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8/9/2019 Lewisham Lib Dem Manifesto
1/19
1
Lewisham Liberal Democrats
Manifesto 2010
freeze council taxfor a minimum of two years
revitalise council housingand build the rst council homes for a decade
strengthen local police teamsand have them work with young people and local enforcement teams
double recycling rates
by improving facilities and processes
improve young peoples livesby providing more facilities, activities and opportunities
campaign to abolish the mayoral systemand create a more democratic and accountable form of government
LIBERAL
DEMOCRATS
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Liberal Democrats want to provide Lewisham
with a fresh start. We want to create a place
where people choose to live because its a safe
environment, offers good quality of life for all
residents and because its a place where people
of all ages can realise their full potential.
Labour has run Lewisham for nearly 40 years,
and our community has suffered because of
it. There is a stale, uninspired and complacent
attitude towards delivering services to local people.
Liberal Democrats know we can do better.
We will revitalise the Council and our local
communities by making sure that residents are
at the heart of all the Councils activities. Liberal
Democrats will make sure that Lewisham Council
works harder for its customers, and that our
borough is a better place to live, bring up a family,
and grow old.
We are the challengers to Labour across the
whole of Lewisham. For the last four years, Liberal
Democrats have been a strong and effective
opposition. Our councillors have a proven
record of serving their communities, keeping
people informed, consulting residents and making
a real difference.
At this election, only the Liberal Democrat team
fully represents the diversity of Lewisham residents;
only we have the vision, experience, vitality and
enthusiasm to make a real change in Lewisham.
A vote for the Liberal Democrats or the stale,
old Labour party? The choice is clear. In this
manifesto, we set out policies that will achieve
our vision of making Lewisham a great place to
live: a place people choose because it is a safe,
caring community and has a council that helps
them lead the life they choose.
It is time for a change, and we hope that you will
help us make it happen.
Chris Maines
Liberal Democrat candidate for
Mayor of Lewisham
LIBERAL
DEMOCRATS
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Lewisham Liberal Democrats
Manifesto 2010
housing
community safety
environment
our community
children and young people
open, efcient and accountable local government
beating the recession
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8
12
14
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LIBERAL
DEMOCRATS
Published and promoted by Marcus Mayers
on behalf of Chris Maines and the Liberal
Democrats, all of 8 Woodham Road, SE6 2SD
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HousingLiberal
Democrats believe
that decent and
affordable housing isevery citizens right
Under Labour, there are 17,000 families on the waiting list for
housing in Lewisham, and 70% of Lewisham Homes housing
fails to meet the governments basic decent homes standard.
Very little has been done by the current Labour Mayor to
address Lewishams housing crisis.
Liberal Democrats want to tackle homelessness and provide
more family housing. We would seek to raise the standard
of all tenures of housing in Lewisham, starting with service
improvements for Lewisham Homes customers. We want to
empower tenants and leaseholders so they can exercise more
control over their homes, services and estates.
Tackling homelessness
A Liberal Democrat Mayor will build Lewishams rst new
Council Houses for a decade.
We will enlist the support of local housing associations to
access Temporary Social Housing Grant funding to bring
empty properties back into use.
We will provide more attractive incentives for tenantsoccupying larger houses to move to smaller homes,
covering removal and redecoration costs.
A Liberal Democrat Mayor will seek urgent discussions with
the new Housing Minister to demand the reinstatement of
Lewishams Decent Homes funding.
We will look creatively at Lewishams existing housing stock
to see where larger homes could be created by merging
ats together, or de-converting shared houses.
Almost a third of the housing stock in the borough is nowprivately rented. We will establish a Lewisham Standard
for private rented accommodation.
Where private sector housing is built on Council-owned
land, we will ensure residents get better value for money
with a higher proportion of affordable housing, and morefamily units.
We will seek to establish Londons rst Community Land
Trust within Lewisham, working with the Mayor of London.
Providing more family housing
Raising the standard of Lewishams housing
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Within 12 months of a Liberal Democrat Mayor taking
ofce, we will submit Lewisham Homes to an external
inspection to ensure tenants are receiving quality services.
All council tenants will be offered the opportunity to take
control of their housing through a tenant management or
community gateway approach if the majority of residentswant it. We will also explore the transfer of community
centres and tenants halls to community groups.
Tenants will be entitled to a 10 refund if a repair
appointment is missed.
We will introduce a repairs guarantee, whereby tenants
can arrange their own repairs with private contractors if the
council fails.
