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A COUNCIL FOR THE MANY NOT THE FEW
Cheshire
East Council needs a new start and a new administration to re-build its
reputation. The last four years have seen EIGHT criminal investigations swirling
around the Conservative-controlled Council, including the involvement of the
police’s Organised Crime Unit, the long term suspension of the top 3 officers
of the Council at a cost of over £1M, and scandals around Conservative
councillors.
Labour is the only Party that can deliver the changes necessary to
make Cheshire East a great place to live and work. The Labour Party offers a
message of hope; that residents should be proud to live in Cheshire East and
staff should be proud to work for their Council.
Labour
Councillors have achieved a number of significant results while in opposition
ü
Exposed
the deliberate and systematic manipulation of air quality data.
ü
Prompted
an external review of culture & bullying at the Council. The review
concluded that over 200 staff had experienced bullying in the previous 6 months.
ü
Spearheaded
action on fly tipping.
ü
Led
on the group reviewing regulation of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs)
ü
Prompted
the removal of council tax discounts for empty properties. This led to an
increase in income of £3M a year and a reduction in the number of empty
properties.
ü
Advised
of weaknesses in the Local Plan while there was still time to fix them. (The
advice was ignored by the Conservatives and we are now left with a Local Plan
that is ineffective in stopping speculative housing applications on greenfield
sites.)
ü
Improved
the whistleblowing procedures.
We will achieve so much more if your votes put us in control of
Cheshire East Council.
Labour
will work for a good life for the many not the few. We will support communities
and protect our beautiful Cheshire environment.
Labour
will put people before profit.
Don’t
let the Conservatives destroy Cheshire East for short-term profit for the few.
We
will protect communities and the green fields of Cheshire East from speculative
housing applications that make millions for a
few people and cause misery for many.
There is a clear party political
difference over planning policies. Labour proposes building more council houses
and would let local government planning determine the style and location of
homes (starter homes and bungalows on brownfield sites). The Conservatives have
let loose private developers, allowing them to build on sites where they can
make the greatest profit (executive style houses on greenfield sites in
Cheshire). The result of this approach can be seen in Sandbach, where permission
has already been granted to build 3,200 new homes – an increase of 40% in the
size of the town. Without proper local planning, the Conservative policies have
let private developers make millions and have left local communities to try to
deal with the resulting infrastructure overload.
The
Local Plan
In
July 2017 Cheshire East Council brought forward a Local Plan that was supposed
to bring housing development under control, but because the Council cannot
reliably demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, the Plan carries little
weight at appeals and has proved ineffective in stopping speculative housing
applications on greenfield sites.
The Local Plan demands that at least
1800 new homes be built in Cheshire East each year, but a recent government
consultation suggests only 1142 homes a year are needed. In July 2017, the
Labour group called for work to start on a new Local Plan, but the Conservatives
rejected this and are refusing to refresh the Plan to take advantage of lower
housing targets put forward by the Government. Under the Conservatives,
speculative property developers are laughing all the way to the bank, while
local communities are left with overloaded infrastructure and loss of green
fields.
New Home Owners
We will support those who own their
homes, including leaseholders, who are currently unprotected from rises in
‘ground rent’ from developers or management companies. A Labour
government will give leaseholders security from rip-off ground rents and end the
routine use of leasehold houses in new developments.
Private
Rented Homes
Labour
supports responsible landlords who treat tenants in a reasonable manner. Labour
Councillors have led a Council working group looking into the problems caused by
rogue landlords and would like to see the recommendations implemented so that we
have stable communities living in safe and decent accommodation. Situations
where 20 people live in one house on insecure short term tenancies can lead to
anti-social behaviour, with overflowing bins and fly-tipping.
Your
Labour Council will:
·
Introduce
a scheme to build Council houses in urban and rural areas to provide genuinely
affordable housing.
·
Work
with social landlords to develop brownfield sites.
·
Work
to ensure that a variety of new homes are built that meet the needs of
residents.
·
Ensure
developers make appropriate contributions to the infrastructure needed for new
development.
·
Make
developers pay to deal with air quality problems that their developments will
make worse.
·
Introduce
a registration scheme for landlords in areas where there are particular
problems. This will include a “rent with confidence scheme” to give tenants
better information.
·
Introduce
an inspection scheme for Houses of Multiple Occupation working with Cheshire
Fire and Rescue service to ensure that homes are not overcrowded and have
adequate facilities, including refuse disposal.
