Fairness for all

A manifesto for 2003

Printed by Easyspace Ltd, 2 Park Court, Pyrford Road, West Byfleet, Surrey KT14 6SD. Promoted and published by A R Ludlow on behalf of East Hants Liberal Democrats. 7 Kings Road, Alton, GU34 1PZ

E-mail: tony.ludlow@modelresearch.cix.co.uk 

Home page: www.tonyludlow.net

The Liberal Democrats believe in fairness for all. That means delivering the services people need at a cost that is fair to the tax payer and a work load that is fair to our staff.

In both 1997 and 1998, when the Liberal Democrats were in charge, East Hampshire District Council was shortlisted for the Council of the Year Award.

For two years running we were among the top five of the 400 Councils in the country because of our committment to local democracy and to working with the Community. With our new Area Committees and Advisory Panels, with MORI surveys and “Partners Magazine” we worked to create an informed public and an informed Council.

We turned the Council away from an inward looking producer of services towards an outward focus on the people we serve. And with our “Citizenship Program” we carried the message into local schools and built bridges to local young people.

We consulted the Council House tenants and, with their approval, transferred all the council houses to a new Housing Association. Known as Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) this made it possible for the Council to become debt-free. All the proceeds went to new house building and, in addition, the tenants had guaranteed rent levels and house improvements.

These, and our work on Local Agenda 21, were priorities for Liberal Democrats because we value people and want to hear from residents about what matters to them. That is right and fair, but it is also good use of tax payers money: resources are concentrated on real needs.

Since the Conservatives took over, in 1999, the momentum has gone. Many good things have been kept: Area Committees, Advisory Panels, Partners Magazine, the Citizenship Program, but there has been little new development. The Conservatives have put all their efforts into keeping the rise in council tax down to 2.5%; and have woven themselves a straight jacket with no room for new ideas.

East Hampshire needs a Council with new ideas, a Council that listens to its residents and concentrates on meeting their real needs. East Hampshire needs a Liberal Democrat Council.