Conwy Labour manifesto

LLAFUR








CONWY








LABOUR












Labour4Conwy.org.uk













Local ElectionManifesto






2017

Welsh Labour – Standing Up for Conwy



Labour wants Conwy to be a county where no one is left behind or left out. A county where we care
about our community, our environment, where we focus on improving the lives of local people,
reducing poverty and deprivation and where we keep council tax low.

Over the past five years the Council has undertaken a range of surveys and Labour Councillors have
attended a great many meetings, listening to what local people have to say about the services they
receive.


You told us your priorities are:
 More Affordable Homes to rent and buy

 Cleaner Environments

 Safer Communities
 Ensuring older residents are helped to remain in their own home

 Oppose 4 weekly bin collections
 Measures to make recycling easier

 Improving education, training and skills

 Reducing poverty and deprivation
 More support for social enterprises and voluntary groups

 Community development – more things to do and enjoy
 Improved infrastructure

 Better jobs


We know that the Tory cuts are hitting people hard. The UK Tory government has pursued drastic
austerity policies, cutting local services. By its own targets, austerity is not working: government
borrowing is more than £50 billion higher than in 2010 meaning more of your taxes go to pay off debt
rather than deliver services.

In such challenging financial times Labour councillors will stand up for local communities. Our aim is
not only to ensure that we represent the views of local people, but that we carry those views forward
to develop a progressive and fair partnership working with you, our staff and business to make the
improvements you want.


This plan sets out the key areas we want to focus on over the next 5 years. Labour has the vision to
convert challenges into sustainable opportunities where we will see positive change today and for
future generations: a county where no one is left behind or left out.

Labour – standing up for you.

1

Our Priorities for the Next Five Years


Conwy faces a number of challenges now and in the future. To tackle them we will

need to work together. We believe the actions we set out here today will provide the
essential building blocks to enable the Council to respond to the challenges of
austerity, poverty, climate change, health and jobs, and help make Conwy a better

place to live, work or visit today and for future generations.

Our priorities will be:




 Getting Conwy working – more jobs, better jobs



 Your Community – clean, safe and inclusive




 Improving care for the elderly and vulnerable



 Improving education, training and skills




 Better housing for everyone

We recognise that Council Tax is fundamentally unfair. We will lobby government to

put in place a fairer system of local taxation and property taxation and we will seek to
limit council tax rises to inflation.
























2

Getting Conwy working – more jobs, better jobs


Labour are leading the regeneration of our communities, creating fresh opportunities which we will
make Conwy more attractive to inward investment. Our aspirations are to increase productivity,
competitiveness and growth for our county and the businesses that operate here.


We won’t stop there: we will look again at the skills people need, increasing apprenticeships. We will
work with the North Wales Economic Ambition Board on an ambitious regional growth vision – a
partnership led by the six North Wales councils.

Key to the success of Conwy’s future is the creation of sustainable jobs. Labour will encourage new
ideas and we will work proactively with the public sector, businesses, colleges and social enterprise
to build economic capacity and increase year-round employment,and creating career opportunities
for future generations.

Labour understands the need for the best quality public services and recognises that the public
sector is best placed to provide that service.

We welcome the decision of the Welsh Labour Government to identify tourism as a key economic
sector playing a vital role in our local economy. Labour will support and continue to develop Conwy
as a destination perfectly placed to live, work and visit.


To do this we will:

 Deliver a better deal on childcare to support parents and remove barriers to work or training
 Promote re-training and re-skilling programmes, helping people develop the new skills that they
will need to do the jobs of the future

 Maximise the potential of social enterprises in Conwy

 Work with Welsh and UK Governments to ensure that all those employed by the Council or with
Council funding are paid at least the Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation

 Ensure that companies awarded public sector contracts support the creation of local
apprenticeships

 Make full use of European funding while it remains available; and ensure Conwy is not
disadvantaged by our exit from Europe
 Oppose trade agreements that damage local business, farming and agriculture


 Create an economy that’s confident, resilient and sustainable
 Support development of a tidal lagoon and other renewable energy projects

 Enable Conwy businesses to benefit from economic development across the region e.g. securing
local contracts and expanding local employment

 Create a development trust to support regeneration

3

Your Community – clean, safe and inclusive


We believe that everyone should have a decent community in which to live. We will work with local
communities to develop “place plans” to prioritise the services that are most important to you.