·
Refresh
the Cheshire East Local Plan with
lower housing targets, ensuring that a 5-year supply of housing land is
maintained.
·
Reduce
the number of empty properties by increasing council tax on long term empty
properties and using Empty Property Management Orders to bring homes back into
use.
·
Promote
high quality, well-insulated, energy-efficient homes that meet the needs of the
residents of Cheshire East.
·
Tackle
land-banking by lobbying Government for a change in the rules to allow councils
to charge council tax on unbuilt properties with planning permission, and also
to give councils the power to compulsorily purchase land earmarked for housing
where the owners are not bringing the land forward for development.
·
Lobby
government to give leaseholders security from rip-off
ground rents.
Roads
The
state of the roads has worsened as routine maintenance has been cut back. This
short-term policy has led to increased spending on emergency pothole repairs.
What has made the situation worse is that the outsourced contract means that the
private contractor only fixes the pothole they have been contracted to fix and
leaves other nearby potholes to grow. In fact, as the private contractor is paid
per pothole repaired they have a financial incentive to make lots of visits to
fix individual potholes.
Car
Parking
A
review of car parking charges across the borough is planned and the Labour Group
support this, as the current situation seems unfair. Careful thought needs to be
given as to how car parking charges can promote vibrant town centres rather than
just being a way to raise revenue.
Car
parking is also an issue in urban streets and one which requires a number of
well thought out innovative schemes to tackle the problem. Residents only
parking schemes are only one way of dealing with the issue.
Rail
Crewe
station will be an HS2 hub station, receiving 7 high speed trains an hour. HS2
is an opportunity to improve the connections to major cities in the country. The
Labour Group will continue to promote this transport innovation, recognising the
need for all areas of the County to be able to access the benefits of HS2.
However, there are other developments which are equally important to residents
and which are needed to improve people’s daily lives, like the Mid-Cheshire
rail link.
Buses
The
Labour Group have consistently opposed cuts to bus services. We will look to
improve connectivity between the principle towns and develop a more integrated
transport system, as well as encouraging the use of public transport.
Cycling
Cycling
is a sustainable means of transport and Labour supports the development of safe
cycling routes for all. We would look to support the development of new routes
and improvement of existing routes.
Your
Labour Council will:
·
Review
expensive outsourcing contracts for road repairs and maintenance.
·
Maintain
or introduce free parking schemes where this is needed to promote town centres
and local communities.
·
Implement
a fair car parking charge regime across the borough.
·
Seek
innovative solutions to the problems around parking on residential streets and
congested roads.
·
Promote
cycling on safe cycling routes to improve health, reduce congestion and improve
air quality.
·
Review
the current bus strategy to improve the service to residents.
·
Embrace
the Labour Party policy to provide bus passes for young people.
·
Consult
with local communities, including town and parish councils, about all aspects of
transport policy.
·
Press
for the development of the mid-Cheshire rail link.
·
Work
with government to promote Crewe as an HS2 Hub and to gain the maximum benefit
for all Cheshire East residents.
·
Work
through the Constellation Partnership to ensure that the wider regional economy
benefits from HS2 in Crewe.
Care
for Older People
Huge
pressures have been placed on care services as a result in the growth of an
ageing population, increases in demand, and the imposition of huge, and
generally unfair, cuts by the Conservative government. The top-down
reorganisation of the NHS, which the Conservatives promised they would not do,
is resulting in a privatisation by stealth, which will lead to deterioration in
services as companies tailor their performance to the needs of their
shareholders and their profits. It will severely hamper the delivery of joint
NHS and Local Authority services to meet the needs of an ageing and vulnerable
population.
The
Labour Group will work towards a more accountable social care sector where the
quality and delivery is controlled directly by the Council. We want to see a
system that puts people before profit. A system that supports every individual
and values the role of carers.
Mental
Health
The
Labour Group recognise the increasing pressure on local mental health services
and the impact of cuts to funding. There must be an increase in funding for this
service from the Council and the NHS. We will ensure there are no further cuts
to Council services.
Air
Quality Management
Cheshire
East is a diverse Borough where there are areas of affluence as well as areas of
nationally recognised deprivation, but air quality is something that affects all
residents. We will ensure there are Air Quality Action Plans in place in all
identified areas of poor air quality and will make sure that the plans are
implemented.
Your
Labour Council will:
·
Adopt
the Ethical Care Charter https://www.unison.org.uk/content/uploads/2013/11/On-line-Catalogue220142.pdf
·
Increase
investment in respite care and establish an “in-house” dementia respite
service.
