Following Insider's post on Labour's Legacy and the Labour spin-site's wholly negative repost we felt it was worthwhile taking note of the glass as half-full for a change.
Our approach to the Council's finances has been one of living within our means. We have sought to do so in the face of severe spending pressures. Last year for example we needed to find an extra £2.5 million in pension fund contributions, £2.5 million for waste disposal, £1.7 million for fuel price increases, £1.9 million for Special Educational Needs and £1.3 million for Children's Services. The Labour Assembly Government also kept back £1.6 million from local schools. Despite that we kept the Council Tax increase at 5% and increased spending on education by 4.4% and social services by 10%.
The average Council Tax increase under this Administration has been 4.25%. That will reduce further when this year's increase is factored in. By contrast, Labour increased Council Tax on average by 8.66%. Labour say we have cut road maintenance and street cleaning. That is not true. We have introduced a multi-million pound four year road and pavement refurbishment programme designed to correct Labour's neglect of this area. We are also investing in street cleansing as will become evident later this month and have doubled recycling rates.
Labour cannot even get their list of spending cuts right. They say we have slashed £118,000 from post-16 school transport but that cut was never made. Instead we consulted on the proposal and agreed to keep the expenditure and the service in the budget in accordance with the response to that consultation. A number of the other so-called cuts listed by Labour are also subject to consultation and more work and may not emerge from that process in the same format, if indeed they emerge at all.
And what about those priorities? E-government costing £98 million over ten years, not the £170 million that Labour claim. A project that will bring clear benefits through a more efficient Council, value-for-money procurement and a contact centre that is still going ahead, despite Labour spin to the contrary, just not with Capgemini.
A partnership with the Labour Assembly Government to invest in public transport, including a new park and ride site in Fforestfach, a dedicated bus lane from the Fabian Way Park and Ride and changes to the City Centre road system so as to accomodate buses, taxis and bicycles, whilst reducing traffic congestion. Plans to build the new bus station that Labour failed to bring to completion if the Labour Transport Minister and local AM, Andrew Davies, approves the bid for funding. We have at least completed the land acquisition that Labour failed to bring to fruition.
The creation of a brand new central library in County Hall to modern standards, whilst at the same time opening up Labour's palace to public use. The changes to Councillors' accomodation by the way were carried out in full consultation with all parties and a number of changes were made as a result. It would be possible to write a book on the shenanigans over the Labour Group room so as to meet the demands of their leader's ego.
The rebuilding of the Leisure Centre, following its closure by Labour; putting in place the City Centre strategic framework; the Economic Strategic framework for the City & County of Swansea; the design and completion of Princess Way; the purchase and demolition of Unifloc to create Museum Green; and additional funding for City Centre core work. (Oxford Street – from Castle Square to Plymouth Street).
New schools at Llwynderw and St Thomas, with plans in place to rebuild Penyrheol; opening a specialist teaching facility at Pontarddulais Comprehensive; combining Bryn Nursery with Townhill School; amalgamations of infant/junior schools – Birchgrove, Dunvant and Gwyrosydd; completion of an early years block at YGG Bryniago; new sports halls at Pentrehafod and Bishopston Schools; new multi-use games areas at Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr and Cefn Hengoed; and Swansea’s first integrated Children’s Centre at Clwyd School. We are also building a a £3 million two-storey maths and science block at Morriston Comprehensive School. Work is on schedule to be finished by September 2007. Next year we are investing over £10 million in schools and have just announced £850,000 to repair the worst of the school buildings left near to collapse by Labour neglect.
There is a lot more including the completion of the fitting out of the Liberty Stadium and ensuring it operates on a sound financial basis, the building of a new library at Killay, a replacement for West Cross House that meets modern requirements and is fit for purpose, the proposed introduction of a street scene programme with extra finance and the expansion of the NEAT scheme, and the first major retail development in the City Centre for 20 years with more announcements to come.
Like Labour before us we have used external consultants and outside legal services but that is the way that all Councils get things done. We have preserved the City's heritage by repairing the mayoral chain and we have done what is necessary to put in place the best possible management of the Council. In the face of these achievements Labour's complaints appear trivial and partisan. They know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Their incompetence left the Council directionless and let local people down. It is this Administration who are putting things right.