Labour - key issues
BUILDING ON
OUR SUCCESS
A Better Future for Our Young People
Labour believes education must give everyone the chance to fulfil his or her potential.
To date Labour has:
· Dramatically improved literacy & numeracy in Oxfordshire's schools
· Cut the number of 5, 6 & 7 year olds in Oxfordshire in classes
of over 30 from 2967 in 1997 to zero.
· Increased schools budgets in 1999 over and above inflation for the
first time since 1990.
· For the third year running increased schools budgets.
· Increased the number of Youth Workers and thereby the services available
for young people.
Additionally Labour
will:
· Cut classes to 30 for 7-11 year olds
· Increase the number of class-based Learning Support assistants
· Give teachers more time to teach by providing extra administrative
support
· Prepare for the Government's 'Youth Card' scheme and continue its
support for 16-19 year olds through subsidising transport costs
· Increase learning opportunities for young people outside normal school
hours
· Expand provision of free nursery places for 3 year olds
A Labour County will put schools first in the belief that the education authority's role is to enhance and support the work of schools with the full participation of parents and governors.
Schools' Reorganisation
in Oxford
Labour supports the decision to move from a three- tier to a two-tier school
system in Oxford City. It does so in the belief that it will improve the educational
chances for city children.
During the transition
to a two-tier system, Labour is committed to ensuring the continued academic
and social well-being of all
pupils in city schools.
Labour Caring Countywide
The Labour Group has highlighted the need to reform the way funding is allocated to Social Services, and argued for a change to council tax bands to release extra cash for social care.
However, it is a fact that the demand for social care is growing. Labour will ensure that the Oxfordshire's Social Services will promote independence and equality of access and forward planning. Additional money will be available from a Labour Government for these schemes.
Labour already has:
· Stopped finance-driven cuts to Social Services.
· Increased funding for Children's Services.
· Saved respite centres from closure.
· Saved Day Centres from closure.
Labour will:
§ Promote the accessibility of Social Services
· Enable older people to live independently at home
· Further develop our strategy to help carers, both young and old
· Ensure children in care leave school with the same life chances as
other children
· Promote the rights of and improve facilities for disabled people
· Continue to pursue an anti-poverty policy, in partnership with other
key bodies
A Successful Local Economy - A True Centre of Excellence
Labour will take measures to sustain the successful local economy enjoyed in Oxfordshire, balancing the needs of the economy with the needs of the community.
Labour has:
· Cut unemployment to its lowest level in 25 years.
· Increased funding for Adult Education.
· Made more funds available for vocational training.
Labour will:
· Extend, in partnership with District Councils and others, a common
policy on affordable housing.
· Encourage co-operative enterprises in the county
· Promote new banking services for all residents of Oxfordshire
· Maintain and improve social inclusion measures
Enjoying Your Leisure
Labour's Cultural Service Strategy is aimed at all members of the community, in all parts of the county in terms of accessibility and availability.
Labour has:
· Increased library opening hours.
· Increased funding for new books & periodicals in libraries.
· Increased funding for footpath and bridleway maintenance.
· Increased access to the countryside.
Labour will:
· Improve access to the library service through better design for wheelchair
and pushchair users
· Enhance loan provision for people with sensory impairment
· Support local voluntary groups in the implementation of the Cultural
Service Strategy.
· Enhance the 'Sports in Schools' programme, and make sport more available
for disabled people.
· Ensure land use planning is linked to wider sports planning
· Encourage school grounds and facilities to be shared with sport in
the community
· Embark on an awareness programme to ensure that the arts and sports
events in the county are brought to the attention of the residents of the
county
· Nurture emerging musical talent by expanding the county's music service
Securing A Safer Community
Labour is committed to building a safe community in partnership with the police and other relevant agencies. They will ensure a better deal for the consumer by building on the Beacon Status achievements of the Trading Standards Department.
Labour has:
· Cut crime in Oxfordshire. In the period 1999-2000 recorded crime
fell by 8.8%
· Put more police 'on the beat' - 132 extra officers since March 1998
· Allocated funding for additional firefighters
Labour will:
· Ensure that Fire Safety Planning is available to all households
· Implement measures to reduce deaths through vehicle fires
· Expand the Fire Cadet Service to enable young people to play an active
role in the community
· Cut down opportunities for children to purchase alcohol and cigarettes
· Develop and implement a Community Safety Strategy which will include
targeting disruptive and anti-social behaviour, including domestic violence
· Clamp down on rogue traders
Our Environment
Labour is committed to improving our environment by implementing measures to minimise the effects of pollution, and devising a responsible and effective waste management strategy. In addition, Labour will work for a fully integrated public and private transport system that works for benefit of all its users. Ensuring that proper sustainability is at the root of all our decision making.
Labour has:
· Invested in public transport in rural and urban areas
· Made the county more accessible to its residents
· Increased funding for highways maintenance
· Increased funding for pavement maintenance
· Tackled the problem of road congestion through and improved traffic
management, including appropriate speed limits.
Labour will
· Take steps to ensure that the county meets all emission/anti-pollution
targets
· Agree a responsible and effective waste management strategy
· Increase access to an hourly bus service within a 10 minute walk
of households in rural areas
· Extend community led road safety planning with wide consultation
on the introduction of 'Home Zones'
· Ensure that failed roads are brought up to standard as soon as possible
· Promote the Sustrans cycle network
· Take into account the needs and views of disabled people on planning
issues
· Balance environmental and economic need when reviewing housebuilding
demand in the county, including a study of the feasibility of building a new
town in Oxfordshire
· Ensure that flood warnings are given in good time so that effective
preventative action may be taken
· Minimise impact of the relocation of the Radcliffe Infirmary in order
to improve transport and reduce congestion
A Conservative County Council would cut your vital services. The evidence
is clear - in their last budget they refused to fund: the Youth Service expansion,
new Adult Education courses, the 6th Form Schools Budget, more Public Transport,
Rights of Way and Village Hall grants.
The Tories Cut
The Lib Dems 'promise'
ONLY LABOUR DELIVERS