Rural schools priority ahead of elections
THE LABOUR party group in Carmarthenshire would try to protect small and rural schools from closure, introduce “skip days” for people to get rid of junk, and consult residents about increasing council tax for second homes by up to 300%.
The party, which is currently in opposition, has published a 32-page manifesto ahead of the council elections on May 5.
It would explore ways of enforcing minimum energy efficiency standards in the private housing rental sector, create an extra 100 allotments, and introduce a subsidised Actif membership card for all residents to encourage visits to country parks, leisure, culture and tourism facilities.
The manifesto contains more than 110 pledges and aspirations – some reflecting Welsh Labour pledges, most specific to Carmarthenshire.
The pledges fall under nine broad categories, and here are some of them:
Education: Fast-track £73 million of investment in new schools while seeking to protect small and rural schools; try to ensure all pupils can be educated in the language of their choice, which could mean more dual stream schools, and increase opportunities for pupils in all areas of Carmarthenshire; hold consultations within a year for proposed new schools including Ysgol Dewi Sant (Llanelli), Ysgol Bro Banw and Ysgol Gymraeg Rhydaman (Ammanford), and Ysgol Teilo Sant and Ysgol Gynradd Llandeilo (Llandeilo); provide free school meals to all primary school pupils.
Housing: Deliver 2,500 homes over the next five years in tandem with the private sector and housing associations, with a focus on more bungalows; explore ways of enforcing minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rental sector; improve the turnaround time for vacated council properties so new tenants can move in faster; review the council housing stock to see if insulation can be improved and energy-generating devices installed.
Plaid Cymru, which has run Carmarthenshire Council for the last seven years in coalition with the Independent group, has also published its manifesto.