LABOURS MANIFESTO

Southend Council
Elections 2015

A BETTER PLAN FOR

SOUTHEND
Last Year the Conservatives lost control of Southend Council after 14 years in power. Since
that time Southends Labour Councillors have played an influential role in developing policies
to make Southend a better town to live in.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS INCLUDE:

Saving Priory Care Home which the Conservatives intended to close
Safeguarding the future of our libraries with professional staff
Making progress to end the scandal of derelict office blocks on Victoria Avenue
Keeping open all Childrens Centres despite massive Conservative cuts
Negotiating a new waste contract that will save Council Tax payers 1 million pounds a year
whilst maintaining a higher standard of service and guaranteeing weekly refuse collections.
Maintaining support for Southend Voluntary sector for groups like HARP and SAVS
Introducing a scheme for wardens to improve security in council tower blocks
Retaining support, in spite of Conservative opposition, for the most vulnerable people in
times of crisis, including those fleeing domestic violence

Our Pledges to you, if we are elected:

Better Housing
We shall:
Continue our commitment to build social housing for local people.
Take tough enforcement action on poor housing. Promote better neighbourhoods.
Improve standards in the towns large private sector rented market
Build on a teamwork approach to tackle homelessness and its causes.

Curb crime and anti social behaviour

We shall:
Work with the police and other agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour and take robust action
against offenders
Extend the use of Neighbourhood Wardens, first sought by Labour, in Southends trouble
spots

Better education
We intend to:
Continue to work to ensure that all schools in the Borough reach the highest possible
educational standards.
Commit to making Southend a place where all can learn the skills they need for the future.
Protect our existing Childrens Centres and ensure that local communities are involved in
running them

Care for older people

We shall:
Ensure the highest possible standards of care for older people and to develop support services
that will enable residents to remain in their own homes whenever possible.
Develop a care campus on the Priory site which will include a 60 bed Home with state of the
art care for people with dementia and other facilities designed to support and improve the
health of local people.

Regenerate Southend
We intend to:
Continue to attract firms and industries to Southend and to provide secure employment for
our residents.
Emphasise our strengths as a cultural centre and seek to improve the image of our town.
Supporting the Living Wage to lift local people out of poverty.
Maintains the Essential Living Fund and related projects in order to tackle inequality and
poverty in our town

A greener town
We shall:
Promote a new Energy Company to give people in Southend a cheaper and more ethical option
for their gas and electricity.
Develop plans to unlock investment in renewables including solar power.
Combine better waste collection with tough recycling targets.
Promote sustainable forms of transport, such as cycling and improved bus routes.
Ensure all new homes are built to the highest environmental standards
Above all we shall continue to be a listening Council always prepared to hear your views and
respond to your needs.

TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A BETTER SOUTHEND

Promoted by Martin Berry on behalf of Labour Party Candidates in Southend on Sea. Printed by SLCI, all of 268 Sutton Road, Southend on Sea, Essex. SS2 5ET