Labour's local election manifesto |
Cllr Colin Ellar unveils party plans for Hounslow
Preface: Cllr. Colin Ellar, Leader of the Council London is one of the world’s great cities characterised by its economic vibrancy, its diversity and its ability to adapt and transform to the needs of the moment. West London is a place of prosperity and diversity, transport corridors ancient and modern, historic residencies alongside stunning new developments and architecture.
In many ways Hounslow is typical of London but unique at the same time. It is a place of opportunity where jobs are plentiful if not always well rewarded. It hosts families from all over Britain, Europe and the World that choose to live their lives in the historic villages and townships that make up the Borough of Hounslow today.
The Hounslow Labour Party shares a vision of a dynamic multicultural population living in an area that offers modernity and tradition side by side. We are a successful community of communities that value each other’s history and future, and can continue to build on our opportunities together.
I am proud to have served the people of Hounslow as Deputy Leader and Leader of a Labour Administration over the last four years. Your local labour representatives have a very long history of providing good quality local services to all the community, responding to local needs and issues and offering prudent management of taxpayers money.
Under Labour’s leadership Hounslow has delivered a rigorous administration gaining recognition for its overall performance in the national assessment of local councils; achieving level 3, a “good” council and “improving well”. We have gained a reputation for sound financial management and value for money, as well as leading the country in the efficiency savings we were able to make.
We see growing day by day a modern transformation and regeneration in the Town Centres of Feltham, Hounslow and Brentford.. These are developments where people can live in modern housing near to new shopping facilities and amenities like libraries, cinemas and health centres.
Many of the new developments have substantial numbers of new jobs being created for local people in an effort to maintain the robustness of the local economy and to open up every opportunity for our young people to find the first rung on the ladder to a successful career.
Our vision is a Hounslow where our children will not have to leave the area to find rewarding work and that the best local companies will open their doors to the well educated and able students and graduates of tomorrow.
Labour Councillors know that our schools are the engine for our children’s future prosperity. With generous year on year increases of funding from a Labour Government, we have been able to see unprecedented improvement to the exam results in our schools. More young people are getting the benefits of an all round education, with record numbers in 6th forms and going to University alongside many choosing to improve their employment chances by using modern apprenticeships and vocational opportunities in our Skills Centre.
We know sports are important to all sections of the community and much work has been done to promote sports in the Borough and improve the facilities on offer. With the Olympics coming to our city in 2012 every effort is being made to harness the opportunities it will present to promote increased tourism and employment.
We have seen Hounslow Homes be recognised as one of the best providers of housing management in the country. Our Supporting People service for vulnerable people in their own homes likewise was awarded the highest accolades by independent inspectors. We have also seen our Home Care Service get recognition for being one of the best in England with glowing reports of the commitment and high standards from our carers.
The Labour Party has always had a strong voice to defend the interests of the many, not the few, to care for the welfare of ordinary people and try to improve their quality of life. Hounslow has gained a reputation for excellence in how it cares for the less well off, the vulnerable and the elderly among our residents.
This manifesto is a statement of our values and achievements as members of the Labour Party, which we are confident are values that will be shared by the voters of the Borough of Hounslow. We share our vision of a London Borough with modern housing, retail and employment opportunities. We see our ambitions for your children as the same as your ambitions and that you will trust us to educate and inspire them, to achieve all of their potential for their generation. We wish to continue to give a high priority to the vulnerable and the less well off by offering quality and value in our support services.
Our manifesto is our pledge to serve the wishes of the people that live in the Borough of Hounslow with the highest ethics and their best interests at heart. Our ambition for all of our residents is to maintain stability and security through a Labour Administration for the next four years of Hounslow Council.
Cllr. Colin Ellar Our Children and Young People
Hounslow’s schools have seen unprecedented year on year improvements and success with a series of outstanding exam results and consistently high “value added” assessments. This year saw two schools, Crane in Hanworth and Smallberry Green in Isleworth in the top ten among the most improved primary schools in England. For three years Hounslow’s Primary schools have been in the top ten in the country for “value added” and 3rd best nationwide in 2005.
“Education is still our number one priority. At each stage we send a clear message – every child has a right to a good education” (Labour Party Manifesto 2005).
Our schools have seen an unprecedented increase in funding under a Labour Government, rising from £111milliion in 2003 to over £134 million in 2006. Hounslow has also spent £12m on new roofs, replacing mobile classrooms and new heating and air conditioning systems since 2002.
In the three most deprived wards of the Borough Hanworth, Heston East and Cranford we are delivering neighbourhood children’s centres.
Young people are the citizens of tomorrow. We have increased spending on youth services over the last two years and will carry out an audit of all youth facilities in the next administration.
OUR PLEDGES
Crime and Community Safety
Hounslow has achieved dramatic reduction in crime levels through detached youth work in “hot spot “areas. Overall crime is going down with reductions in hate crime, domestic violence and race crime. Hounslow councillors recently invested £30,000 in dome-hawk cameras for a Borough wide mobile wireless CCTV system to make our streets safer.
In a recent survey by the Home Office 9 out of 10 people expressed their confidence in local police.
