The Liberal Democrats have today launched their full manifesto for the Northamptonshire County Council elections on May 2.
The party said “Getting Northamptonshire Working” had four main themes, with a green environmental thread running through it.
They include a “A Fairer Start” to try to create better jobs, get more young people into work and to attract investment and green jobs and “Safer Streets” which would push for the restoration of streetlights, the protection of frontline policing and a pledge to fix roads and pavements.
They will also be fighting to protect libraries and children’s centres, to stop Conservative cuts to the voluntary sector and to “root out” the abuse of people in care.
And the Lib Dems will also be pushing to cut what the party calls “Tory waste”, including axing the £2m-a-year Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership which runs a controversial office in Brussels, slashing top councillors’ pay and fighting what it labels as “Conservative Police Commissioner cronyism”.
Councillor Brendan Glynane, leader of the group at County Hall, said “Northamptonshire Conservatives have made the wrong choices over the last eight years, cutting vital frontline services whilst wasting £millions of taxpayers cash. The Liberal Democrats are determined to get Northamptonshire working.
“We are putting the environment at the heart of what we will do. In particular our plan for a solar farm to generate jobs and green energy is a great example of how we can increase opportunities for young people, tackle climate change and create an income for the hard-pressed taxpayers of Northamptonshire. We will also work with others to increase renewable energy and cycling, and tackle flooding.”
He added; “The Conservatives have plunged our streets into darkness and broken manifesto promises by cutting PCSOs. The Liberal Democrats will restore streetlights and protect frontline policing. We will fix roads and pavements, and take action to reduce deaths on our roads, which have doubled in the last year since the Conservatives slashed funds for Casualty Reduction and switched off speed cameras.”
On Tory “waste”, Councillor Glynane said his party recognised that “money doesn’t grow on trees”, but the Conservatives had nevertheless wasted £6m on a quango with an office in Brussels, while at the same time spending £80,000 in three years on travel expenses for the Cabinet alone.
He added: “Finally, the Liberal Democrats will only raise Council Tax as a last resort to protect vital frontline services. If we do have to raise taxes we will not raise them more than inflation. The Liberal Democrats believe that we can get Northamptonshire working again, and we are determined to do just that.”
The Lib Dems currently have 10 councillors on the 73-strong authority although only 57 seats will be contested this time following a boundary review.