TENDRING - IT'S YOUR COUNCIL

Summary

On 2 May 2019 we, the people who live in Tendring, elected our representatives for the following four years. The Tendring Liberal Democrats increased our share of the vote and Councillor Gary Scott (Alresford & Elmstead) was re-elected along with Ann Wiggins (also Alresford & Elmstead) who was elected for the first time. In other areas including, Burrsville and Manningtree, Mistley & Lawford we came close to winning further seats. We stood on the manifesto below and this is what we are still campaigning for in the Tendring District.

POWER BACK TO THE PEOPLE - A COUNCIL THAT LISTENS TO YOU AND ACTS FOR YOU

• All councillors to share in decisions, instead of the Conservatives deciding everything in secret.
• Powers currently held by the district council to be given to town and parish councils where agreement can be reached and there is no extra cost.
• Clacton people to decide if they want a Town Council.

YOUR LOCAL PLAN

• Give far higher priority to achieving an adopted local plan so that new developments are sensibly located and planned, instead of the present free-for-all.
• Make every possible effort to ensure new housing developments are served by adequate facilities and press the government to adopt the same approach.

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

• Establish "Healthy Tendring", a body to promote healthy living throughout the district. This would work with leisure facilities and apply for grants to fund public health projects and develop a health plan to improve health in Tendring.
• Work to improve the inadequate support for young people and adults with mental health problems throughout Tendring.

HOUSING

• Aim to increase the supply of accessible and adaptable social housing.
• Press for new housing developments to have access to adequate services and community assets as well as broadband.
• Seek powers to force use or sale of empty buildings and derelict land, especially houses.

OUR COMMUNITY

• Explore with local voluntary organisations the creation of Tendring Citizen Service' to tackle youth unemployment, working with schools, voluntary organisations and businesses to help young people gain skills and to volunteer to work with older people.
• Conduct an audit of the council's relations with the voluntary sector and performance in meeting the standards of the Tendring Compact.
• Encourage multi-use of council and community facilities including libraries.

OUR LIBRARIES

• Press the County Council to abandon library closures.

CRIME AND POLICE

• Press the government for more funding for the Police.
• The district council to consider funding more Police Community Support Officers as Liberal Democrat-led Colchester does, probably through offering grants to town and parish councils and checking that the officers are actually used in those areas.
• Press the County Council to reverse savage cuts to youth services, which have contributed to youth crime increasing.

OUR ENVIRONMENT

• Renegotiate the waste and recycling contract so more plastic can be recycled.
• When the contract has run its course, any increase in cost above inflation will trigger the contract being put out to tender.
• Aim towards all new and refurbished council buildings being carbon-neutral or as near as possible.

REGENERATING OUR AREA

• Create an award for local businesses meeting a good practice code including environmental standards, recycling rate, skills training and so on.
• Create a strategy for the regeneration of Clacton and Dovercourt town centres, including lower business rates for startup businesses.
• Press for improvements in transport links such as train frequency, bus/train co-ordination and dualling the remaining eastern section of the A120 into Harwich.

TRANSPORT

• Liaise with other councils on a possible demand for Greater Anglia's rail contract to be revoked and commit to oppose the renewal of Greater Anglia's contract unless at least 1/3 of closed ticket offices are restored.
• Encourage cycling and walking, including through walker and cyclist friendly paths, working with the County Council and cycling and walking groups.
• Apply to the County Council, as Liberal Democrat-led Colchester has done, to devolve the budget for highway repairs so we take charge of potholes being properly repaired.

A FAIR DEAL FOR ALL

• The council's equality policies and actions to be thoroughly and annually audited.
• Putting right problems in accessibility of council services.
• Achieving a fair proportion of women in senior management posts.

PAYING FOR IT ALL

• Review all Council spending to identify efficiency savings.
• A fundraising working group of the Council to identify new ways of raising money.
• Successful regeneration will raise money through increased business rates and council tax payments.
• If necessary, raise council tax within the government-set ceiling.

Click here to see the full document:

Manifesto