Coventry Conservatives have unveiled five key pledges ahead of this year’s local elections on Thursday 2nd May. They’ve based the pledges on the feedback they’ve had from residents. And they believe people in the city are ready for change at this year’s elections which take place on Thursday 2nd May.
Their ‘Plan for Coventry’ sets out how a Conservative administration would:
- Deliver sound financial management
- Improve transparency in decision making
- Deliver better services
- Make the city greener
- Create jobs and economic growth
Conservatives say Labour has brought the city to the brink of bankruptcy during their 14 years in power. Over that period council tax has rocketed by more than 40% while taxpayer’s money has been squandered on risky investments. In many cases the Council has borrowed to fund these acquisitions and the city’s debt stands at more than £300m.
One example of these failed investments is Coombe Abbey Hotel Since it was purchased by the Council it has lost £9 million in value. Last year it made a loss of around £1.4m – equivalent to a 1% council tax rise. This fact was only revealed when the information was leaked to the media last year and Conservative councillors have pledged to be more transparent, taking more decisions in public.
Conservatives would review a range of poorly performing assets and focus on reducing debts, resulting in lower interest payments freeing up funding for services. They would set up an ‘AI’ taskforce to look at ways the Council can improve service delivery in a more efficient way. And they would also consult on ways to make the city’s ‘tip’ more accessible and improve highways.
As part of their plan to make the city greener the Conservatives have pledged to introduce a dedicated Cabinet Member for Climate Change within the first 100 days. They would also consult the public on the introduction of a plastic-bottle recycling scheme. They would pursue a ‘brownfield first’ approach to housing delivery and save Coundon Wedge from further housing development.
To create jobs and growth they would introduce a general duty to consider how each council decision contributes to regeneration and job creation. Other notable pledges include:
Seeking a city-wide injunction to disperse illegal traveller encampments
- Block a workplace parking levy dubbed a ‘commuters’ tax’.
- A plan to make Coventry a ‘bee-friendly city’ by rewilding and planting more blossom trees in the city centre
- improve bereavement services for faith communities in the city.
- give residents a greater say on how section 106 money is spent.
Commenting on the launch of the Plan for Coventry, Cllr Gary Ridley the Leader of the Conservative Group at the Council said: “Labour’s secretive legacy in power is higher taxes, more debt and poorer services. This can and must change. Under our leadership we will improve services, deliver sound financial management, protect the greenbelt, and create the jobs that people need. We will not take one penny more from taxpayers than is needed and we will restore transparency by taking more decisions in public. We will put the people of Coventry first and restore this once great city.”
The Conservatives are fielding candidates in all 18 wards across the city making them the only serious alternative to Labour on Thursday 2nd May.
The full manifesto is available to download here:
