Cleaner, Greener and Safer

The Liberal Democrat Vision for Birmingham 2008 - Key Policy Points

The Liberal Democrats' vision for Birmingham is where:

- There is a high quality, clean and attractive local environment and the City contributes towards global sustainability and businesses prosper.

- Everyone can feel safe in their homes, streets and neighbourhoods.

- The City Council as the democratic body representing the City, takes the lead in working with local people and organisations for a better Birmingham.

- People feel proud to live here.

These things can only be achieved by the Council working in partnership with local people and organisations. But they all require a well run, efficient Council that provides value for money

Communities we can be proud of:

Our key priorities to you

1 Low tax increases - Keep the council tax as low as possible.

2 A Safer Birmingham - Continue to work effectively with the police to beat the criminal.

3 A Greener Birmingham - Increase recycling rates & a commitment to reducing CO2 emissions.

4 Crack down on environmental crime - Tougher enforcement action on graffiti, fly tipping & fly posting.

5 A Cleaner Birmingham - By keeping local streets clean & cracking down on people who drop litter.

6 Tackle anti social behaviour - To work with the police to beat anti social behaviour.

7 Local services - local decisions - Aim to take more decisions locally involving the community in the process.

8. A Caring City - By supporting vulnerable members of our community.

Four years of achievements for you and your community:

In 2004 Liberal Democrats entered into a progressive partnership with the Conservatives. We are continuing to tackle the legacy that Labour left behind which was nothing short of disastrous. Services were poor and the costs for providing them were too high.

It needed more than just a change in council priorities - but rather rebuilding from top to bottom. This meant focusing on better core services and improving those that were performing badly. Key improvements include:

• The Council Tax has been kept below the rate of inflation for the last three years.

• Public satisfaction ratings have increased for the services provided by libraries, sports & leisure facilities, museums, waste collection and recycling

• We have achieved two stars for the provision of adult services following an independent inspection.

• The recycling & composting rate in the city has increased to 23%. We have rolled out collections for multi materials and green waste & expect the whole city to be covered during 2008.

• People feel safer in their community. Overall crime has fallen by 25% , domestic burglary is down by 37% and personal theft has gone down by a massive 47%.

• Work has started on the building of four of the planned ten new Special Care Centres for older people.

• 67% of Birmingham people are satisfied with the overall performance of the Council.

• 44% of Birmingham people believe that they can influence local decisions. This is up by 7% since Labour lost control.

• We are tackling climate change by developing two combined heat & power units to serve Eastside and the ICC & NIA complexes.

• The council now holds three performance stars recognising our achievements in delivering good services. In contrast Labour held none when they controlled the City.

• Working to ensure that all homes in the city meet the Decent Home standard by investing £374 million in a three year programme of works.

• Moving forward on devolution to improve services & make them responsible to local communities.

Adult Services - Liberal Democrat key policy points:

Adults and communities

The performance star we were awarded last year was a tribute to the commitment of the whole adults and communities team. Liberal Democrats are determined to ensure that the council's performance improves further so that year by year we can provide better services for all Birmingham people.

Plans are well progressed to build at least ten special care centres, four of which are under construction. In partnership with Housing we are providing extra care sheltered housing and an extra care village, in order to replace the council's out of date residential care homes. Once the programme of investing in services is completed we will have a service for older people that maintains their independence and promotes their well being.

Liberal Democrats are committed to working towards a service for older people that provides options for care that has the ability to promote independence, choice, comfort, dignity & appropriate levels of support/care.

• Work towards ensuring that more people with learning/physical disabilities live independently and access mainstream services.

• Further developing well run Social Services for those in need that provides choice, comfort, dignity & care.

• Developing in partnership additional Extra Care Sheltered Housing which promotes an in house range of health & well being services.

• Improving services to carers via the Carers Centre and partnership with the Third Sector.

• Developing Special Care Centres and an Extra Care Village, working in partnership with Primary Care Trusts & Housing.

• Encouraging the take up of benefits and direct payments by older people and vulnerable adults.

• Building upon and developing the two star award with the aim of providing excellence in all adult services.

• Improving partnerships with the Third Sector to provide greater choice and flexibility.

• Driving through increased efficiency & performance management, with a commitment to deliver value for money.

• Liberal Democrats are committed to shaping adult services after thorough consultation with service users and carers.

• Working to modernise & improve services to service users.

• Building on the success of education services for adults.

Education & young people - Liberal Democrat key policy points:

Children Young People & Families

Birmingham's progressive partnership has launch and ambitious plan to transform the prospects of our children and young people. The key is providing early support to families to ensure they stay together and that children are able to take full advantage of the opportunities provided to them. This builds upon successful improvements in children's services in the last for years.

The five A0-C GCSE exam results achieved by Birmingham pupils last year were 61.8% compared with 56.7% in 2005.

We are not interested in resting on our laurels there is still a great deal to be done. We are determined to achieve even better results by helping all pupils especially boys from low income families who are struggling to obtain GCSE qualifications.

• Encourage stronger schools to work with those who are weaker to drive up performance by sharing best practice.

• Liberal Democrats will help schools to meet the needs of individual children, tackling underachievement by boys in particular, recognising the needs of all ethnic groups & aiming to improve literacy & numeracy skills.

• Create a city-wide youth parliament with representation for schools & youth clubs, leading to better consultation with young people by all Council departments.

• Increase the number of school places in the inner city to provide an improved level of choice for parents. This will ensure better access to local schools.

• Encourage capable young people to access post school degree courses.

• Develop "No Child Left Behind" strategies by improving mentoring and advice available through Youth Service and Connexions - now integrated with the City Council - and continuing our work to identify and remotivate young people dropping out of education.

• Welcome the further development of vocational education choices to enhance the learning experience & ensure that schools are not deterred from offering diverse 14-19 choices by prescriptive league tables.

• Increase the uptake of language based qualifications and the development of primary taster classes.

• Improving the life chances of looked after children by ensuring access to vocational education.

• Early support for families to ensure children can stay with their families and access education opportunities whilst reducing the number of looked after children.

• Improve standards of care, encourage fostering & adoption and develop the care offer post 16. Recruitment of foster carers is a priority as too many are deterred by red tape.

Improvements in Housing - Liberal Democrats key policy points:

Liberal Democrats are committed to providing the best quality homes for tenants. We will ensure that all homes meet the Decent Homes Standards so that tenants have the quality that they have needed for so long.

The housing repairs service has dramatically improved since Labour lost control of the Council. A priority for Liberal Democrats is to ensure that these improvements are

maintained so that tenants receive a first class service.

With ever increasing property prices first time buyers are finding it increasingly difficult to afford mortgage payments. Liberal Democrats encourage the building of affordable & social homes in the city to help ease this crisis in escalating house prices.

• Continue to improve housing repairs to achieve a three star level of service. We will aim to keep waiting times for repairs to a minimum and ensure that quality work is undertaken.

• Investing £374 million over three years to meet the decent homes standard, by providing double glazing, updated heating systems, guttering and soffits.

• Further develop the Supporting People Programme to ensure vulnerable people are given the help they need, by ensuring deliverers of programmes have contracts with challenging targets which are regularly monitored.

• Improve the homeless service across the city in order to ensure that people with genuine cases receive a seamless service to prevent homelessness, whilst offering support and guidance to homeless people.

• Manage estates effectively to ensure that tenancy conditions are enforced by taking prompt and strong action against unacceptable behaviour.

• Bring empty homes back into use by continuing to invest in refurbishment programmes.

• Work towards ensuring that at least 30% of new homes on larger sites are affordable. The majority of affordable homes should be available for rent.

• Promote local tenant involvement in the management of their homes.

• Provide financial incentives to people who live in under occupied homes to encourage a voluntary move to alternative accommodation thereby freeing up larger homes for use by families.

• Reward good tenants who pay their rent on time by offering a £52 reduction in their annual rental payments. This bonus will also be offered to tenants who are maintaining an agreement to reduce their arrears. This scheme will also reduce the overall level of rent arrears in the city by providing an incentive to maintain a clear rent account.

Leisure activities - Liberal Democrats key policy points:

Arts, culture and sport

Liberal Democrats are committed to providing leisure & recreational facilities for people of all ages.

The city's parks provide wealth of sports and recreational facilities that we wish to maintain and develop.

All our play and sport facilities are important in keeping people fit & healthy. They are also important in providing a focus for young people and act a diversionary tool in preventing crime and anti social behaviour.

The City's museums are world class and we will strive to ensure that they are maintained and developed by providing

exciting visitor attractions.

