Lib Dems set the agenda

Southampton Lib Dem team work hard for you all year round

In the last four years in Southampton Liberal Democrats have formed the administration of the City council although at no time have we had majority control of the council working in the difficult situation of a minority administration. Despite this we have achieved major improvements for the people of Southampton in the way their city is run and its prospects for the future.

These Lib Dem achievements are across the full range is council services and can be split down into 11 key areas :-

• Value for Your Money
• Serving People Better
• A Safer City
• Improving the Neighbourhood Street Scene
• Respecting our Environment
• Better Transport
• Quality Leisure
• A Prosperous City
• Life Long Learning
• Decent Homes
• A Caring City

On getting best "Value for Your Money" your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• 2006-7 Council Tax increase of 3.3%, lowest since unitary status in 1997.
• Lib Dems' Council Tax increases 2003-7 add up to less than 18% - compared to nearly 19% in Labour's last year.
• More than £24M savings identified since 2003, including significant savings from restructuring council services.

To get the council "Serving People Better" your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• 'Good Council, improving well' rating confirmed by independent watchdog, the Audit Commission, with improved point score year by year
• Independent MORI survey shows more citizens satisfied with Council services - Southampton in top 25% of councils - 56% of residents satisfied with the overall job done by Council, compared to 52% in 2003 and 49% average for unitary authorities.
• Audit Commission rates Southampton a 'low cost Council'.
• Gateway one-stop shop opened.
• All key decisions now made in public and after consultation.

To make Southampton "A Safer City" your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• millions of pounds found to back our Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, including more money for 17 City Patrol officers.
• Independent audit shows Southampton's City Safety service best in the country
• Southampton chosen for Government flagship Respect programme
• Alcohol free zone established in city centre - now to be extended city wide.
• Award winning Junior Neighbourhood Wardens scheme rolled out.
• Extra money for Play and Youth Services
• Parenting initiative introduced.
• Appropriate use of new powers, including ASBOs, ABCs and Dispersal Orders.

On "Improving the Neighbourhood Street Scene" your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• An £18.5 millions 5-year programme to reverse years of neglect of our roads and pavements
• A blitz on litter, graffiti and anti-social behaviour through regular CREW weeks
• A major initiative to improve front-line services, from pavement repairs to litter, graffiti and abandoned cars, through local neighbourhood teams.
• Residential Design Guide adopted to improve building quality across the city.
• 700 new street lighting columns installed.
• Proportion of people satisfied with cleanliness of their area up from 54 to 71%.

On "Respecting our Environment" your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• Environment and Transport Directorate jumps from 1 star 'poor' under Labour to 4 star 'excellent' rating under Lib Dems.
• Recycling raised from 11% to 26% across the city - 35% in the first areas to pilot the new alternative weekly collection twin-bin service, before halted by Opposition.
• Southampton wins top national award for recycling
• Free green waste collection instituted
• Missed bins down sharply
• Green Apple Gold Award for Council's Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy.

On providing "Better Transport" your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• Senior citizens' free bus pass successfully introduced.
• New and cleaner bus shelter
• Real-time bus information rolled out.
• Additional parking spaces created in residential areas, eg Bitterne Park and Coxford.

On providing "Quality Leisure" services your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• City Walls Walk reopened, lottery grant for repairs to Tudor House secured.
• regular markets, including Farmers Markets, launched in High Street.
• German Christmas market and Christmas ice rink introduced along with improved Christmas lights
• Southampton Libraries given Charter mark for excellence in customer care; 78% of residents satisfied with library services, up from 65% in 2003
• 84% of people satisfied with parks and open spaces.
• Magistrates Courts feasibility study for a new Heritage Centre to promote the 'Story of Southampton'
• Major events, such as VE day & Spitfire anniversary, celebrated
• Sea City Southampton Festival launched
• Bargate opened to the public as new contemporary art gallery

To create "A Prosperous City" your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• IKEA planning application announced
• New HQ for leading cruise company, Carnival, secured for West Quay
• Partnership for Urban South Hampshire launched to co-ordinate regional plans
• Business Southampton launched to spearhead economic growth

To improve "Life Long Learning" your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• Key Stage 2 results improved
• Year by year improvements in GCSE scores, with 2006 results the best ever for Southampton
• Learning Futures city-wide review of secondary education to cut surplus places and concentrate resources on children in school

To provide "Decent Homes" your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• Decent Homes Standard programme on target
• More affordable housing built, exceeding targets
• Concierge scheme piloted - now to be offered city wide
• Introducing choice-based lettings, probationary and demoted tenancy policies for Council house tenants
• 97% of tenants vote to keep in-house management

To create "A Caring City" your local Liberal Democrats have :-

• Southampton up from 86th to 97th most deprived area nationally
• Health and Adult Social Care Directorate gains maximum star rating
• Seniors Council and Older Persons Charter launched
• Fairer charging system for community care introduced
• Grants to the voluntary sector given uplift each year
• Champions appointed for senior citizens, young people, people with disabilities and the voluntary sector
• Council support to make Southampton a 'Fair Trade' City, encouraging fair purchasing from third-world producers

This is only the short list of the major Liberal Democrat achievements in the past four years for an extended list of the main achievements see :-

http://www.southampton-libdems.org.uk/pages/councilacheivements2007.html

To keep extending this list vote Liberal Democrat in May.