Gosport Conservatives Policy Statement

Gosport Conservatives Policy Statement

Conservative run councils have proven to be more effective and give better value for money:

· Conservatives believe in quality services, but do not accept that higher standards mean higher taxes. We want to see councils run in an efficient, cost effective and businesslike way

• Conservatives believe government; national or local should take less of people's money. We start from the assumption that the money a council spends belongs to local people and not to the council
• Conservatives have an instinctive pride in their local community. We see the local council as the servant of that community, not its master
• Conservatives believe in decent, common sense values. We want councils to promote these values, not experiment with political correctness
• Conservatives believe in letting people take more decisions locally for themselves. We want to see power devolved from national government to local government. We want decisions that affect local people to be taken by locally elected representative Borough Councillors

These values and principles are wholly distinct from those of the other political parties, so the Councils we run should be wholly distinct as well. Functioning in this way local government epitomises everything we stand for: quality services, low taxes, civic pride, minimum interference, self-reliance, personal responsibility and the devolution of power to the local level. We will consult fully with all interested parties before making major decisions.

While Government policy requires that all planning applications should be permitted unless there are sound, clear-cut reasons for refusal we will always have the highest regard for environmental, design, infrastructure and other matters when considering planning applications in order to obtain the best possible development within the constraints of legislation.

STRATEGY AND FINANCE

Through the Policy, Strategy and Finance portfolio the Conservative Group will:

· Work to improve the general environment of the Borough

• Work to improve the general well being of the Borough through better health, safety and crime prevention measures
• Further Economic Development in the Borough
• Provide "value for money" services for the residents of the Borough
• Apply sound and prudent financial principles to all aspects of Council operation
• Take appropriate measures to ensure that electronic (e) methods are developed to their full potential to increase the efficiency of the Borough management systems and service delivery
• Work in partnership wherever possible to achieve our aims, particularly with Hampshire County Council
• Continually seek to maximise income streams to deflect costs of service from council tax payers.

Specific objectives are to:

· Liaise closely with Hampshire County Council and other key partners in the Gosport Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), networkgosport

• Undertake systematic, innovative service reviews to minimise waste and maximise sources of income
• Devise and work to realistic budgets
• Whenever possible establish the Gosport component of the composite Council Tax at, or preferably below, the inflation level and encourage Hampshire County Council and the Police and Fire Authorities to do likewise
• Continue to improve shopping and leisure activities in Gosport.
• Undertake a thorough property review to ensure that the Council only maintains that which is essential and disposes of property no longer required for the best possible return
• Continue to pursue zero tolerance towards criminal damage and antisocial behaviour working through the Criminal Damage Group of the Crime and Community Safety Partnership

SERVICE PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVEMENT

Through the Service Performance and Improvement portfolio, the Conservative Group will:

· Ensure that the following service responsibilities are undertaken and obligations met:

· Community Planning

· Crime & Community Safety

· Youth Strategy

· Cross-service issues

· Performance Management as detailed in the Annual Corporate Plan.

· Define the standards of service targets and budgets looking specifically at:

· The preparation of schemes for implementation or proposals for submission as part of the expenditure plan process

· Monitoring service standards, performance and budgets

· Implementation of action programmes to achieve the aims of adopted strategies and service plans

· Efficient delivery of services

· Implementing changes to service plans to meet the requirements of relevant legislation

· The development of an annual process of policy and performance reviews

On Best Value:

· Ensure that following Best Value reviews, action plans with challenging targets for continuous service improvement are set and progress against those plans are regularly monitored

· Promote the core values of the Council as set out in corporate plans

· Facilitate and encourage public participation and consultation and ensure the effective communication of Council policies and strategies to all members, employees, residents, partner organisations and other interested parties

· Ensure that the Council meets the requirements of the Government’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment where the Audit Commission will be asked to produce a judgement based on:

o The Quality of local services

o Corporate and Managerial effectiveness

o Capacity to improve local services

HOUSING

Through the housing portfolio the Conservative Group will:

Work in partnership with preferred Housing Associations to enable affordable and social housing units annually.

· Achieve and maintain the Council’s stock to the tenant’s chosen "Decent Home Standard Plus".

· Ensure an efficient and cost-effective landlord service to Council tenants and leaseholders.

