SIX TO FIX
The Liberal Democrats have the following priorities for the town. You can also follow the links to see what actions we have taken recently on these matters. Liberal Democrats: working for you all year round, not just at election time.
1. Sorting out council finances and services
- Our first priority is to sort out the financial mess caused by this Tory administration.
- Open up the Council's finances to public scrutiny.
- Address the issues that have seen Brentwood ranked as the poorest performing Council in Essex and in the bottom eleven councils in the UK.
The shaming Audit Commission report
The state of Brentwood's finances
2. Tackling crime and keeping Brentwood safe
- Joint fund with Essex Police a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator for Brentwood to help rebuild neighbourhood watch schemes
- Expand dispersal orders and alcohol banning orders to give the police more powers to deal with anti social behaviour.
Our call for a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator for Brentwood
3. Revitalise the local economy & address car parking charges
- When the economic conditions allow we will introduce a one year pilot scheme to give the first hour of parking free in the Town Centre Car Parks. In the meantime we would introduce a one year pilot scheme NOW to reduce the charge for the first hours parking from 80p to 40p. This would be paid for by introducing a flat rate evening charge of £3 after 7pm
- An urgent review of day and night time car parking charges which allows an element of free parking during the day.
- The "cash back" parking scheme bought in by the previous Lib Dem administration re-introduced as soon as possible.
- More help for those businesses that need it with the phasing of payments on their business rates.
-Lobbying the property owners directly for more realistic rents in Brentwood High Street.
- Abolish the "Business Panel" and refer all matters back to the Policy Committee where decisions will actually be taken.
4. Provide more affordable housing
- Build affordable homes for local people and for "key workers" like police, nurses, fire fighters and teachers and ensure the properties are fit for occupants and do not lead to over-crowding.
- Bring council rent rises back in line with national averages.
5. Keep weekly refuse collections and increasing recycling
- Fight against any plans to bring in fortnightly refuse collections and bin taxes.
- Expand recycling initiatives we started when we ran the council.
Our call for commitment to weekly black bag collections
6. Create a listening council
- Restore the popular popular Citizens Panel, borough & pensioner forums that were scrapped by the Tories.
- Actively engage with the youth of Brentwood to ensure their voices are heard.
- Review how residents are consulted on major issues affecting the community (county partnership, traveller sites and major developments) to increase resident participation.
- Overturn the decision of the Tory administration and fully investigate the option of refurbishing the Town Hall before a final decision is taken.
County partnership - our opposition
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The+Lib+Dem+team
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