We will help you to realise the potential of our parks, green spaces, allotments, play areas, beaches
and country parks to encourage active and healthy lifestyles. A Tory Assembly member has criticised
Conwy council’s campaign against dog fouling. A Labour-led Conwy will never consider dog fouling on
our streets to be acceptable. We will seek to educate as well as enforce against all forms of anti-
social activity.

We recognise the environmental challenges the world faces. We will focus on improving flood
defence, improving recycling and investing in renewable energy.

We recognise the importance of decent public transport to enable everyone regardless of age,
ability/disability to access opportunities. Labour will work with communities, transport providers and
other partners on a fundamental review of transport across the county to produce an integrated
transport plan including innovative alternative transport options.

We believe a county with an ageing population, a county which relies upon visitors needs more,

not fewer public toilets. We will work with our partners towards increasing public toilet provision.

We will:
 Oppose the introduction of 4 weekly bin collections

 Develop “place plans” in partnership with local communities

 Make recycling easier, increasing the range of items that can be recycled

 Lobby government to cut the use of packaging which cannot be recycled

 Take action against those who do not clean up after their dogs
 Support the development of a tidal lagoon to protect our coast and create energy and
employment

 Campaign for more police on our streets and safer communities

 Ensure that our parks, beaches and playgrounds, are safe for all

 Promote the use of renewable energy for Conwy property

 Encourage communities to develop their own renewable energy projects
 Promote collective solutions that benefit local people such as energy cooperatives to reduce
energy bills

 Produce an Integrated transport plan

 Work with our partners towards increasing public toilet provision

4

Health and Wellbeing
Improving care for the elderly and vulnerable

We will strengthen partnership working between Health and Social Care services to provide easy

access to health and social services when you need them.

Through our libraries, leisure centres, theatres and open spaces we will support a range of activities
to prevent ill health and promote healthy choices and lifestyles.

Labour is proud of our tolerant and inclusive society. We celebrate diversity within our communities
and we will work to tackle isolation and ensure that we meet the needs of the vulnerable in our
community, the elderly, those with disabilities, mental illness and vulnerable children. We are
determined to root out discrimination and to promote social inclusion in all that we do.


Whilst the service we provide for our residents is paramount, Labour will not turn its back on
those in need and will support the provision of a safe haven for refugees.

To do this we will:

 Strengthen partnership working between Health and Social Care services
 Work towards the implementation of the Ethical Care Charter

 Continue to improve leisure facilities

 Ensure our older residents are supported to remain in their own home

 Provide better help for carers

 Seek additional funding for advice and advocacy services

 Work to reduce poverty and deprivation
 Ensure young people can contribute and influence how communities develop

 Promote healthy choices and healthy lifestyles

 Make it easier for people to walk and cycle

 Ensure accessibility is “planned in” for all new developments

 Work to become a Dementia-friendly County, supporting sufferers to improve their and their
families’ quality of life

 Promote healthy schools









5

Improving Education, Training and Skills

We want Conwy to deliver the best possible education and training. We will focus on improving
education and performance across the whole school system so that our young people are healthy,
confident individuals who play an active role in communities and who are skilled and ready for the
jobs of the future.

Labour is commitment to work with schools, governing bodies and local communities to make better
use of school buildings, providing a greater range of services to local communities.

We will develop partnership working between Business, Schools, Further and Higher Educationto
promote training, re-training and re-skilling programmes.

