BOROUGH 2010: THE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT MANIFESTO

The Liberal Democrat manifesto for Brentwood is based around creating a community that values decent accessible local services, fairness, inclusiveness, openness, accountability, engagement and involvement in decision making for those who wish. We will put the needs of local people first when deciding on our priorities and will work closely with the business community to improve Brentwood's commercial viability. We will always strive to reach out and involve all sections of the community in taking Brentwood forward.

Liberal Democrat Priorities for Brentwood

Sorting out the Council finances and services

Our first priority must be to sort out the financial mess this Tory administration has got us into which has seen the Council unable to get it's accounts signed off for the first time in it's history. We then need to address serious issues relating to the services the Council provides which has left Brentwood ranked as the poorest performing Council in Essex.

Tackling Crime and keeping Brentwood Safe

We will joint fund with Essex Police a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator for Brentwood and the villages to help rebuild the Neighbourhood Watch schemes across the Borough. We will work with parents, schools, the police and other agencies to tackle the anti social behaviour problems affecting our community. We support the expansion of Dispersal Orders and Alcohol banning orders to give the police more powers to tackle problems in specific areas.

Revitalising the local economy and Fairness on Car Parking Charges

We will introduce a one year pilot scheme to provide the first hour of parking free in all Brentwood town centre car parks. We will establish a Borough Business Forum to make the Council more responsive to the needs of local retailers and businesses across the Borough. We will actively market and promote Brentwood across Essex as a great place for shopping and leisure and some free car parking. We will try and attract new and existing businesses to relocate to Brentwood to help create more local jobs.

The need for more Affordable Housing

Young people born and raised in Brentwood have serious difficulties getting onto the housing ladder. Many are forced to live at home or move well away to afford a home. We will campaign for more affordable homes to be built for young people and for key workers like police, nurses, fire fighters and teachers.

Campaigning for a fairer Council Tax

Liberal Democrats believe that a fairer tax system would take into account people's ability to pay, not the value of their property. The present system is particularly unfair on pensioners and residents on low incomes

Opposing over development in Brentwood Town Centre

We have always wanted to see a Cinema return to Brentwood but we could not support the planning application approved by the Tories for a mixed retail/cinema development on the William Hunter Way site. In our view the sheer size and scale of this development will change the face of our town centre forever. Brentwood remains under serious threat from developers who seem determined to put large numbers of flats on any piece of land that becomes available. We will continue to oppose over development and fight to maintain the green belt around the borough

Refuse Collection and Recycling

We will fight to keep the weekly black bag refuse collections and will push for the recycling initiatives started under the Liberal Democrats to be expanded. We will continue to oppose any plans for incineration.

Create a Listening Council

We believe that it is only when people feel that they are able to influence council decisions that they really feel involved in their local community. We will restore the popular Borough and Pensioner Forums that were scrapped under the Tories and engage with young people to ensure their voices are heard. We will ensure that residents are properly consulted on the key issues facing the Borough such as the County Partnership, sites for Gypsy/Travellers and major new developments like William Hunter Way.

Fighting for Better Public Transport

Many residents in the Borough are dependent on public transport for work, shopping and recreation. We believe the Borough Council should be playing a much more proactive role in fighting for better services. We will continue to use any means at our disposal to liase directly with the bus and rail operators to ensure the voices and views of local passengers are heard.

Campaigning to save our Community Halls

We will continue to fight the Tory plans to close The Old House in Shenfield Road and Keys Hall at Warley. We believe these facilities are still very much needed for use by local community groups and that all options should be seriously considered before they are lost forever.

Young People

We support the concept of more youth clubs/drop in centres being introduced at key locations across the Borough to provide safe venues for young people to meet their friends. We fully support plans for Brentwood to have it's own all weather Athletics Track and would investigate the opportunities to bring an Ice Rink to the town.

The County Partnership

Whilst we are keen for Brentwood to work with partners across all levels of local government we wish to retain our identity and independence as a Borough Council. We opposed the formal partnership between Essex County Council and Brentwood Borough Council because there wasn't any consultation with local residents or our strategic partners before the decision was made and because we feel Brentwood's independence and identity will be lost over time. We believe that Brentwood should have it's own Chief Executive focused solely on the needs and aspirations of Brentwood residents and do not wish to share one with Essex County Council or any other authority. We welcome the new Highways Localism initiative but remain sceptical about the long term benefits of the County partnership going forward.