Birmingham is renowned for the number of trees in its parks and open spaces. They add to the quality of life and the environment. Liberal Democrats are committed to increasing the number of trees in the city making our urban landscape greener.

• Increasing the use of Passport to Leisure and Swim for Free facilities which can be used to access football/sport pitches , sports grounds, gyms, leisure centres and swimming baths.

• Supporting the development of a new World Class Library following a thorough review and ensuring that our heritage is promoted in a new library.

• Protect the environment and improve the street scene by increasing the number of trees in the city.

• Increasing the number of sports pitches for community use, especially football, cricket and multi use facilities.

• Develop an appreciation of the arts by expanding the network of arts organisations who work with schools and community groups.

• Work towards a healthier population by the introduction of an older persons leisure pass aimed at increasing the number of older people who use leisure facilities.

• Support more community involvement in our parks and open spaces by encouraging and supporting "friends groups" who adopt and champion their local parks.

• Provide more facilities in parks and open spaces for teenagers.

• Increase the provision of sport & leisure facilities for young people which will assist in reducing the levels of crime.

• Introduce "play days" in the city's parks to develop interests in sports and leisure activities.

• Increase the range of events offered by the introduction of 5k & 10k funs runs and a half marathon

Improving Birmingham - Liberal Democrats key policy points:

Regenerating communities

Liberal Democrats support the major involvement of local communities in the regeneration of neighbourhoods. We believe that the successful regeneration of the City Centre should be replicated throughout Birmingham.

Liberal Democrats have worked to ensure that resources are fairly allocated across the City and effectively applied. We have supported the proposals for the development of an environmental industry focus on the A38 technology corridor. Liberal Democrats have also highlighted to Government that there is an urgent need to increase the stock of social housing within the City.

• Continuing to ensure that regeneration activity is focussed on areas of greatest deprivation.

• Work to see that new European & Government funds are deployed to directly assist unemployed residents throughout Birmingham and not just used for city centre redevelopment.

• Work with partners to close the unemployment differential between the most deprived wards and the City average

• Champion the development of Birmingham as a World Class City by ensuring developments and gateways such as New Street Station are of a world class standard.

• In the absence of Government support, work to achieve the objectives of the "T4 change" tornado recovery plan through the Enterprising Communities Programme and the East Birmingham & North Solihull Regeneration Zone.

• We will work towards the development of a sustainable Planning &

property disposals policy including using positive covenants to help achieve this aim.

• Ensure that new homes are built to high Ecohomes energy efficiency standards.

• Ensure that there is local generation of sustainable power on new developments.

• Aim to develop sustainable communities on all new developments.

• Work with the Birmingham credit unions to create a city wide community bank with a full range of banking services including low cost loans.

• Continue to develop combined heat & power schemes rolling them out across the city. Ring fence all profits of CHP joint ventures to which can be used for further CO2 reduction initiatives.

• Supporting the further localisation of area based initiatives to ensure that local views are taken into account.

Protecting us all - Liberal Democrats key policy points:

Liberal Democrats are committed to making Birmingham a safer place in which to live and work. During the last twelve months crime within the city has been reduced by 25%. Domestic burglaries are down by 37% & personal theft has been reduced by a massive 47%.

Other measures to reduce crime have been the installation of CCTV cameras at strategic locations. This has also led to a reduction in crime levels. Bus and taxi wardens have also contributed to crime reduction within the city, but more needs to be done.

The reduction in anti social behaviour is an on going priority. We will have no hesitation in issuing ASBO's as the need arises. We will also seek to extend our network of wardens and support officers who play an important role in reducing crime.

The measures detailed below are all designed to assist in making our streets and City safer. Liberal Democrats will ensure that we effectively work with the police and local communities to make this a reality.

Anti Social behaviour

• Effectively cracking down on anti social behaviour by using Acceptable Behaviour Orders and Anti Social Behaviour Orders.

• Work effectively with the police to crack down on crime & anti social behaviour.

Crime

• Making people feel safer by continuing to install security gates to protect people's homes.

• Improve the standard of street lighting in residential roads which will cut crime and make local roads safer.

• Support CCTV cameras in trouble hotspots which will catch criminals and reduce the fear of crime.

• Introduce city wide no cold calling zones to reduce distraction burglaries.

• Continue to crack down on loan sharks who charge unacceptable rates of interest.

• Work tirelessly to discourage gang warfare and gun crime within the city by promoting and encouraging robust youth programmes.

