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Working for a Better CambridgeWith the City Conservatives CAMBRIDGE CONSERVATIVE MANIFESTO 2008 INTRODUCTION 1. INTRODUCTION The special nature of Cambridge is due to: Our unique built environment; 2. A BETTER BRITAIN – OUR NATIONAL AND LOCAL PRIORITIES We want better planning to be at the heart of our vision for the City. The characteristics that make Cambridge an economic, academic and cultural success must be promoted. Unsustainable schemes like the current Eastern Development will be opposed; and building that is out of character, for example by demanding more than five storeys, will be opposed. We want better transport to enable the city’s economy to prosper. This means working with the county council for improvements. We will, however, oppose congestion charging as being unfair, expensive and intrusive. We want to improve housing in the city, but not in ways that are divisive or unsustainable in the long-term. We will ensure that tenants rights are respected and their responsibilities enforced. We will crack down on anti-social tenants. We expect our city to be clean. Regular collection of rubbish and the regular cleaning of streets will be the hallmarks of a Conservative Council. We recognise the pressure on services – such as housing – caused by immigration from other parts of the country and abroad. We will campaign for fairer funding formulas from central government. We will work for efficient services that meet the needs of local people, and we will disregard the ‘tick-in-the-box’ culture that Labour has introduced and which flourishes under the city’s Lib Dem group; we will certainly oppose programmes that would prop up the discredited plans for national ID cards. 3. PUBLIC SERVICES Conservatives believe in deregulation: where unnecessary and burdensome rules are axed; where those rules which remain are enforced; and where the safety nets for society are simplified and strengthened for the greater security for those in need. 4. WORK TOGETHER Conservatives will work with others in the county to develop proper environmental and transport policies for the city and the surrounding villages. We are on the side of those who ask, not unreasonably, for a transport network that can get them to work on time every day. 5. CITY COUNCIL GOVERNANCE Conservatives will provide sufficient resources for the planning department. City planning decisions are at the heart of the council’s long-term impact on peoples’ lives. Conservatives will scrap the area committee system. The fiasco of the Tesco application on Mill Road showed how the planning system is in chaos, and how the area committees are incapable of taking decisions. This is an experiment that has failed. We will look at how residents’ participation can be made more effective and move to timely meetings of a full planning committee. Conservatives will accept the recommendations of the independent panel on councillors’ pay. Conservative Councillors will hold regular surgeries for local residents. Scrutiny Panels that review council policies should be independent of the controlling group. It is a scandal that a ‘crony scrutiny’ system operates on the City Council whereby members of the Liberal Democrat controlling group chair the panels. Conservatives will end the “crony-scrutiny” system and allow members of the opposition to chair the scrutiny panel. Conservatives will not support steps towards a national ID card scheme and will take all legal action to ensure that the Labour scheme is scrapped. 6. A PART OF THE COMMUNITY Conservatives will work in partnership with the city’s statutory and voluntary sector organisations to improve the standards of living and quality of life in the city. Conservatives support the network of post offices and appreciate the role they play in their communities. We will apply pressure to keep post offices open across the city. We will also encourage residents to use these services – a well-used post office is the best defence against closure. We will work for an enhanced leisurecard scheme to give benefits across a range of Council services to local residents and Council taxpayers. 7. TACKLE CRIME Locally, Conservatives support measures to curb crime and anti-social behaviour. Peter Hase in Trumpington has focused his campaign on working with the police to curb petty crime in the area, and looking at how the city can support the police and plan new developments in ways that enable the law abiding majority to live safely. Conservatives campaign for the use of mobile CCTV cameras as well as more permanent CCTV. We will support the police, householders and residents who object to graffiti, litter and cycling on pavements. Bicycle theft is a local issue, so a co-ordinated campaign involving the provision of cycle parking/facilities, the education of users/vendors and crackdowns on the trade in stolen bikes is wanted. Zero tolerance of streetlife-related anti-social behaviour – such as aggressive begging –should be coupled with strong support for agencies providing rehabilitation. 8. EMPLOYMENT Wherever practical, local government red tape would be cut. We will also work with the County Council to ensure that sustainable development takes place and is matched by local employment opportunities. Conservatives would strive to counter Liberal Democrat plans to drive Marshalls and its local, well-paid, skilled employment out of Cambridge. 9. ENVIRONMENT We will promote recycling as part of our commitment to long-term environmental safety. Conservatives support the recycling initiatives and will work with the County Council to improve rates. Conservatives will review those areas where people could be offered rubbish bags as an alternative to bins, and will investigate more local collection sites. We regret the move away from weekly bin collections and would carry out a review to assess how a more regular service can be restored. We would also take note of the potential differing demands for the services in parts of the city before making a final recommendation for change. For many residents, car ownership is an inescapable obligation. The Conservatives will work with residents to provide proper parking areas for local people, especially where grass verges have been used, a custom which is both unsightly and not good for vehicles. We can prevent parking on verges in locally approved zones, at the request of their communities, as well as turning other places into proper parking areas. We will work with South Cambridgeshire District Council to make full use of the leisure opportunities at Milton Park. 10. PLANNING We will review staffing within the City Council carefully to concentrate on key areas such as planning. The City Council’s planning policies have proved ineffective in the face of huge development pressures. Conservatives will call for a review of the system operating in the Planning Department that will prove effective in the appeal process. We will also call for more accountability for section 106 agreements so that when commuted payments are received from developers in lieu of social housing, the money is used to benefit deprived areas in the city rather than being concentrated in certain wards. We are concerned that certain developments, if allowed, would blot the historic skyline of the city. The height of new buildings must be controlled if we are to preserve the views that attract people, and business opportunities, to our city. We need to strengthen planning controls to prevent over-development of suburbs - as recommended by English Heritage. For example, we will encourage a long-term strategy for the future of historic wards that ensures that they retain their integrity and character, or are valued by the local community. We also recognise that the diversity of our city’s wards means that a uniform approach to tackling problems is not appropriate. 