To do this we will:

 Prioritise Literacy, numeracy and digital competency for all ages

 Ensure learners are not disadvantaged by poverty

 Support schools to enhance continuous teacher training

 Put schools at the centre of our communities

 Work with employers, higher and further education to promote re-training and reskilling
programmes

 Ensure Gifted and Talented Children have the opportunities to develop their gifts or talents

 Ensure Children with additional learning needs get the support they need
 Support libraries, as a vital community resource

 Establish a school effectiveness group to review school performance

 Promote sport and play

 Work with Welsh Government, Further Education Colleges and Regional Skills
Partnerships to deliver high quality all-age apprenticeships

 Work with employers and trade unions on wider employment and economic opportunities and to
develop our local workforce to take advantage of them


















6

Better Housing for Everyone

We believe everyone should have the opportunity of a decent home. People’s physical surroundings
have a huge effect upon their lives. Labour will continue to improve the standard of the homes in
which local people live. We want our residents to live in accommodation that supports their positive
health and well-being.

Labour has introduced RentSmart Wales to drive up standards of private rented housing. Whether
you live in a house you own or rent, or supported accommodation such as extra care, or sheltered we
will always aim to ensure your needs are met.

We believe it is wrong for anyone to be made homeless; Labour will work with housing providers to
increase the availability of low cost homes to rent and buy. Labour will promote innovative forms of
housing, such as the recently publicised “The Older Women’s Cohousing” scheme.

To do this we will:

 Work to increase the supply of low-cost housing to rent and buy, including shared ownership
schemes

 Strengthen our homelessness prevention services

 Continue to improve housing conditions

 Bring empty homes back into use and where that is impractical demolish and rebuild

 Prioritise the redevelopment of brownfield sites and limit new development on greenfield sites
 Promote mixed tenure developments - ensuring a mix of property sizes, to rent and buy

 Promote innovative housing solutions
































7

Heritage, Culture and Leisure

We will focus on celebrating our culture and using the arts to maximise well-being.

Through our libraries, leisure centres, theatres and open spaces we will support a range of activities
to promote healthy choices and lifestyles.

We will develop Leisure, Arts, Culture and creative industries to support the regeneration of our
communities. We will protect our rich heritage for future generations.

We will develop our libraries into community hubs that provide a wide range of services and activities
and we will develop a Culture Centre in Conwy – a modern thriving library, museum and archive
along with an active youth and community centre.

Under Labour, Conwy libraries have for the first time met all Welsh Public Library Standards – the
only council in Wales to achieve this. Conwy’s community library model has been adopted as best
practice by Welsh Government.

We will continue to develop a programme of events to promote Conwy and support our economy.
We will work with the tourism industry to develop and strengthen Destination Conwy – our
partnership with the local tourism industry. Our language, culture and history contribute to a strong
‘sense of place’ – it is what makes us different from other destinations.


To do this we will:
 Deliver capital projects that contribute to protecting, enhancing and maintaining heritage and
cultural assets

 Produce a 5 year rolling programme of events

 Support and enhance community libraries

 Promote activities that contribute to well-being

 Deliver the Conwy Culture Centre

 Upgrade our theatre, conference and leisure facilities

 Strengthen Destination Conwy
















8

Consultation and Communication

We will focus on reviewing the way we engage, communicate and work with our communities. We
will review and update the Council’s Communication Strategy making the information we share
relevant and more accessible. We will change the way we work to be more progressive, modern and
efficient and to better target resources to meet local needs.

People care about the places where they live and want to know that things will get better for
themselves, their families and future generations. Labour will require all services to communicate
with the citizens of Conwy developing a customised programme to maximise community
engagement including community workshops, business events, school gate surveys, online
questionnaires, high street canvassing and vox pop.

We will take care to develop specific ways of engaging with harder to reach groups to ensure no one
is left behind or left out

We will work with you to develop place plans that should reflect the aspirations of the local
community, understand different perspectives, share knowledge and create new ideas for improving
how we plan for the future.


We will maximise the use of digital technology to provide more effective and efficient access to

services.

To do this we will:
 Take action to maximise voter registration

 Increase the use of iBeacons – mini information points which give people information and let
them give their views

 Encourage greater community involvement to enable people to shape their localities, including
working together to develop local “place plans”

 Make greater use of technology in consultation and communication

 Better target resources to meet local needs

 Develop site specific guidance to supplement planning policies

 Ensure each Place Plan has an accompanying delivery plan

 Work with our staff and their representatives to meet the challenges we face in delivering
services that meet the needs of our communities






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