• Ensure that there is effective control and monitoring of shops that sell knifes to tackle the growing problem of knife crime.

• Introduce fast response police motor cyclists on key transport corridors - as part of the Council funded Safer Travel Team.

Wardens

• Support Neighbourhood & Environmental Wardens who will be the eyes & ears for the local community and act as witnesses when required.

Local services - Liberal Democrats key policy points:

Liberal Democrats are committed to devolving powers to local communities in the belief that local people know what is best for the area in which they live. Devolving power ensures that local services reflect local needs. It also ensures that Council services can be effectively monitored.

Powers have been given to local elected representatives who work with police, Health Authorities and voluntary organisations to ensure that improvements made in local communities are based on local needs and aspirations.

We are committed to making devolution work & will continue to develop this further by devolving additional services to local communities.

Setting local priorities

• Ensure that the money allocated to the Working Neighbourhoods fund tackles worklessness in the most deprived areas of the city.

• Developing local action plans by listening to community priorities ensuring that local views are on the "agenda for action".

• Monitoring the standards of community services and deciding local priorities, by working with Ward Advisory Boards and community groups.

• Making effective decisions regarding spending priorities that meet the requirements of the local action plan.

• Introducing annual district reports for all devolved services. This will ensure that service standards are met and a cost effective service is delivered.

• Actively monitor local Service Level Agreements to ensure that a quality service is provided.

• Introducing good practice monitoring of local decisions to share success and to constantly develop good practice across all districts in the City.

Working with local people

• Positively reacting to and taking action upon independent annual surveys & listening to and acting upon local views.

• Providing funds for a Community Chest budget which will support worthwhile locally identified projects.

• Encourage local people to become actively involved in area/district committees and ward advisory boards.

Easing congestion - Liberal Democrats key policy points:

Liberal Democrats recognise that congestion in getting worse in Birmingham. To do nothing to tackle the problem of congestion is not an option. We want to see the Council take a leading role in encouraging the public to use all forms of public transport.

Liberal Democrats will also ensure that Birmingham people are fully involved in consultations on any proposals regarding congestion charging and would want a public referendum to be held if a charging scheme was proposed.

Liberal Democrats are committed to encouraging people to use bicycles that provide a healthy and carbon free form of personal transport.

RAILWAYS

We support the development of New Street station. We will support the creation of new passenger lines by developing the unused infrastructure that exists throughout the city.

We will challenge rail companies to provide reliable services.

BUSES

Bus companies should operate in the public interest. Liberal Democrats have taken a lead role in working in partnership to address the decline in bus use. This has seen increase of up to 10% in patronage on new partnership routes.

We support the creation of fast new round city routes. We believe it is worth attempting this through partnership but would support quality contracts if necessary or if there was need for public accountability over the levels of bus fares.

Further showcase schemes, and Punctuality Improvement Partnerships should be introduced.

We fully support increasing the numbers of Safer Travel police officers and marshals on buses and at bus stops.

CAR CLUBS

We will encourage the development of car clubs which will ease congestion and reduce CO2 emissions.

CYCLING & WALKING

A focus should be given to ensuring that it is safe to cycle and walk by creating more cycle routes & making appropriate changes to road junctions. We would also look a making it safer to walk especially to schools & shopping centres.

Investigate introducing "Paris style" cycle hire schemes in the city centre and the inner central zone to encourage the use of environmentally friendly transport.

RED ROUTES

We will ensure that all Red Routes are focused upon improving bus reliability and reducing congestion.

METRO & MASS RAPID TRANSPORT

This may include Metro services where appropriate. Bus rapid transport could also offer cost effective solutions on some routes as could tram-train. We support strategic flexibility, especially in the light of the development of the Airport.

CONGESTION CHARGING

The introduction of congestion charging is a contentious issue. We are committed to fully participating in the national debate and ensuring that if charges are introduced they meet local needs & are fairly applied. Charges should be the last resort and carefully applied if other measures are ineffective in switching traffic from vehicle to public transport & reducing carbon emission levels.

Environmental action - Liberal Democrats key policy

Liberal Democrats have championed the use of combined heat & power plants and will seek to expand their use.

Three hundred homes will benefit from the fitting of domestic wind turbines and solar panels which will reduce carbon emissions and energy bills. We are committed to expanding schemes of this nature.

Birmingham has increased the recycling rate in the last year but much more needs to be done to encourage people to recycle more if the City is to reach its ambitions for recycling.