We will ensure that leaseholders are properly consulted on
works that affect their properties, and provide access to
independent sources of help and advice.
Improving housing services
Empowering tenants
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Community safety
We will introduce
effective policies to
make the boroughsafer for everyone.
We recognise that the experience and fear of crime and anti-
social behaviour are of great concern to all Lewisham residents.
Tackling gun, knife and gang crime is essential. We know that
these are challenging problems but we are committed to nding
imaginative and creative solutions for them.
Tackling crime and anti-social behaviour
Provide a 24-hour patrol service and telephone line for
reporting anti-social behaviour.
Strengthen local police teams by involving council
enforcement ofcers, anti-social behaviour ofcers and
local youth workers in Safer Neighbourhood teams. Where
necessary, provide extra PCSOs and work with the police
to provide night-time cover.
Work with partners and agencies to tackle and reduce
domestic violence throughout the borough, and ensure that
victims and their families receive more support and advice.
Work nationally and locally with the police and the
community to implement intelligence-led policing againstguns and gangs.
Work with national and local police and other agencies to
address the problem of crime against children and young
people near bus stops and on buses.
Collaborate with schools, youth clubs and other agencies
to support local communities in tackling gun culture and
drug problems.
Provide specialist training and support to carers and
families who are concerned that their children are involved
in gang activities.
Hold a public question-and-answer session with theboroughs Police Commander at least once a year.
Initiate an amnesty for knives and weapons create a
condential advice line for those aware of knives and
weapons in the community.
Tackling gun and knife crime
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To complement Envirocall, we will provide one phone
number for sending text messages or photos about grafti
and broken street lights.
Improve and promote the use of community mediation
and restorative justice programmes and mentoring for
young people.
Bring all Council enforcement services together under one
new department to make more efcient use of resources.
Be more proactive prosecuting the illegal sale of reworks,
knives, alcohol and tobacco.
Work to ensure that all new housing developments are
designed to a high standard that seeks to prevent crime
through intelligent design.
We would introduce cumulative impact licensing policies.
Improve poor street lighting, and badly maintained
footpaths to make people feel safer.
Creating a safer environment
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EnvironmentThe
Liberal Democrats
promise practical and
workable solutions toput the environment
at the heart of council
policy-making.
We will ensure your local environment is improved and
protected, and that our local economy is fair and sustainable.
A cleaner, greener borough
We want to double Lewishams recycling gures within
four years, beginning with immediate action to reduce
drastically the amount of Lewisham recycling that is being
rejected due to contamination, by:
1. ensuring residents can recycle all types of plastic and
Tetra cartons within the rst year
2. ensuring residents in ats can fully recycle
3. building local bio-mass waste facilities, introducing akitchen and garden waste collection service.
We will devolve funding to local bodies in order to:
1. carry out major cleaning blitzes annually in each local
area
2. ensure street drains are regularly cleaned, and
encourage residents to report blocked drains
3. improve smaller local parks and play equipment.
Acquire a bubble gum removal machine and remove
bubble gum from town centre pavements.
We will plant 1000 new trees in the rst year, and properly
maintain existing trees.
Work with independent housing providers and LewishamHomes to provide allotments on housing estates and
provide funding and training to local groups to help set
them up and run them.
Provide more help and support to develop and expand our
nature reserves to promote biodiversity and to protect sites
of special interest.
We will work to set up community land trusts to manage
and enhance spare parcels of land for local people.
We aim to become a zero-waste council.
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Town centres
Buildings
Use the planning system to support local shopping
parades that meet local peoples needs.
Seek an energy company partner to install free home
insulation to all Lewisham residents.
Actively ght any further closure of post ofces in Lewisham.
We will reform local planning policies to make it easier for
residents to build micro-energy generation schemes, and
to make sure that all new housing schemes obtain at least
a third of their energy from renewable sources and reuse
grey water.
Encourage greater use of the councils power to acquire
underused properties to revive local housing and to help
improve run-down areas.
We will make best use of new building and renovation
projects to try to provide apprenticeship schemes were
appropriate.
We will reward good development by establishing a
prize for the most innovative, creative and sustainable
developments in the borough.
Provide more shopping time parking spaces and disabled
parking spaces in or near local high streets.
We will engage with local people when developing
planning policy.
Provide extra resources for better planning enforcement.
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Transport
Campaign to improve bus and train services across the
borough.
Develop and promote accessible and safe pedestrian
routes to encourage more walking.
We will review parking across Lewisham, ensuring that
residents parking schemes are more exible, that shopping
parades are not strangled by parking regulations, and we
will introduce incentives for low-emission vehicles.
