set up so that young people across the city can determine priorities for youth provision.

5. A percentage of Council land and building sales to be targeted to improving Sheffield's roads and dealing with pot-hole city.

6. More powers to be handed down to local tenants boards to improve their estates.

7. New alternatives for the Park Hill site to be investigated.

8. In year one, all Council budgets to be looked at line by line with an efficiency target on red tape and bureaucracy. This money to be redirected into front line services.

9. Citizens' targets to be established for each area in the city so that Council concentrates on what matters to local people.

10. Greater investment in Sheffield's tourist potential including greater Internet presence and promotion of Sheffield worldwide.

11. Labour's favoured areas policy to be abandoned and a new system introduced based on need rather than geographical area for improving basic services like street light repairs.

12. A 'Bill of Rights' for Social Services to be introduced so service users know exactly what their rights are.

13. Less investment in management of Sheffield Homes. That money to be redirected to employing more Community Safety Wardens to be deployed in all areas around the city.

14. A one-stop telephone number to be implemented to deal with all Sheffield issues. This to include Council issues plus advice on other general advice like contacting a plumber in an emergency.

15. A one-stop shop service for Sheffield's businesses to be established to encourage growth.

16. A Green community fund to be established so that local communities can undertake environmental schemes with the aim of improving areas and creating local employment.

17. For major public schemes, architects' competitions to be held so that alternative choices can be discussed by the people of Sheffield for new major public building and squares