SCCon Loader

June 4th 2009 - the Staffordshire County Council Elections

Manifesto

The Conservative Group manifesto for Staffordshire was released at 9.00am on Thursday 30th April.

**** Click here to read it ****

Building a positive future

On June the 4th you have the opportunity to do something really important for Staffordshire and send Gordon Brown a strong message.

By voting Conservative you can overturn Labour’s slender majority on the County Council and bring real, positive change to the County and your community.

A Conservative County Council will offer fresh ideas, release our essential services from years of old-Labour interference, raise standards in our schools, improve care for the elderly, invest in our roads, make communities safer and unlock the potential in our local economy.

It will be your chance to give Staffordshire and your community a fresh start and the change it needs.

Conservatives believe local government should work with and for its communities. We will offer new ways of working to allow choices to be made locally and ensure local needs take priority.

Keeping Council Tax Low

Council Tax in Staffordshire has doubled since Labour took control of the new County Council in 1997. But services have become more expensive and our roads have badly deteriorated. We know that Council Tax is a burden on everyone, so we are committed to keeping it low.

We will deliver the high quality essential services but reduce the cost and any waste in providing them. We will look carefully at all services and ensure they are relevant and meet the current needs of our communities. We also plan to introduce new services that focus on improving the quality of life for everyone in Staffordshire.

On Sunday, 26th April, with five weeks to go to the elections, David Cameron visited Stafford and met with Philip Atkins - Staffordshire Conservative Group Leader - to discuss the Conservative manifesto - "Plans for Change"

What will we do for Staffordshire?

Staffordshire has been under Labour control for 28 years! It has become too complacent. Year after year the Council Tax has risen. The Conservative Party, if elected, will stop this continuing rise on Council Tax. We will put and end to continuing rises and put a limit on the amount you pay.

The Conservative party will work for Staffordshire :-

To become a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous County
By Raising Peoples Aspirations
Raising Skills for Job Retention and Better Opportunities
To Lower Taxes - and Not Just in Election Year
Working with All Our Communities
Making Communities Safer for Everyone
Returning Power to Local Communities

A press release was released on 27th January. "Click to read"

News

Tuesday 17th February

David Cameron launched a Conservative Party Green Paper on Localism entitled Returning Power to Local Communities. Click to read a copy.

Thursday 12th February

Labour want 3.5% tax rise - Conservatives want 2%.

Council Tax Increases

At the meeting of the full council which took place on Thursday, 12th February the controlling group (the Labour Party) proposed the budget for the year 2009/2010.
Their original report proposed a council tax rise of 3.5%.
They were given advance warning of the Conservative Group's amendment which proposed a rise of only 2%.
The leader (John Taylor) therefore proposed a motion which reduced the rise to 2.45% and, after much debate, this 2.45% rise was agreed.