CONSERVATIVE MANIFESTO FOR WYRE FOREST
Wyre Forest District Council has been run by a Health Concern administration for the past 12 months. They have given no leadership or vision for this district. They have wasted this time and set out below are the Conservative proposals for a better Wyre Forest.
A Vision for the future
The local Conservative Party offers a different approach to the running of the district council. We intend to provide a more businesslike structure to our establishment. This will mean a leaner service that focuses more of the taxpayers money on quality service delivery and less on bureaucracy and red tape.
Kidderminster Hospital
All our Conservative Candidates have supported and continue to support the reinstatement of Accident & Emergency Services at Kidderminster Hospital. The Health Concern group has wasted 4 years and achieved no change to the health service provision in this district with no clout at national or local level.
A more effective management service
A Conservative administration will provide a complete review of all of the council service departments and restructure them to achieve a more cost effective service.
Supporting leisure provision..
We intend to review the shameful decision of Health Concern to downgrade 7 of the 17 play areas in this district. Play areas are an important, integral part of the community.
A Single Site
The district council is wasting thousands of pounds every year by having 8 administrative buildings scattered throughout the district. We intend to make a single administrative office our first priority, funded by the disposal of existing buildings and surplus land.
A safer district.
We strongly support the police and the need for positive actions to tackle the districts crime black spots. We will explore the possibility of providing district council wardens to work with other community safety partners.
Cinema for Kidderminster
Due to weak district leadership by a Health Concern controlled council, we have failed with not one but two planning applications for a cinema in Kidderminster. Their councillors have not held any discussions with the applicants, simply leaving council officers to negotiate on their behalf. A Conservative administration will bring the developers to Kidderminster to explore all the options.
Rural Parish Support
The Conservatives support giving more money to our rural parish and town councils to help them provide local services for their local needs. We will continue to offer this money despite opposition from the Liberal & Labour Councillors.
Car Parking in Kidderminster
Again, a high Conservative priority will be to improve the car parking fiasco in Kidderminster. The district will work with Worcestershire County Council to provide a sustainable solution to this problem.
Leisure Service Transfer
We were totally opposed to the mismanaged outsourcing of leisure services to a private company, DC Leisure, for the next 10 years. The Health Concern Group has agreed to unnecessary substantial subsidies for this service. We will review the contract and set up a thorough, ongoing scrutiny of the process.
Concessionary Travel
Conservatives believe in a fairer concessionary travel scheme. We proposed the increase in funds by £20,000 in this years alternative budget proposals. We intend to make it easier for elderly people who cannot access public transport readily to be able to apply for funds to enable them to do so.
Better Regional Representations
We will provide better regional representation at regional meetings. For example, despite being the councils representative on Advantage West Midlands, the current Health Concern Group Leader has never attended a meeting! We will ensure this district gets its share of any regional regeneration funding!
Bewdley Museum
The threat of closure of the historic museum has been shameful. We support its long-term retention not short-term decisions.
Litter
The amount of litter on our streets and in our hedgerows is a disgrace. We will privatise and constantly monitor the effectiveness of this service to provide a more cost effective and controllable solution to the problem.
Action to Stamp out Dog Fouling
We intend to be more positive when irresponsible dog owners allow their pets to foul our pavements and grassed areas. We have a local by-law and will fine irresponsible owners.
Waste Management
Conservatives led an active campaign at district, county and national level to oppose the planning application to build an incinerator in Kidderminster. However, we accept the responsibility of the district council which must now lead an active campaign to reduce the amount of waste we generate. We do not support Health Concerns decision to reduce the weekly bin collection to fortnightly. Unlike the Liberals & Labour, who propose to raid the councils reserves to fund a phased wheelie bin collection, we intend to review a service that sees a restored weekly collection.
Schools Review
A Conservative controlled district council will work positively with the county council, as the principal authority, to achieve the highest possible standard of educational provision for all our districts children.
Safer routes to School
We will work with the county council to provide safer routes to school and improved traffic calming schemes that are user friendly for our local children.