11. FINANCE AND LOCAL TAXATION Conservatives will undertake a root-and-branch review of the system for collecting council tax in order to reduce the shortfall in collection under the Liberal Democrats. We will be more transparent about the use of capital reserves and assets to fund spending. The Council should undertake a systematic and thorough audit of its own assets. 12. TRAVELLERS Only the Conservatives opposed the Cowley Road proposed site. The Lib Dems, urged on by Labour, were in favour. The scheme was dropped when the council admitted that it would not give value for money – exactly the reason for not going ahead given by the Conservatives four months earlier. We will continue to oppose the proposed travellers’ sites; we would consider their inclusion in future developments when they can be properly planned and proper provision made. We have to reach a position where we respect the rights of the settled community as well as the travelling community - one group of the community should not be able to override the rights of another. We will work with surrounding authorities and the County to find appropriate sites. 13. GREEN BELT & EASTERN DEVELOPMENT Conservatives believe that the crucial purpose of the Green Belt is to prevent any development that would contribute to urban sprawl and encourage surrounding villages to be absorbed into a Greater Cambridge. “Scenic quality” must not be used as an excuse for allowing land to be taken out of the Green Belt. Conservatives oppose the building of 11-12,000 homes on the airport site. The area is not accessible by rail and would require major road building to overcome congestion. Conservatives in the City agree with Labour councillors in the City that the Cambridge East development is impractical. We regret that Labour propagates the myth that we are in favour of the development and call on them to retract these statements. 14. CITY HOUSING Conservatives will crack down on anti-social tenants. For example, we support the demands from East Chesterton residents that gardens are kept in order and that tenants are held to account for the condition of their properties – all as part of their existing tenancy agreements. Improvements to sheltered and special accommodation should receive high priority, and the work requires a realistic timescale. Conservatives believe that special attention should be paid to renovations in historically sensitive parts of the town. The wishes of residents should be taken into account especially where ‘improvements’, for example PVC Windows, are not in character with the neighbourhood. 15. TRANSPORT Conservatives support measures to tackle congestion - such as improvements in public transport, walking and cycling. We do not support a congestion charge and believe that the TIF bid – which makes charging compulsory – is wrong. Electing Conservative Councillors would ensure that the Conservative Group on the county would hear directly the voice of those opposed to charging and not the Lib Dems or Labour who are in favour in principle and whose colleagues on the City Council first called for road pricing. Conservatives support the plans for improvements to transport across the County. New homes should only be approved when the plans also show that the existing and proposed roads can cope. Conservatives support the successful Park & Ride scheme; we welcome its expansion so that City centre businesses can thrive while congestion is limited. Conservatives support the Guided bus. We will work with the County Council and central government to make it a success. We agree with the Cambridge Evening News editorial: “The debate about whether it should go ahead is done and dusted, and construction is under way… We must all get behind it and try to make it the success we need it to be” (CEN 07/03/07) Conservatives support the proposed Chesterton Rail Interchange. The Riverside Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge was welcomed – the first new bridge over the river Cam for 40 years. We will work with other parties where public safety is an issue. The joint petition between Labour and Conservative councillors (the latter from South Cambs District Council) asked for action on the dangerous Lime Kiln Hill road. It attracted more than 300 signatures but was turned down by the Lib Dem-dominated City-County traffic management committee. We will continue to press for safety measures including a lorry ban, traffic calming and 30mph speed restrictions. 16. CYCLING Conservatives will: Work with the County Council and undertake a complete audit of cycle lane routes – identifying gaps in provision, underused lanes and dangerous pathways. Signage of city cycle routes can be confusing and poorly maintained. This needs to be improved. Ask for reviews of speed limits on roads; taking into account the provision of cycle lanes, use of the road by cyclists and the accident rate. Ask the government to remove rigid Whitehall targets for the introduction of new cycle lanes and allow us the discretion to spend money on cycling as we determine – such as providing better information on existing cycle routes and the proper promotion of cycling training in schools. Ensure provision for secure storage of bicycles is included in proposed railway redevelopment programmes. 17. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Conservatives will look at issues in those wards where there are large student populations to see if changes or improvements are needed: for example safe cycle access to the centre, street lighting, late-night venues – their type and their licensing – access to leisure facilities and public transport. Conservatives will work with colleagues on the County Council to ensure that schools here meet the best standards, and that the teachers who make this possible are accorded respect and thanks. City Conservatives
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