Hounslow was the first London Borough to use the powers of dispersal under new ASB legislation. We have successfully implemented fourteen Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and more than 60 Acceptable Behaviour Contracts.
The area around Hounslow Town Centre has been designated an alcohol free zone by a collaboration between the Council and the Police Service. Restrictions mean that alcoholic drinks can no longer be consumed in the streets.
Safer Neighbourhood Teams will be in place in every ward from April 2006 to deliver a stable, visible and dedicated local police presence across the Borough.
OUR PLEDGES
Adults and Older People
The welfare of any adults of elderly people that are in need of support or assistance is paramount to the Labour Party. At a national level we have seen tax credits introduced for pensioners in order to ensure they have a guaranteed minimum income.
Pensioners have also received cash payments to assist them with paying winter fuel bills.
“Nearly two million pensioners have been lifted out of absolute poverty as a result of Labour’s measures, which are now getting on average an extra £2,000 a year to the poorest third. …[we are committed to] schemes to build security in retirement, and to extend the quality of life of older people” ( Labour Party Manifesto 2005).
We have begun to develop a modern housing complex to offer Extra Care Sheltered Housing for vulnerable elderly people at the John Aird House site in Brentford. Scheduled for completion in 2007, it will allow older people to live in their own homes with support staff on site.
We deliver a highly prized “Senior’s Matters” programme that helps older people throughout Hounslow stay active and healthy. Elders in the community are involved in planning care services through “finding a voice” events.
We acknowledge and value the voluntary sector role in supporting elders and will continue to work to maintain and develop this partnership.
OUR PLEDGES
Our Environment
Hounslow has had an excellent reputation for its re-cycling initiatives for many years. We have introduced recycling for all houses and apartments and year round garden waste collection.
We have invested an additional £1 million in street scene to make a noticeable difference in how clean our streets are.
We have drastically reduced the problem of abandoned cars in our streets.
The Council working with local residents and Ann Keen, MP for Brentford and Isleworth, have won a major court victory relating to the smells affecting local residents near the Mogden Waste Site.
We are investing in our historic parks and heritage buildings. Working in partnership with bodies like English Heritage we have successfully bid for lottery funding to transform Chiswick House and grounds, and will seek a similar solution for Gunnersbury Park.
We have spent in excess of £4.5 million on road and footways renewal over the last 2 years carrying out over 40 major schemes.
OUR PLEDGES
Our Homes and Housing
Hounslow has one of the best Housing Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMO) in the country. Hounslow Homes has won awards for their performance in providing a quality service to the tenants in affordable housing in Hounslow. Hounslow Homes is the first ALMO in the country to get approval to start to build new homes for residents.
The forward thinking of the Council has led to the investment of over £100 million to bring all our houses up to the “Decent Homes Standard” and this work was completed by March 2006, four years ahead of the Government Target.
Rents have been kept to affordable levels among the lowest in West London for all Council owned properties
OUR PLEDGES
Regeneration and Prosperity
It is the realisable vision of the Labour Party that everyone should be able to find well paid employment. To sustain local prosperity, Hounslow Council has worked with our partners to bring more and better opportunities for employment into the area.
We have developed a Vocational Skills Centre in Feltham in partnership with West Thames College and the Learning and Skills Council to offer practical training to improve the prospects for young people.
In each of our Town Centre regeneration schemes there has been a focus on creating jobs for local people and creating a business friendly environment.
This administration has seen unprecedented levels of regeneration with Feltham Town Centre and Hounslow Town Centre (first phase) both due for completion in 2006.
Hounslow is a strong partner in regional bodies that promote inward investment, such as the West London Alliance and West London Business. We work closely with local business representatives, like the Hounslow Chamber of Commerce, to build a thriving local economy.
Work has begun on the rebuilding of Western International Market, a site that is owned by Hounslow Council. Situated near to Heathrow Airport, this new ‘state of the art’ facility will retain hundreds of jobs in one of London’s largest wholesale food markets.
We have also supported successful commercial developments in Chiswick Park, Brentford Riverside, on the Great West Road and at Bedfont Lakes.
OUR PLEDGES
Leisure and Sports
Labour Councillors have supported the maintenance of a variety of leisure centres throughout the different areas of the Borough.
“Our aim is to increase participation in sport year on year. Central to this is having modern, high-quality facilities close to where people live. £1.5 billion is being invested in sports facilities in every community. By 2008 our aim is that almost everyone will be within 20 minutes of a good multi-sport facility” (Labour Party Manifesto 2005).
We have consistently supported London’s successful bid for the 2012 Olympic and Para-Olympic Games, and will work to ensure that the borough gains the most from the sporting, cultural and community opportunities that planning for such a great event will bring.
New libraries are under construction in Feltham Town Centre and the Beavers Estate, Heston. Free Internet access is available in all Main Libraries and the Service will be upgraded over the next three years.
There has been investment in creating four modern Life-Centre gyms in our leisure centres that has increased usage by 100,000 people per year.
The Labour Administration has supported the creation of a sports forum to promote sport and sporting clubs in the borough.
OUR PLEDGES
March 31, 2006 |