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Go for Gold!
A fresh start for Watford with the Liberal Democrats.
We cannot offer a
magic wand, but a fresh start means working to improve the
services people
get
from
the
town
hall and to involve people in putting things right. The Liberal
Democrats offer the only opportunity for change at the town
hall.
If elected to form the administration
at the town hall, Dorothy Thornhill and Liberal Democrat councillors
will work from Day 1 to make a visible and immediate difference to
the town.
Our vision of Watford is as a
thriving and prosperous town, a good place to live and work, with
first-rate public services and a high-quality local environment.
In large part, Watford's success as a town is due to the efforts
and achievements of its citizens, businesses and voluntary organisations.
But the council clearly has a major part to play in creating a successful
town.
At the moment there is a perception
that the council is failing to deliver its key services or to deliver
sound financial management and value for money. These perceptions
are borne out by official reports from the Audit Commission and the
District Auditor. Under Labour the council has concentrated too much
on grandiose and trendy projects at the expense of its basic service
to the citizens of Watford.
Our priorities are better services for the public
and sorting out the mess in the council's finances. Let's get the
basics right first. This manifesto is practical and realistic:
aimed at getting a better deal for Watford's Council taxpayers.
We are not making any empty promises of pie
in the sky projects that the council is unlikely to be able to
deliver. Let's concentrate first on getting the key business of
the council right: things like streetcare, litter and graffiti
control, sound financial management, efficient planning and environmental
services, tougher enforcement against anti-social behaviour and
better management of our parks and open spaces.
Democracy means involving people.
We will make the Council more open and welcoming to the public
and we will devolve real powers to the neighbourhood level, because
you pay and you matter.
Over the past few months Dorothy
Thornhill and the Liberal Democrats have carried out a survey of
all 33,000 homes in Watford on borough council and other public
services. More than 1,300 people returned our questionnaire, a
higher response than to most official council surveys.
We are confident, therefore,
that the Liberal Democrat priorities outlined in this manifesto
are shared by the people of Watford.
First things first...
From Day 1 we will begin a programme to
deliver:
- Cleaner and brighter streets and public
spaces.
- Increased doorstep recycling collections.
- Better financial management.
- Rapid progress on providing new leisure
facilities.
- Local schemes to tackle traffic congestion.
- Protecting open space and withdrawing
support for Park and Ride on Green Belt land.
A fresh start for Watford.
Thereafter we will set new priorities
for Watford:
- A new focus on high quality services,
not on gimmicks and spin.
- Financial competence and value for money.
- Tackling traffic congestion and improving
public transport.
- Devolving responsibilities for purely
local decisions to area committees.
- A full range of leisure facilities in
locations accessible through public transport, walking and
cycling as well as by car.
- Promote affordable housing and carry
out planned repairs and maintenance to existing council stock.
- A stronger emphasis on the environment,
local and global.
- Concentrate on providing real information
to the people of Watford, not Labour-style propaganda.
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