·
Increase
support for mental health services, putting mental health on a par with physical
health.
·
Maintain
a well qualified social work team to carry out assessments of those applying for
services and establish a specialist advice service for carers.
·
Increase
the current number of Carer Assessments to ensure that carers are supported in
their role.
·
Ensure
effective scrutiny arrangements for Health and Social Care delivery.
·
Encourage
closer working between Leisure Centres and the NHS through initiatives such as
exercise on prescription.
·
Work
to strengthen the relationship between local commissioning groups and Cheshire
East Council to improve and develop services.
·
Ensure
air quality action plans are drawn up and implemented.
The
Labour Group recognise that education is a journey for life; one that should
offer life-enhancing opportunities that expand people’s horizons.
Schools
The
Government has systematically reduced the Council’s role in education. A local
council cannot now build a new school without a private enterprise as a sponsor.
When these restrictions are combined with the flood of speculative housing
applications of the borough the result has been over-subscribed schools in some
areas.
Children’s
Centres and Nurseries
A
strong Labour campaign thwarted Conservative plans to close Children’s Centres
in Cheshire East, but many remain under threat of reduced funding. We will
support Children’s Centres and early care provision.
Children’s
Services
The
Conservatives have systematically attacked and closed Children’s Centres in
Cheshire East. The short-sighted approach of removing early intervention
provision for vulnerable children has led to an increase in expensive later
intervention and to more children being taken into care. We will invest in early
years provision and we will offer support and training to the social workers who
deal with these vulnerable children and their families to ensure the best
outcomes.
Special
Needs Pupils
The
Labour Group want to see a service for children with Special Needs that ensures
their individual needs are met in the most appropriate way. There is a shortage
of Special Needs provision and we would pressure Government to assist the
Council in building appropriate facilities in the Borough.
Post
16 Education
Education
for young people over 16 is also important and something that the Labour Group
wants to see high on the agenda. We want to ensure young people have access to a
variety of educational and apprenticeship options as well as a good career
advice service.
Your
Labour Council will:
·
Plan
ahead to ensure all children have a good local school to attend.
·
Protect
the remaining Children’s Centres.
·
Review
the cuts which have been made to school bus services.
·
Encourage
road safety training in schools.
·
Safeguard
good child mental health facilities.
·
Work
to eliminate the need for looked after children to go out of area.
·
Build
on already existing initiatives to support lifelong learning for adults and
young people.
·
Develop
quality apprenticeship schemes and an appropriate advice service.
Back to #CONTENTS
Cheshire
East is blessed by the strength of its many communities. Each town and village
is a community with its own sense of pride. Labour puts people before profit and
will work to protect communities and local community facilities. Communities
need the right facilities to thrive. We will listen to residents and assist them
in developing the facilities and activities that they want to build strong and
resilient communities.
The
regeneration of the principal town centres is underway but we want to ensure
that town centres truly reflect the needs and interests of the residents. We
want to see well planned places that have flourishing businesses and a vibrant
night life.
Labour
is tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime. We will work with the Police
service to make our Borough a safer and more pleasant place to live. Fly tipping
and dog-fouling is a persistent nuisance that is high in many people’s
priorities. This is anti-social behaviour and is not acceptable.
Your
Labour Council will:
·
Work
with the police authority to restore the number of PCSOs supporting and
protecting local communities and adopt a tough attitude to persistent
Anti-Social Behaviour.
·
Increase
the number of wardens and monitor and publish prosecutions for dog fouling and
fly tipping.
·
Scrap
the rubble charges at council tips for residents’ household waste.
·
Promote
the appropriate redevelopment of town centres.
·
Provide
support to communities to secure the appropriate facilities.
·
Invest
in appropriate facilities to protect vulnerable residents.
·
Protect
and enhance existing parks and open spaces so that residents can enjoy the
amenity.
·
Protect
libraries which are important community assets.
·
Support
charities seeking to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable residents.
Cheshire
is renowned as a green county with beautiful countryside. We will work to
promote Labour’s Industrial Strategy, whereby the public sector makes
strategic investments to catalyse the private sector to innovate. We will adopt
this approach, setting two initial missions - one focused on outputs related to
the green economy, and one focused on the inputs necessary to make the UK an
innovation nation. Cheshire should be at the heart of a new innovative green
economy.
Climate
change is the greatest challenge facing our generation and a Labour Council will
meet this challenge.
