READING’S Lib Dems are promising a new start for the town if they win control of the council in the May 5 local elections.
The party’s manifesto states it has six aims to improve the way the council is run – it states: “Reading has suffered from a lack of vision and leadership for too long”.
Its priorities are building a strong economy; making communities safer; building sustainable communities and services; helping children and young people; health and care for all; and improving local transport.
In her introduction to the manifesto, Reading Lib Dem leader Cllr Meri O’Connell said: “We want to make a distinctive shift in power away from the
centre, encouraging de-centralised decision-making, partnership working and empowerment of communities and individuals.
“Others want to do things to you, or do things for you: Liberal Democrats want to do things with.”
For the economy, the party says Reading’s future lies in creating and attracting environmentally-friendly industries to the town, which would boost employment.
By making Reading’s local economy more self-reliant, the party says, economic growth can prosper. Some of the ways it sees this happening is by pushing for benefits from Crossrail and the new Green Park railway station; selling off surplus council buildings; and reviewing the free use of council facilities by trade unions.
It also wants to introduce a red tape challenge to stimulate ideas for growth, by working with local businesses.
The Lib Dems say that many in Reading are concerned about anti-social behaviour and low-level crime. To combat this, it wants to introduce Safer Reading Groups, revitalise Neighbourhood Action groups, improve youth services, and tackle crime hotspots with infrastructure improvements.
It would aim to hold the Police and Crime Commissioner to account over drug enforcement, the use of 101, human trafficking, and community policing funding.
On housing, the party wants to push developers to build the appropriate level of affordable housing – a target of 30% per scheme, it will push to bring empty homes back into use, protect existing parks and green spaces, increase kerbside recycling to include glass, plastics and food waste, monitor air pollution, and tackle littering and fly-tipping with strong enforcement.
For sustainable services, the party wants to start with the council, by hiring additional call centre staff.
It will also support schemes such as Berkshire Credit Union and the Citizens Advice. The party plans no changes to libraries, but hopes to expand free services such as evening study times.
It says it will aim to get value for money from new and expanded venues such as Rivermead and Palmer Park.
The party would also aim to be transparent over council income.
Young people and adult social care are both areas where the party is promising support – for example, by keeping youth centres open, and having a long-term plan on school places.
On later years, it would aim to tailor services to meet individual needs, help care leavers learn life skills, develop plans for exercise for all ages, and pay carers a living wage.
Its plans for transport include establishing a low emissions zone in Reading town centre, boosting car charging points, enhance the cycle network, expand 20mph zones and tackle bad parking.
Pavements will be improved and more trees will be planted.
Cllr O’Connell said: “The Liberal Democrat proposals for a better Reading recognise that economic, social and environmental issues cannot be separated from each other.”
The manifesto can be read at: https://www.readinglibdems.org.uk/manifesto
