Forward Together

Leeds Liberal Democrats Manifesto 2008

Councillor Richard Brett - Leader of Leeds Liberal Democrat Council Group

Over the years, Leeds has become a great City because of the innovation of business, the hard graft of workers, the enterprise of immigrants, and the vision of community activists.

Today, we continue to be the fastest growing City in the country, but we still have much to do to address the remaining inequalities. We also have global challenges to face locally. These can only be tackled by working together as a City. Leeds Liberal Democrats have a commitment, and a record, of working together with residents, business, industry and voluntary organisations to achieve our priorities.

The Liberal Democrats began as the Party whose members "want to build and safeguard a free and fair open society, in which we seek to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality, and community and in which no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance or conformity". 20 years on the preamble to our Party constitution which is printed on every member's card still sums up what we are trying to do in Leeds

Our policies for Leeds are based on unity not class, on values not prejudice, and on diversity not race.

Together we can be a stronger City. Together we can make a greener City. We can share, together, a successful city. Together, we can celebrate the different parts that make this City great.

Councillor Richard Brett, Leader, Leeds Council Liberal Democrat Group

Liberal Democrats Coucillors in Leeds

Stronger together Celebrate together Successful together Greener together

Stronger Together

Lib Dem Councillor - Chris Townlsey - with one of the PCSOs.

Crime ruins lives and the fear of crime affects young and old alike. We believe that no one should be afraid to leave their home, walk down their treet or let their children play outside.

Overall crime has fallen under Lib Dem-led Leeds, but there is still more we want to do. We want to help communities to come together, to have a bigger say in what happens, and to achieve more for their area.

Leeds Lib Dems are committed to:

• Funding 5 Police Community Support Officers to patrol our streets in every ward in the city to provide eyes and ears for our local police

• Continuing the £90 million investment in new street lighting to make streets safer at night.

• Tackling anti-social behaviour by supporting parents and police to tackle disaffected children before they are serious offenders.

• Support and build voluntary and community groups to have the confidence to deliver more for where you live.

• "Your City Your Say" - improving ways of listening to Leeds residents and involving them in decisions that affect them.

• Letting communities decide on local spending .

• Less decisions on local matters being taken at Civic Hall and making spending more locally accountable through "Area Management " budgets.

• Bringing £millions of investment in housing and new facilities to deprived areas of East and South Leeds through "EASEL" to rebalance the prosperity and potential of our neighbourhoods.

• Building new council houses across the city

• Getting our fair share of flood defences investment to protect Leeds' homes and businesses.

Celebrate Together

We are proud that Leeds has developed through the growth and interaction of many varied communities that have created, together. a city to be proud of.

We want everyone to able to celebrate the pride they feel for where they live and who they are.

Leeds Lib Dems are pursuing:

• Achieving "Green Flag" quality status for our big city parks, and investment in smaller community parks with park rangers so that communities can come together in safety.

• £ millions to improve Town and district centres throughout the city - not just the city centre!

• Making bigger and better our free city festivals such as the Mela, Carnival, Gay Pride, Opera in the Park, Party in the Park, Breeze Youth Festival, and Classical Fantasia.

• Increasing independence for disabled people through direct payments.

• Listening to our young people through the Youth Council and letting them decide where the spend the £900,000 Youth Budget.

• The next steps to building a new Arena for Leeds, thanks to money from the sale of Leeds Bradford Airport.

• Millions invested in, or due, to enhance great Leeds landmarks - Kirkgate Market, Grand Theatre, City Varieties, Art Gallery, Museum, Roundhay Park, Kirkstall Abbey.

Successful Together

Liberal Democrats want every community in Leeds to share in the city's success. We also believe that every Leeds citizen should be enabled to successfully achieve the choices they make for their future, throughout their life.

Lib Den Councillor Alan Taylor at a primary school in Gipton

Leeds Lib Dems have prioritised:

• The biggest programme of school building in the country, creating the setting for year on year improvements in results for our children.

• New Childrens' Centres citywide allowing parents to get the best support to invest in their family's future.

• £Millions of investment in support for the elderly to continue living independently in the communities they grew up in.

• Setting up the Contact Leeds Academy to train the long term unemployed back into work.

• Creating the "Slivers of Time" network to match employers needs with people who want access to the job market but have limited time to work because they are carers or single parents.

• Encouraging successful businesses to build confidence in local communities by linking their employees expertise with local schools and voluntary groups through schemes organised by Leeds Ahead.

• Investing £15 million in "Sharing the Success" to help small businesses set up in our poorer communities.

• Increasing Credit Union branches to allow families access to financial help without the need to rely on loan sharks.

Greener Together

Lib Dem Councillor Penny Ewens recycling in Leeds

We are proud that Leeds is a green city with many parks, and open countryside on our doorstep. But we also have a global challenge in Climate change that we have our part to play locally.

Our success will depend on the individual actions of every citizen of Leeds, and the Liberal Democrats are committed to enable us to achieve this together.

Leeds Lib Dems pledge to:

• Maintain Leeds position as the best performing big city in England for recycling, with 30% currently being recycled rising to 60% in the near future.

• Expanding garden waste collection to more communities each year.

• Keep weekly black bin collections, and seek a waste solution that will end landfill for household rubbish that cannot be recycled.

• Reduce the waste produced by business and organisations in the city through the Council leading by example.

• Launching a tree planting campaign - aiming to plant one new tree for every citizen. Planting trees can make a big difference to combat global warming and make the city's streets more attractive.

• Create a Climate Change Fund where communities can access money to reduce their energy bills or generate renewable power.

• Set up a citywide Transport Conference to discuss the congestion crisis facing the city, and local solutions.

• Constructing Park & Ride facilities on major routes into the city centre.

• Expanding the number of allotments in the city so more families can access low cost, healthy local food.

• Increasing bottle banks in the city.

A Fair Deal For Communities

A Fair Deal For Communities

Liberal Democrats represent council wards from the most affluent to the most deprived in the city. This is a record that no other party can lay claim to. This has been achieved because we work closely with the residents we represent to get them a fair deal.

Each part of our city is unique. However, we believe that everyone, in every community, should expect such things as decent roads and safer streets. Every citizen should have equal access to core council services, and there should be universal support for the vulnerable throughout the

Each part of our city is unique. However, we believe that everyone, in every community, should expect such things as decent roads and safer streets. Every citizen should have equal access to core council services, and there should be universal support for the vulnerable throughout the city:

Leeds Lib Dems are investing in:

• A £60 million citywide roads resurfacing and adoption programme

• 5 Police Support Officers for every ward in the city.

• Access to more recycling across the city.

• Youth service provision for every part of the city.

• Better access to services through an award winning Council Contact Centre.

• Better customer response for Planning Services

• Five Graffiti removal teams, and the highest level of environmental enforcement ever seen in Leeds.

• Childrens Centres citywide to support families.

A Fair Deal For the Tax Payer

Liberal Democrats believe that Local Income Tax would be far fairer than the Council Tax, because it depends on your ability to pay, not where you live.

The Government has given Leeds a raw deal for several years now, with less given to us per head of population than any other big city. This year, the Government has given us less than ever, especially money earmarked for poorer areas.

Leeds Lib Dems have kept the Council tax rise lower year on year in Leeds than was achieved by the Labour Party when they were in charge. Since 2004, we have saved £millions by cutting waste to spend on the frontline, and pursued more innovative ways of providing better value services.

Only by actively looking at every penny we spend on your behalf have we been able to keep Council Tax down, and protect services, in the face of a raw financial deal from Government. We promise to continue giving you value for your money.