Re-generation
of our principal towns is very important. As a Labour Group we want to see an
holistic approach that not only sees the re-generation of the town and urban
areas but benefits the wider community. This will be the engine for major
improvements in all aspects of residents’ lives.
We
will promote and support new entrepreneurial businesses in areas where business
growth is needed. We will encourage multi-national businesses and national
chains to establish themselves in the Borough whilst supporting small local
businesses to grow.
Your
Labour Council will:
·
Promote
Cheshire East as a GREEN borough and encourage green technology businesses to
come to Cheshire East.
·
Lobby
Government to give more power to local communities over fracking applications.
·
Improve
recycling rates (which have stalled).
·
Remove
charges at recycling centres which deter residents from recycling responsibly.
·
Promote
a “spend local” policy to encourage local business.
·
Give
new entrepreneurial businesses two years without paying business rates.
·
Promote
regeneration as a means to improving the Borough wide community.
·
Insist
on high environmental standards in all new housing developments with emphasis on
preserving and enhancing nature.
·
Encourage
sustainable means of travel.
·
Protect
wildlife in Cheshire East and preserve green spaces for the benefit of all.
·
Reduce
energy consumption across the Council.
Council
Tax
The
Conservatives in Cheshire East increased council tax by 5.99% in 2018.
Labour-run
Cheshire West and Chester Council increased council tax by only 4.99%.
Across
the country Labour councils are run more efficiently and more prudently than
Conservative councils, with lower average council tax.
Your
Labour Council will:
·
Adopt
a prudent approach to council spending.
·
Increase
the council tax on long term empty properties to 200%.
·
Reduce
the existing eight-week council tax exemption on empty properties.
·
Work
with neighbouring councils to ensure that more of the business rates revenue
collected locally stays in the region.
Openness
& Transparency
Under
Conservative misrule, Cheshire East Council has been beset by scandals. There
has been a string of revelations as the Council has lurched from crisis to
crisis. The Head of Internal Audit was (allegedly) bullied and forced out of the
Council after instigating an enquiry into contracts awarded to the then
Conservative Leader’s personal physiotherapist’s company and has not been
replaced.
Millions
of pounds have been spent making staff redundant, then millions more spent on
temporary staff to do the work. This was not only wasteful, but has also
engendered a culture where staff are in fear for their jobs. For too long the
statement ‘our staff are our most important asset’ has been used as a trite
phrase, while experienced staff have been ‘let go’ or paid to leave. When
valuable staff leave, the organisation is poorer for it, but because the value
of staff has not been measured it has not been treasured.
An
independent survey has found that more than a third of staff did not believe
that the Council would properly deal with any complaints they raise. Some staff
reported they felt bullied and demoralised.
We
want our staff to enjoy working at Cheshire East Council and to be proud of
their work. We want Cheshire East Council to be a place where all people are
shown respect and where challenges are invited and welcomed. A Labour-run
Council will work with staff to enhance the working environment and improve
efficiency.
At
present, the Council is dominated by the majority group of councillors who not
only make the decisions but also scrutinise them to see they are sound. Good
practise suggests that scrutiny should be led by members of the opposition. We
would like to see more transparency and openness in the decision making process
rather than decisions being made by a small number of Councillors. The Council
should have a Chairman rather than a Mayor and there should be an overhaul of
Councillors’ allowances, which could make a substantial saving.
Your
Labour Council will:
·
Implement
all the recommendations of the Local Government Association cultural review.
·
Work
with unions to support our staff.
·
Value
our staff based on the Council’s investment in their experience and training
and report that value annually, so that the impact of the loss of good staff is
measured.
·
End
the practice of large severance payments to senior staff who leave with a
gagging clause.
·
Strengthen
and improve Council recruitment procedures.
·
Appoint
a strong Head of Internal Audit, with guarantees of independence from political
interference in their work.
·
Ensure
public consultations are resident friendly and resident feedback is listened to.
·
Appoint
opposition councillors to chair scrutiny committees.
·
Review
Councillors’ special allowances.
·
Promote
town Mayors and abolish the Cheshire East mayoralty (saving £100,000p.a.).
·
Reform
the Council Constitution to give a greater role to backbench councillors.
·
Review
meeting times to allow working Councillors more flexibility to attend.
·
Review
electoral ward boundaries to reflect changes due to new housing.
Back to #CONTENTS
Labour values and principles put people first. There is a clear
choice on 2 May 2019: a Conservative-led council spiralling out of control,
lurching from scandal to scandal, or a new Labour-led administration who will
clean up Cheshire East and deliver a council for the many not the few.