mayor manifesto 2016

7/26/2019 Mayor Manifesto 2016

1/12

The Liberal Democrat vision for Bristol

Kay Barnard:

A mayor for the whole city


2/12

A mayor for the whole city - Page 2

Contents

Page 3 Foreword

Page 4 Making public transport cheaper

Page 5 Making Bristol more sustainable

Page 6 Making Council Tax fairer

Page 7 Making the mayor and council work

for youPage 8 Making Bristol inclusive for all

Page 9 Supporting businesses and securing our future

Page 10 Building on our record

Contact Us

Website:

Facebook:

Twitter:

Email:


3/12


Foreword

Bristol is a great city - but it could be so much greater.

For every triumph of innovation and creativity that this city canboast, theres an environmental or social challenge to be tackled.

Liberal Democrats are committed to working with communitiesacross the city to improve lives for everyone.

We believe in empowering people - and our proposals areabout us tackling the issues the city faces together.

I want to be a mayor for the whole city, from Henleaze toHengrove and Avonmouth to Frome Vale. Whatever your

background, I will work for you, and for your community.

On the next few pages, you will find our key policies in each of

six areas:Making public transport cheaper

Making Bristol more sustainable

Making Council Tax fairer

Making the Mayor and the Council work for you

Making Bristol inclusive for all

Supporting businesses and securing our future

Taken together, these represent a radical programme for abetter Bristol, that works for all Bristolians.

On May 5thvote for a mayor for the whole city and for a LiberalDemocrat councillor in your ward.

, March 2015


4/12


Making public transport cheaper

Under the current mayor, there have been delays to thePortishead line, the Henbury Loop project has been

abandoned and there has been no progress on thePortway Park and Ride to Clifton Down.

Bus services are unreliable and our cycling andpedestrian routes need much upgrading.

Take back control of our local bus services byintroducing cheaper fares and having routes set bythe Council, not the bus companies.

Segregate cycle lanes across the city andencourage green space cycle routes wherepossible, and introduce better cycle parkingfacilities.

Introduce a new Park and Ride and new local trainstations.

Reduce the cost of the first Residents Parking Zone(RPZ) permit to the amount required to administerthe scheme, review the need for the number ofyellow lines in RPZ areas and introduce 1 hour free

parking across the city for present RPZ permitholders


5/12


Making Bristol more sustainable

Despite having been European Green Capital last year,Bristol's air pollution rates are at dangerous levels and

many homes are energy inefficient. Meanwhile theMayor has still not built a household recycling andwaste centre at Hartcliffe - which had been planned byLiberal Democrats before he took office. The citys

recycling rates have fallen from a peak of over 50%

under our administration and there has been anincrease in waste going to landfill or to be incinerated.

Set a target of 70% waste being recycled and take

action to achieve reductions in waste by 2020.

Introduce a low emission zone in the city centre andextend the pedestrianised areas.

Introduce a Bristol Green Deal using profits fromthe Bristol Energy Company to fund energy-efficient

improvements in homes in the city.

Invest more money in our parks and green areas toprotect them, recognising their importance to thewell-being of residents and as habitats for wildlife.


6/12


Making Council Tax fairer

The mayor, supported by Labour, Tory and Green partycouncillors has both cut services and increased CouncilTax every year despite having had access to

government grant money to freeze it for three of thefour budgets he has presented to council.

Such funding is no longer available but we remain

committed to finding ways to making Council Tax fairerfor the citys residents.

Review the Council Tax Reduction Scheme with the

aim of making it available to more residents.

Levy up to 200% Council Tax on empty houses.

Seek to review and update Council Tax banding andexplore ways to introduce two new higher bands forthe most expensive properties.


7/12


Making the mayor

and council work for you

Under the mayoral system as it is currently structured,members of the public and councillors have struggledto get answers to key questions and to make thevoices of residents heard. Many people feel there is ademocratic deficit in the city.

There is a lack of scrutiny and accountability of the

decisions of the mayor, council officials and so-calledarms-length companies spending public money.

Share executive decision power between the mayor

and cabinet members.

Introduce a transparency revolution with respect toCouncil decisions starting with publishing the line-by-line accounts of Bristol 2015 Ltd.