Undertake a full conditions survey of Lewishams roads
and pavements and use the results to develop an action
plan to tackle the poor conditions which currently exist.
Promote pedestrian safety over car use. We will aim to
slow trafc by widening pavements, instead of using
excessive numbers of speed humps.
Provide more mobile trafc enforcement cameras toaddress persistent motoring offences.
When replacing council vehicles, we will purchase cheaper,
greener alternatives and install electric car charging points
for public use.
Investigate 20-mph zones for non-main roads to help
reduce accidents.
Work with Transport for London immediately to provide
road safety improvements at known accident blackspots.
Improve cycle paths in the borough and introduce more
secure cycle parking.
Promote healthy living by promoting car-free days.
We will make the parking system simpler to use, and
investigate the use of pre-pay cards similar to Oyster cards
for parking meters.
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Leisure facilities
Provide a Youth Opportunity Card to all young people
under 16, widening access to all council leisure and
cultural facilities.
Do more to ensure that Lewisham residents benet from
and contribute to the 2012 Olympic Games.
Work to bring improved leisure facilities into the borough
and to ensure they are accessible to all.
Provide more support to grassroots sporting clubs and
societies working with our young people. We will ensurethat these facilities are accessible to all and that they are
free or affordable to all.
Work to ensure the borough has a cinema.
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Our community
We will engage and
support the many
community activitiesthat take place
around the borough.
Lewisham has many strong local communities with a rich and
diverse heritage. We will support existing activities, such as
festivals, cultural events, adult education classes and social
networks, and will seek to strengthen them wherever we can.
We are particularly concerned to see the rights and contribution
of older people and people with disabilities properly recognised.
Building strong community groups
Recognise the diverse festivals and activities around the
borough, and engage and support them.
Work towards setting up a local history museum in the
borough.
Extend and promote a year-round cultural calendar.
Work with the community to create and host a Lewisham
Heritage and History website.
Recognise the importance of adult education that enriches
peoples lives, not just for the sake of qualications.
Free up council buildings for greater use by adult
education groups.
Promote better access for disabled people in all spheresof life.
Work towards greater equality in access to all council
services and against discrimination in all its forms.
Develop better social, cultural and educational
opportunities for elderly people.
Provide a higher standard of service to those who needsupport in their home, and to provide as much help as
possible to carers.
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Helping the elderly live dignied lives
Strengthen citizen befriending and inspection services for
care homes.
Help ensure all elderly people are safeguarded from abuse
and neglect.
Establish a Mayors Commission on dementia care and
long-term care for the elderly.
Create a multi-agency Safeguarding Adults Partnership.
Continue to give priority to supporting carers.
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Children and
young people
We will do our best
to give Lewishamchildren a fair start
in life by directing
resources at those
children who need
most support.
Children prosper when they grow up in a comfortable and
secure environment, free from fear of abuse or neglect.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for many children in our
borough. We will work hard to break inter-generational cycles of
poverty, neglect and abuse.
We will ensure everyone in Lewisham has access to a good
education and all sections of the community are given equal
educational opportunities.
Our ambition is to make education in Lewisham better than any
comparable area in London.
Poor planning by the existing Labour administration means we
face a crisis in primary school places. On current projections
an extra 500 places (or 15 classes) will be needed across the
borough by 2012-13. The government has refused to give the
council any extra money to meet the need for places. We shall
address this need by opening new schools and expandingexisting ones where possible.
We shall work to increase and improve pre-school provision in
the borough.
Education
Liberal Democrats national policy is to enable smaller class
sizes by introducing a pupil premium so that resources are
directed to where the need is greatest.
We will do whatever we can to ensure complete fairness
in school admissions policies. The strengths of Lewisham
schools will be actively promoted to all parents to ensure
they attract a balanced comprehensive intake of children.
We will upgrade the support provided to supplementary
schools and recognise the valuable contribution they make
to education in the borough.
We will make reading a priority and support parents to read
to their children.
We will encourage restorative justice and mentoring in all
schools.
Our aim will be to enable more use of programmes to
encourage learning outside of the classroom.
Primary schools will be encouraged to set up allotments.
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The important issues of guns, knives and gang culture will
addressed as a high priority in all our schools as part of a
borough-wide initiative to tackle the rise of violent crime.
We recognise that some pupils prefer vocational to
academic routes to achievement; all are valuable and
should be recognised and supported.
We will continue the Building Schools for the Future
programme, where possible, but put greater emphasis on
good design and quality project management.
