|
|
|
|
|
|
Hackney Lib Dems TOP TEN for 2010
1. Clean and open politics in Hackney
- No more secrecy about your money: Lib Dem councillors will hold the council accountable for every action
- We will publish all information that can be legally revealed, in clear text
- No more £30,000 overseas jaunts for Labour members nor Hackney’s £10,000 stall at the national Labour conference – all paid for by you.
2. The best policies for the Environment
- Taking climate change seriously – like Lib Dem-run Camden and Islington whose environmental policies have won national praise, including “UK Sustainability Councillor of the Year”
- Introduce polluter pays parking; so the most polluting cars pay more to park whilst the least polluting pay less – like Lib Dem-run Islington Council
- Make Hackney plastic bag free – by encouraging local shops to provide long-life bags from sustainable sources
- Preserving Hackney’s heritage – by locally listing key historic buildings
3. Cutting Crime in Hackney
- Stopping it before it starts - more funding for voluntary groups and mentors to target those most likely to offend, and greater roll out of initiatives that break the cycle of youth re-offending, such as Hackney Diamond.
- Provide properly-funded community payback schemes for minor crime, proven to reduce re-offending.
- Cutting anti-social behaviour – effective council action, working with the police, to deal with the worst offenders
4. A fair start for young people
- Developing more community-led sports and leisure opportunities – creating safe spaces for young people to meet, and keeping them off the streets
- Supporting local work placement schemes to get young people into work and training
- Implementing our national policy to cut class sizes, improve discipline and phase out student tuition fees
5. Fair taxes for all – and cutting taxes for local people.
- The Lib Dems are the only major party that will cut taxes for people on lower incomes
- Nationally, we will scrap income tax for people earning less than £10,000
- We will replace council tax with a fairer system based on your ability to pay.
6. A Fairer Deal for Tenants and Leaseholders
- Lib Dem councillors will listen to leaseholders and tenants through meaningful local residents’ groups that have real power, not just talking shops
- Better management of the repairs service, getting repairs done faster and right first time
- No more exorbitant service charge increases for leaseholders, without the quality of service improving, and no ‘major works’ imposed upon leaseholders at way-above market costs and without proper consultation
7. Cut the Mayor’s budget
- The Labour Mayor’s salary and expenses have so far cost local people over a million pounds, including a recent pay rise despite the recession. The Lib Dems will slash the Mayor’s budget in half – and put your money back into your services
- We will make the Mayor fully accountable by holding regular Mayor’s Question Times open to the public.
- We will cut the Mayor’s team and allocate money where it is most needed
8. A Cycle Scheme for Hackney
- We will introduce a bike hire scheme in Hackney, for Hackney, run by the community.
- Create more secure parking spaces for bicycles
- The Lib Dems were the first to successfully introduce city-wide 20mph speed limits on residential roads in parts of Britain and we intend to do the same in Hackney
- We will offer training to cyclists and to lorry drivers to help reduce accidents.
9. Strengthening Community Groups
- The Lib Dems have always supported voluntary groups in our budgets as they provide best value for money services, use local expertise and builds local communities.
- We will provide more matched funding for community groups and work with the voluntary sector to create a future for Hackney, decided and delivered by Hackney residents.
- We will cut red tape and provide council officers’ time to community groups to secure funding from outside Hackney.
10. Make the Olympics Work for Local People
- Fight to make sure Hackney gets its fair share of jobs
- Create opportunities for local residents to build the skills through volunteer and employment opportunities available
- Support and develop grass-roots sports facilities for the long term – sport is not all about international competition, it is about local participation too
- Create an enduring legacy for Hackney by putting Olympic land within the Borough into a community land trust.