Work more closely with all neighbouring authorities

and get government support for devolution of poweron transport, council tax, health, benefits, skills andhousing

Offer referendums in the RPZ areas brought in since2013 as and where there is significant demand fromlocal residents to have their say


8/12


Making Bristol inclusive for all

The number of families facing homelessness in Bristolhas more than trebled in the past year. A lack ofaffordable and quality housing blights many of ourcommunities, including some which are amongst the

most deprived in the country.

In some areas of the city such wealth inequality is

compounded by divisions of other kinds.

Set up a central one stop shop for homelessservices and advice.

Ensure that all suitable brown-field sites in the cityare developed for new homes, including social andaffordable housing stock.

Provide support and sanctuary for refugees and

people who have suffered abuse.

Work with the Police and Crime Commissioner toencourage a relaxed approach to the policing ofcannabis related offences, in order to help increasepolice resources to fight serious and violent crime.


9/12


Helping business

and securing our citys future

Bristol is an historic centre for trade and commerce. Inthe era of the service economy providing the rightconditions to encourage visitors to our city and allow

local businesses to thrive is more important than ever.

We believe that more can be done to encourageinvestment and spending in the city than is achieved

through the mayors Make Sundays Special events.

Introduce a 1-a-night levy on hotel rooms, chargedto holiday-makers.

Bid to be the European Capital of Culture 2023.

Provide funding support for local small and mediumsized businesses to take on local apprentices.


10/12


Building on our record

Bristol Liberal Democrats ran Bristol City Council from February

2009 until the mayoral system was introduced in November

2012. We were in majority control from June 2009 to May 2011.

Our proposals are designed to build on our achievements when

in administration. During that time:

We secured more than 70 million of government investmentfor new school places and put 20 million into school placesourselves. This package included a long-awaited newswimming pool at Speedwell, in east Bristol, not progressedunder the current administration.

We opened new libraries while other councils closed theirs.

We entered the winning bid to be European Green Capital2015, having been runner-up for 2014s title.

We pushed recycling rates up above 50%, slashed residualwaste output by two-thirds and cancelled Labours plans for

a mass-burn incinerator for the citys household waste.

We froze council tax two years running (2011-12 & 2012-13).

We won funding to open ten railway stations and two new raillines.

We introduced kerbside plastics collection and were movingtowards to zero untreated landfill.

We built the first new council houses in Bristol for 30 years.


11/12



We tested the use of hydrogen as an alternative powersource through a hydrogen ferry project.

We set higher carbon targets for Bristol than the EU or UKhad for themselves 40% reductions by 2020.

We set a target to reduce total energy use in Bristol (30% by2020) - we were the only UK city to do so.

We cut 40% of the energy cost of street lights, saving 1m,cutting emissions and turning no lights off.

We invested millions in solar panel installation, wind turbines

and biomass boilers (including in schools).

We created over 150 council apprenticeships for youngpeople and promoted schemes to create 2,000 newapprenticeships across the city.

We created 60 free Wi-Fi hotspots and secured early

investment in super-fast broadband in Bristol.

We installed 120 smart energy meters in homes in southBristol.

We spent 2,500,000 improving the Colston Hall and createdthe Bristol Music Trust to run it.

We built a new athletics training track in Whitehall andinvested in the athletics track at Filton College.


12/12


We opened the new 30m Leisure Centre at Hengrove Park.

We refurbished the Jubilee swimming pool in Knowle.

We opened a highly popular, state-of-the-art city museum atthe M-Shed on the waterside.

We introduced park-keepers into each of our major parks.

We instigated the Metrobus project with a vision for a fast,modern bus service on a dedicated route utilising state-of-the-art ticketing systems.

We secured funding to build a business case for what hasbecome Bristol Energy - the council owned energy company.

Bristol Liberal Democrats have a record of action and in thiselection we promise more.

By voting for a Liberal Democrat councillor, you will be voting for

a community campaigner and champion, determined to makethings better for your area.

By voting for Kay Barnard for Mayor, youll be voting for action tobenefit all the citizens of Bristol - a Mayor for the whole city.

mayor manifesto 2016

Documents