Greater support will be provided to parents who need it
most by providing better access to a range of specialistservices and advice.
We will work to address Lewishams issue of childhood
obesity by promoting healthy eating projects in the
community, providing healthy school meals, and promoting
competitive sport in schools and the wider community.
In addition, the councils planning process will be used to
restrict the opening of new fast food outlets near schools.
We will improve existing play parks and facilities and
explore extra grant funding to create new ones.
Childhood diseases such as measles and chicken pox
will be addressed by working to achieve better rates of
immunisation in our area. Currently rates are well below the
national average.
We shall work to raise awareness of sexual health issues.
We will work to ensure more schools can and do open
out of hours so that their facilities can be used by local
communities.
Families and the community
Child health
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Safeguarding children and young people is a a priority.
We all share responsibility for it. Lewisham has had
a number of recent Serious Case Reviews resulting
from failures in practice we will ensure that all the
recommendations are implemented.
We will take every opportunity to listen to children in care
and children leaving care so that we can learn from their
views and experiences.
We will give more individual support to looked-after children
who need it to help them achieve to their full potential.
We will give a Youth Opportunity card to all young people
under 16, to widen their access to leisure and cultural
facilities.
We will launch a programme of consultation with young
people, to produce a strategy for young people between
the ages of 16 and 25.
We will work to provide more jobs and apprenticeships for
young people.
Lewisham has one of the highest rates of teenage
pregnancy in the country. We will work on nding effective
solutions to this issue.
We will aim to secure the lowest possible turnover of
placements for our looked-after children by recruiting apool of foster carers and improving training for them.
Protecting children
Engaging young people
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Open, efcient
and accountable
local government
We will create fairand efcient public
services for all.
The Liberal Democrats are committed to fair, open, responsive
and transparent local government.
Good service is about inclusion, efciency and attention to
detail. All Lewisham staff will deal with the public respectfully
and efciently, so that issues are dealt with effectively rst time. [
Openness and accountability
A Liberal Democrat Mayor will be more accountable
and accessible. We believe the public should be more
involved in Lewishams decision-making processes and will
establish regular opportunities for the public to scrutinise
Council decisions.
We will promote openness through a user-friendly and
useful council website, webcasting council meetings and
providing access to reports and information, includingcouncillors expenses.
We will ensure the council promotes an open style of
participation and management, and fully complies with to
the Freedom of Information Act.
Liberal Democrat councillors and the mayor will keep in
touch with residents through a regular newsletter.
We will promote participation in decision-making
processes, rather than meaningless consultations.
We will transform the Local Assembly system, giving
residents real control over services in their area.
We will promote equality of representation and involvement
in council decision-making for all, including young people,
elderly people and people with disabilities.
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Value for money
We will freeze Council Tax for at least two years.
The overall cost of council senior management posts will be
cut by freezing the highest salaries and reviewing each post.
We will reduce the dependency on agency staff and
expensive consultants.
We will investigate innovative ways of using council tax to
tackle deprivation.
We will nd new ways to use council land and assets to
unlock regeneration and help kickstart the local economy.
We will reduce Labour waste by cutting out duplication of
services and excessive communication spending within
council departments.
We will investigate ways of attracting more income and
commercial sponsorship.
We will make it easier for residents to access and comment
on planning and licensing applications.
We will support and promote community asset transfers
for some council-owned buildings, such as Louise House
in Forest Hill.
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Beating the
recesssionWe
will do all we can to
keep Council Taxlow, protect front-line
services and help
those most in need.
The recession has had a devastating effect on Lewisham. Due to
the crisis in public nances, the next administration is likely to be
forced to make sweeping cuts to council services. These could
total as much as 14% of all services over the next four years.
Managing the budget
We will look for ways of rationalising council services to
save money.
Any new projects we undertake will be assessed for value
for money in the long term.
We will always remember that it is your money we arespending.
The council will work to provide more jobs and
apprenticeships for our young people in particular.
We will make sure everyone who is claiming benet gets
what they are entitled to
We will provide a 20 council tax reduction for pensioners
on means-tested state pension credit and investigate other
ways to make this regressive tax fairer.
We will devise a scheme to re-introduce Council mortgages
for rst time buyers and seek support for the scheme from
central government.
We will work to create a green economy and create local
jobs in providing home insulation, planting trees and other
environmental and community improvements, such as
providing 600 new affordable homes, and business support
to the voluntary sector.
Assist residents and businesses by providing more support
for business advice.
Creating jobs
Supporting vulnerable people