· Provide a homelessness-prevention service and arrange temporary accommodation for homeless applicants where no other recourse is available.

· Maintain policies and systems that encourage and assist private owners and landlords to achieve the Decent Home Standard..

Specific Objectives are to:-

· Ensure and maintain a fair access to social housing through the housing register.

· Work in liaison with planners to deliver a balanced housing market.

· Maintain policies and schemes that encourage and assist households to achieve home ownership.

· Through ‘Supporting People’ schemes, maintain a high level of care for the aged, disadvantaged and ‘at risk’ persons.

· Continue policies that improve energy efficiency and thermal comfort in all tenures.

· Continue convergence of Council and Registered Social Landlord levels of rent, maintaining a prudent working surplus to meet contingencies.

· Increase the detection of fraudulent claims for housing benefit and reduce rent arrears.

· Issue regular newsletters and details of Area Panel meetings to inform all Council tenures of policies, encouraging greater consultation and consideration of tenant’s views and choices.

LEISURE

Through the Leisure portfolio the Conservative Group will:

· Seek to enrich and enhance the quality of life for all residents of Gosport.

· Provide facilities, encourage, support and enable all forms of sporting, recreational, artistic and physical activities

· Support the development of community facilities, especially for young people and retired people throughout the Borough

· Develop, wherever possible, partnerships with other organisations, both public and private, to promote better facilities for the people of Gosport

· Wherever possible and practicable consult with members of the public to ensure consensus on specific projects

Specific objectives are to:

· Review the provision and quality of outdoor sporting facilities throughout the Borough

· Continue to support the Leisure Centre and SLM in providing first class Leisure facilities to the residents of Gosport by developing a plan for continuous improvement.

· Provide a balanced programme of entertainment and other events in Gosport. Develop and improve the parks, green and open spaces through the Borough

· Apply effective management programmes and maintain access to woodland and foreshore areas

· Develop and maintain play areas to meet the needs of children and teenagers

· Increase the provision of allotments and encourage younger people to take an interest in the activity

· Encourage local sports and arts initiatives by providing grants and, where necessary, assisting in the preparation of bids to outside funding agencies

· Ensure that the routine maintenance of grassed areas and hedges is carried out in a timely and efficient way

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT

Through the Health & Environment portfolio the Conservative Group will:

· Work on measures to ensure an increasing public awareness of environmental issues and help promote an efficient service.

· Provide to an acceptable standard services to the public including cemeteries, adequate and clean public toilets, the removal of abandoned vehicles and the maintenance of public clocks and war memorials.

· The Group will also strive to have appropriate representation on the bodies providing local health service overview and scrutiny.

Specific objectives are to:

· Work to provide all residents of Gosport with their entitlement to live their lives in a healthy, safe and friendly environment; due regard to proper budgetary control, future heritage and sustainable development in all areas to be a prime concern

· Work in cooperation with Local and Strategic Health Authorities to ensure early provision of a Community Hospital and other NHS services adequate for the population of Gosport

· Maintain and improve street cleansing and refuse collection within budgetary constraints

· Produce programmes to improve recycling to meet increased government targets, subject to the necessary infrastructure being in place, whilst striving for continuous improvement and development of the service

· Monitor health and safety issues through the continued use of food health and safety education measures, dog and pest control operation and implementing new bylaws as required

· Implement and monitor new programmes for enforcement of litter, graffiti, dog fouling etc.

· Continue to extend activities of the Enforcement Team and to seek formal accreditation as Community Safety Officers.

· Monitor noise and air pollution as appropriate

· Work to remove unauthorised campers from Council land using the appropriate regulations and planning controls

· Meet Government targets to achieve acceptable ‘transit’ sites for Gypsies and Travellers

PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION

Through the Planning and Transportation portfolio the Conservative Group will:

· Conform with national planning guidance, permit all planning applications unless there are sound planning policy or planning guidance reasons for refusal

· Base its approach to development on permitting individuals maximum opportunity to make their own choice

· Review the Borough Plan to ensure that the emerging Local Development Framework produces ‘conditional managed growth’.

· Comprehensively review the Cycle Strategy.

· Investigate and prioritise potential actions required towards a better Gosport..

Specific objectives are to:

· Protect green open spaces from development by encouraging suitable development on brownfield sites.