'Six to Fix' - Liberal Democrat County Council Manifesto 2009
Focus on the basics ~ Work in partnership ~ Build on success
Highways
Get the basics right! Roads and footways take you to any other service you use. Surfaces must be safe, maintained and kept safe during icy weather. Highways staff need the right skills, training and equipment - and we must have enough people to do the job required, to avoid broken promises and high absence rates. Promote Community Speed Watch.
Transportation
Speed up the review of speed limits and develop safer crossing areas, especially through villages and near schools, parks and leisure centres.
Award passenger transport contracts on Quality Standards as well as price, to bring vehicles up to the appropriate accessibility requirements by 2015. Review areas in partnership with operators and communities to avoid duplication or gaps in routes. Explore flexible use of school buses to benefit un-serviced communities when the buses would otherwise lie idle. Promote cycle and walking routes.
Youth Services
Halt the cut backs in youth provision. Work with partner organisations to lift this service out of the doldrums and invest in our young people. Help young people to learn life skills which will keep them safe while promoting their independence. In partnership with others, reintroduce cycle training and encourage first aid training, driver awareness, swim safety, student firefighter courses, gardening and cookery courses etc in clubs, colleges and schools.
Education
Listen to the concerns of local people about the Building Schools for the Future programme and reconsider the best way to improve results, pupil teacher ratios, reduce class sizes, and improve school buildings throughout the county. Build on the success of the District Children's Trust Boards to further improve services to children and families.
Social Care
Work with the voluntary sector to build a robust day care service, together with reliable personal care providers, especially in rural areas. Be responsive locally in each district to the needs of residents. Forge strong partnership arrangements with district and borough councils to deliver appropriate services and encourage diversity and innovation, building on best practice.
Community
Support voluntary organisations and innovative community initiatives, such as social enterprises, delivering essential services to Staffordshire residents, for example through the Community & Learning Partnerships. Work with parish and town councils or other community partners, to develop local cost-effective solutions, to deliver on local priorities. Invest in partnership solutions to cut crime and get more Bobbies on the Beat. Support the high performing Staffordshire Police and Fire services to deliver a safer Staffordshire.
What would you like to do next?
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