'Six to Fix' - Liberal Democrat County Council Manifesto 2013
Focus on the basics ~ Work in partnership ~ Build on success
We live in a beautiful, safe area, with enterprising and hard working residents, welcoming visitors and new businesses. Liberal Democrats aim to keep it this way. At the same time, we believe it is vital that we provide cost effective services so that everyone has the support they need in the way they need it, to ensure that they can enjoy a decent standard of living. These beliefs underpin the way that we approach all issues and the way we make decisions when representing you on Staffordshire County Council.
Highways & Flooding
Increased investment to protect road transport infrastructure.
Get the basics right! Roads and footways take you to any other service you use. You can't keep patching poor surfaces and expect them to improve. Decent drainage is essential too. Poor drainage impacts on the surface and the substructure of the highways and causes quicker deterioration. The County Council resurfaces only 11km of the 4,500 km of our rural roads each year. They have spent only £1.25m on them compared with £50m pledged to urban roads. Roads must be safe, maintained and kept safe during icy weather.
Liberal Democrats will target the causes of road damage: blocked gulleys, silted up culverts, poorly maintained ditches, seepage, pooling and flooding that erodes the road surface, its substructure and creates a cycle of failed road surfaces and failed repairs. We will provide a £10m investment in rural roads over two years, on an invest to save basis with no increase in council tax, to kickstart improvements, implement flood prevention schemes and stop the rot. Highways staff need the right mix of skills, training and equipment - and we need enough people to do the job required, to avoid broken promises and high absence rates.
Economy and Environment
Encouraging business development and sustainable growth.
Good communication links and a well educated, skilled workforce will encourage businesses to invest in the county.
Many rural areas depend on tourism to sustain their economy. We will work with partners to maintain and improve transport routes and networks, improve business and family support, information and access to advice and funding opportunities.
Protect the countryside, including the green belt, from inappropriate development and safeguard wildlife and wildlife habitats.
Invest greater resources into maintaining country footpaths and encourage the development of additional bridleways.
Transportation
Joined up transport networks, reducing congestion and improved safety measures for communities.
Speed up the review of speed limits, introduction of 20mph zones around schools and develop safer crossing areas in consultation with local communities, especially through villages and near schools, parks, health and leisure centres.
Involve schools in ensuring necessary school transport is provided and working with their local communities in an innovative way to resolve problems caused by parents parking at school opening and closing times.
Award passenger transport contracts on Quality Standards as well as price. Regularly review areas in partnership with operators and communities to avoid duplication or gaps in routes. Extend the route for 'Connect' and similar services and explore more flexible use of community transport to benefit un-serviced communities when these buses would otherwise lie idle.
Encourage the use and enjoyment of many different modes of transport such as buses, rail, waterways, bridleways, cycling and walking routes. We will encourage the introduction of real time information for public transport, highways repairs and community information.
Children and Young People
Helping young people to achieve their potential.
Improve the standard of education for all children, targeting those primary school children that OFSTED says are receiving less than a "good" standard of education.
Improve school place planning and provide sufficient school places and classrooms where they are needed.
Provide increased support for families in need, including respite care and increased in-county facilities for children with special needs.
Halt the cut backs in youth provision. Work with Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and other partner organisations to lift the youth service out of the doldrums and invest in our young people.
Help young people to become more involved in citizenship and 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, schools.
Vulnerable People
Enabling better lifestyle options through partnership and support.
Increase early support, advice and information for vulnerable people and their carers, especially young carers. Make respite care more widely available for carers. Ensure services are readily available for those with the highest and most complex needs.
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
Working with community partnerships to deliver on local priorities.
Support voluntary organisations and innovative community initiatives, such as social enterprises, delivering essential services to Staffordshire residents. Work with parish and town councils or other community partners, to develop local cost-effective solutions, to deliver on local priorities. Support community groups wishing to use the Localism Act to manage local services for themselves. Promote Community Speed Watch and other community 'Watch' schemes.