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rugbylabour.co.uk/manifesto/?

RUGBY LABOUR’S LOCAL ELECTION MANIFESTO LAUNCHED: ‘A COMMON SENSE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY’ • Common sense, pragmatic ideas to strengthen our economy and our community • 6 Pledges: 1. accessible housing 2. better infrastructure 3. safer neighbourhoods 4. a reimagined town centre 5. action on heritage 6. a green future Our Manifesto boosts the final stages of our local election campaign across all wards Rugby Labour Party today launched its manifesto for the Rugby Borough Council elections to be held on 5 May. The document – ‘A Common Sense Plan For The Future Of Our Community’ – sets out six bold and costed pledges across a range of policy areas. The manifesto explains how a Labour-run council would work to strengthen the community and the economy of the town and its neighbouring areas, after years of Conservative rule nationally and locally, that has left voters facing rising taxes, bills and crime, cuts to public services, a town centre abandoned to decline, and families £2,620 worse off as they face the Conservative Cost of Living Crisis. On heritage, Labour would match residents’ pride in their town with a new vision of a friendly and diverse culture that encourages more visitors, businesses and events into the town through better use of existing spaces. Labour plans a radical reimagining of the town centre that highlights Rugby’s unique character and celebrates its shops and boutique enterprises. The party would audit empty buildings to identify those that could be brought back into use in innovative ways to boost the local economy and regenerate the town, such as providing a hub for self-employed people, small businesses and others, and a separate hub where all council and voluntary services could be accessed in one place. Labour would address the acute lack of housing for people wanting to get on the housing ladder or needing affordable or social rented accommodation. This includes establishing a Council-owned Homes for Rent company, working as a not-for-profit enterprise, renting properties at prices in line with current council properties, with the money being reinvested in future house building. The manifesto sets out Labour’s ideas to tackle the lack of investment by Conservatives locally and nationally in adequate infrastructure for a rapidly growing town like Rugby. Labour will hold the Conservatives to account for failing to insist on sufficient roads, schools and health services and is demanding better regulation by the council of Houses in Multiple Occupancy in the town centre. The party will continue to call for services to be brought back to St. Cross Hospital and more locally-based ambulances. Labour’s measures on the environment would boost the local economy and tackle climate change simultaneously, through buying council products from local suppliers to reduce carbon footprint, creating jobs and apprenticeships by insulating homes and switching to local energy producers. To tackle fly-tipping Labour aims to create local council funds for each council ward to provide support and equipment for local groups to carry out litter-picking and create community gardens. The party would expand, maintain and protect urban green spaces in part by creating a register of community assets. To create safer neighbourhoods Labour aims to address problems caused by years of cuts to police under the Tories, by instigating a community partnership-based model for tackling crime. The party aims to establish community forums in different parts of the borough for residents, police and councillors to highlight crime and anti-social behaviour ‘hotspots’ in their local area. Labour will also build on its work taking community-led initiatives to key stakeholders, such as on restoring streetlights.