Liberal Democrats Unveil Manifesto

Islington's Liberal Democrats today unveil their manifesto for the May local elections, setting out their proposed programme for the Council for the next four years.

It sets out the Liberal Democrat programme in each of a wide range of areas - including on tackling crime, making Islington greener, improving services while giving better value for money - and sets out 183 specific things the Lib Dems plan to do and can be judged against in four years time.

The proposals include:

Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour

. impose Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) where appropriate, putting a stop to those who commit anti-social behaviour

. link both ASBOs and ABCs - through 'ASBO Plus' and 'ABC Plus' - to appropriate support to guide those who commit anti-social behaviour towards better behaviour

. where it will help catch criminals, install more CCTV cameras

. carry out an annual programme of capital investment in security on estates

. impose parenting orders when what's needed is parents taking closer responsibility for their children

. evict those persistently guilty of anti-social behaviour

. install more than 100 new entryphone systems in housing blocks

Improving the local environment

. carry out a wide range of activities to improve the A1, including tackling graffiti and flyposting, put money into public spaces such as gardens and parks, remove unnecessary poles and street furniture, refurbish historic shop fronts, and invest in CCTV and local 'town centre' schemes

. introduce a 'local wire' solar energy generator to provide greener, more reliable and cheaper electricity to residents

. set up a scheme to enable residents to look after communal gardens

. prosecute those who dump rubbish illegally

. remove all graffiti within a maximum of one week, and within 24 hours if it contains racist or offensive language

. remove all abandoned cars within 24 hours of them being reported

Make the Council more responsive

. expand Contact Islington into a 24 hours a day, 7 day service, and the range of services it can provide

. introduce a simple mechanism for residents to say after using a council service whether we were happy or not with it

. monitor the performance of services in local areas through Area Committees

Transforming the local environment

. develop plans to transform the Archway area, improving the buildings, community facilities and transport links in the most northern part of the Borough, in consultation with the local community

. require the managers of major development projects to provide a full-time official responsible for answering residents' queries and communicating with them

More housing

. ensure that 50% of the units in all new large housing developments are affordable for local people

. lobby the Government to end the huge re-charge bills to leaseholders

Improving education

. open Islington's first new secondary school for the 21st century, the St Mary Magdalene Academy, in September 2007

. guarantee a place in education or training for every school-leaver, by 2012

. open 16 new Childrens Centres, some run by voluntary organisations, some run by schools and some created from our highly-regarded nurseries and early years centres

Supporting the Community

. develop a credit union - allowing all residents to save together and provide low-interest loans for people who need them, helping to tackle poverty

. introduce an online public directory of adult social care services, modelled on our successful Childrens Directory

Councillor Steve Hitchins, Leader of Islington Liberal Democrats, said

"We have a clear vision for how we want to develop One Islington, which we set out in this manifesto - and I invite any resident to read it and hold us to it.

"The Liberal Democrats have already transformed Islington Council and this now sets out our vision to make our Council and our Borough even better - in all areas. This manifesto sets out our plans for improvement in every area - from making our public open spaces greener and more pleasant, to tackling crime and anti-social behaviour - and from education to support for the most vulnerable members of our community.

"The Liberal Democrats' vision for Islington, and for the role of Islington Council, is of 'One Islington', where:

. every resident has the greatest freedom and control over their own lives possible

. Islington's many and diverse communities co-exist productively together

. as the democratically elected body, Islington Council takes the lead in working in partnership with all local organisations to empower communities and residents

. and together we deliver high quality, universally accessible, value for money, democratically accountable public services"

The manifesto comes on top of the seven headline pledges the Lib Dems launched last week, which are:

Over the next four years your Liberal Democrat Council will:

. Keep your council tax below the London average

. Rebuild or refurbish all our secondary schools

. Freeze the cost of a residents' parking permit

. Help children learn to swim, through free swimming lessons in school holidays

. Ensure at least 4,000 new homes

. Help council leaseholders pay their bills for large improvements

. Create more green space

Related Links

• The manifesto in full