Liberal Democrat Manifesto

Liberal Democrats for Local Democracy.

The Liberal Democrats are the official opposition to Labour on Oxford City Council. We believe that, whatever one thinks of the Labour government nationally, Labour here in Oxford is not working. We follow a policy of constructive opposition - where Labour makes sense, we support them.

We think that local people should be made to feel that the Council is working for them, not against them, that it is not indifferent to their views. These are our proposals to bring Oxford City Council closer to the people it is meant to serve.

Time for a change!

Labour has run Oxford City Council now for 18 years - as long as the Conservatives ran the country until last May. And like the Conservatives, they do so on a minority of the vote. The unfairness of the first-past-the-post system can be seen by looking at the comparison between the number of votes cast for each party city-wide and the number of seats they hold on the City Council. Labour has an artificial majority thanks to the voting system.

Democracy does not mean majority rule. It means rule by the whole people, not one part of the people. It relies on open debate, persuasion and compromise. But on the City Council, policy is made behind closed doors in Labour group meetings - debate in Council and Commitees is often meaningless, as decisions have already been taken without the scrutiny of the opposition and the media. What Oxford has now is one-party government without meaningful debate or accountability. Liberal Democrats believe this is wrong - decisions should be taken openly in Council.

Bringing the Council nearer to the people

Partly because Labour can do as it likes, Liberal Democrats believe the City Council is remote from ordinary people. Councillors spend too much time in endless committee meetings, not enough in their wards. The committee system itself is complex when seen from outside. Too many decisions are taken centrally. Too little power devolves to local communities.

Liberal Democrats would:

Handing power back to the people

Liberal Democrats believe that local communities should have more say in their own affairs. For this to happen, the Labour government must change the framework within which local authorities operate.

We would like to see:

We support the Nolan Committee's recommendations that local councils should make it easier for people with full time jobs to be councillors, by co-operating with local employers and organising times of meetings more carefully. Oxford is a multi-faceted city, with its ethnic communities, its two universities and thousands of students and many other local groups - we believe all groups should be represented on the City Council.

In three by-elections in Oxford last September, Liberal Democrats won two seats from Labour in east Oxford and failed by just one vote to gain a third. There is now nowhere in Oxford City where we cannot win. We intend to build on our successes this May to bring Oxford's local democracy closer to local people.

Housing

There are over 9,500 Council-owned homes in Oxford. Of these, 35% do not have any form of central heating; 36,000 repairs need to be done each year, and the number is inceasing. 11% are statutorily unfit, according to the Council's own survey. £80 million is needed over 15 years for repairs, maintenance and improvements.

Environment and Transport

Oxford's traffic congestion remains the city's greatest problem. Environmental objectives are not sufficiently covered in every area of Council policy.

Liberal Democrats want Oxford to look better, smell better and feel better.

Older People / Pensioners

Too often the concerns of older people are marginalised and their voice is not heard. Liberal Democrats believe that everyone in Britain should be able to look forward to a retirement of security, opportunity and dignity.

Economic development

Liberal Democrats believe that the economy and the environment must be considered together and that a commitment to environmental sustainability can lead to economic opportunities and increased prosperity.

Liberal Democrats believe that a commitment to innovation and high standards in education is crucial to economic success and that many innovative ideas and new jobs are best generated by small and medium sized businesses

Young People

Lack of youth facilities and of wider opportunities can cause boredom and frustration. Liberal Democrats value young people and want to involve them in the community. We are committed to guaranteeing young people their rights and recognising them as full citizens.

Planning for the Future

The planning system appears to the general public to be arbitrary and bureaucratic. Liberal Democrats believe that we should increase public understanding of planning issues by improved methods of consultation, and extend access to information.

Community Safety

Liberal Democrats believe in taking practical measures to rebuild our communities, tackle the causes of crime, reduce homelessness and make people safer in their homes and on the streets.

Five reasons to vote Liberal Democrat in this year's City Council elections:

1) Liberal Democrats are the official opposition to Labour and the only growing party on the Council.

2) Liberal Democrats believe in handing power down to the people, not concentrating it in the Town Hall.

3) Liberal Democrats have a proud record of protecting Oxford's open spaces, and have pledged to continue to do so.

4) Liberal Democrats are fighting for Oxford's neglected housing stock to be improved and better managed.

5)Liberal Democrats would implement measures to make Oxford a safer and more welcoming place.

Liberal Democrats for Local Democracy