Keeping the city & local streets clean is a top priority. We will take tough action on those who litter and dump rubbish.

Via the localisation programme we will encourage districts to fund clean up initiatives such as the provision of additional litter bins, deep cleans of local shopping centres and removal of chewing gum from local streets.

Recycling, clean up's & street cleaning

• Taking stronger action against people who fly tip waste by ensuring that successful prosecutions follow. This will keep our open land streets & parks cleaner and free from dumped rubbish.

• Continue increase the overall recycling rate which will reduce landfill and incineration costs.

• Fund more local clean up initiatives, targeting litter hotspots.

• Expand to all homes the kerbside collection service.

• Move towards area based cleaning teams removing historical demarcations.

• Take stronger action to prosecute people who drop litter, graffiti. flypost and let their dogs foul the streets.

• Expand kerbside collections to include Tetra Paks and domestic batteries. This will increase the overall recycling rate and the number of items collected for recycling.

• Provide paper, cans and bottle recycling facilities in shopping

areas to enable shoppers to recycle as they shop.

• Maintain the Environmental Crime Team and community wardens.

• Ensure that the Council has an well resourced and effective graffiti removal teams.

• Following a successful pilot scheme in Springfield Ward provide teams of dedicated pest control officers in areas of high rat population.

Protecting our environment

• Increase the number of Council vehicles using Bio fuel to assist with the protection of our environment.

• Encourage the manufacture of green technology in the city which will reduce unemployment and help our manufacturing base to diversify.

• Increase the production of green energy by pressing the Government for tax or grant incentives for people who install solar panels and domestic wind turbines.

An efficient Council - Liberal Democrats key policy points:

Birmingham people have given a vote of confidence our management of the City with our partners.

In a recent survey 67% of people said they were satisfied with the way the council's run.

The Council Tax increase has been kept below the rate of inflation for the last four years.

We have made progress in improving essential services and have been awarded performance stars in social care and housing by independent inspectors.

A more efficient council

• Keep the council tax as low as possible.

• The joint venture with Capita has started to transform the efficiency of the Council, reducing back office costs, & redirecting resources towards service improvements.

• Continue to improve the way in which the council buys goods and services in order to deliver further financial savings.

• Reduce the number of staff days lost to sickness.

• Constantly monitor council spending to ensure that your money is spent wisely.

• The introduction of an Audit Committee will deliver the highest standards of governance and public accountability.

Providing quality services

• We will further develop quality by

• Introducing mystery customers so that effective monitoring can be undertaken of services and the response to customers complaints.

• Work towards introducing a single phone number call centre to deal with all enquiries and make it easy to contact the Council.

• Constantly monitor service provision to ensure that standards are being met

and take action to make improvements where necessary.

• Further develop a customer first approach by encouraging council staff to report problems and issues as they go about their daily work.

• Developing a customer led attitude to service provision by listening to Birmingham residents about the quality of service provided , ensuring that customer care is paramount.

• Undertaking further residents surveys on key services and react positively to any identified service delivery shortfalls.

Celebrating diversity

Birmingham is a strong diverse community, including people of many faiths and none, people of different ages and backgrounds. It is a richer society as a result - culturally, socially and economically. Liberal Democrats embrace Birmingham's diversity and celebrate it.

The Liberal Democrats are now seen as the leading proponent of politics calling for tolerance and respect for human rights, both at home and aboard. We believe that opportunity and freedom for all are not just slogans, but need to be put into practice in local decision making.

Liberal Democrats are committed to real equal opportunities and eradicating discrimination on grounds of race, religion, gender, age, disability or sexuality.

In all areas of our work and the council's we will uphold these principles.

We are committed to working with individuals and representatives of community groups to ensure that everyone gets fair treatment, has their voice heard and that our community continues to live in harmony.

We are proud to be the local representatives of the party that opposed the war in Iraq right from the start.

Liberal Democrat Councillors working for YOU

Most of this manifesto concerns specific policy pledges for the Council and its services. However all Liberal Democrat Councillors are committed to serving your, your community and your neighbourhood.

Liberal Democrat Councillors will:

● be a strong & proactive representative for you and your area.

● hold regular advice surgeries in the ward.

● produce regular Focus leaflets (paid for by the Liberal Democrats) to report back on actions taken on your behalf.

● regularly attend community events and meetings of local organisations.