THE PARTIES FIGHTING FOR YOUR VOTE ON THURSDAY
VOTERS in Bridgend county will head to the polls today, Thursday, May 4, after one of the hardest fought council election campaigns in years.
Labour had occupied 31 of the county council’s 54 seats, but all that could change.
Over the last few weeks candidates of all colours have been pounding the streets and knocking doors asking voters to back them.
With a new seven-year waste contract signed by the incumbent Labour administration set to restrict the number of rubbish bags residents can put out to two per fortnight and a 1% cut to school budgets among the main issues, there has been plenty to talk about.
We’ve compiled an at-aglance guide to what each group/party is offering you, the voter.
There are also other candidates standing for other parties/groups and as independents who are not part of the independent groups below.
The groups, listed in alphabetical order, are: Change for Bridgend
Describes itself as “a co-ordinated home for like-minded independents, supporters and activists”.
Has 23 county council candidates.
Under its 50 Principles for Change is targeting education, social care, recycling, waste disposal, transport and infrastructure, regeneration of town centres, building trust and confidence with the public.
Will focus on efficiency savings which do not necessarily mean cuts to services and review service contracts.
Will review councillor allowances to ensure value for money.
Will change consultation rules to ensure public are listened to. Conservatives
Claim the Labour group is in chaos, but says independents cannot form a stable administration.
Have vowed to scrap the controversial twobag rule for rubbish collections and axe unfair fines and penalties for those who transgress.
Pledges to offer incentives to residents to encourage them to recycle.
Promise to reverse Labour’s 1% cut to school budgets.
Will cut the pay of councillors by 10% so they can “share the pain of budget cuts”.
Wants to introduce free car parking or reduced charges to encourage shoppers.
Labour
Pledge to retain fulltime nursery education for three-year-olds in the county and continue to invest in new schools under 21st Century Schools programme.
Continued investment in Extra Care facilities as an alternative to care homes for older people.
Will maintain and protect free parking for blue badge holders and pilot free car parking for short-stay users in the Rhiw car park in Bridgend town centre.
Will maintain fortnightly rubbish bag collections for five years.
Pledge to establish a special team to tackle littering and dog mess.
Have made a commitment to deliver the South Wales Metro.
Liberal Democrats
Pledge to reverse Labour’s 1% budget cut for all schools as it says that of the 22 local authorities in Wales, only one spends less per primary school pupil than Bridgend.
Said the school budget cut is on course to make 40 teachers and 90 learning support staff unemployed.
Would reverse cuts in grass cutting schedules, bin emptying and litter picking.
Promise to alleviate difficulties that occur as a result of the new waste contract.
The party says the roads in the borough are about the worst they have ever been – “the pot holes are causing many problems in every ward”.
Believes council needs to think outside the box and be more innovative in how it does things and use its assets to raise revenue.
Llynfi Independents
The group has seven county council candidates – some are ex Labour councillors.
They support the redevelopment of Maesteg Town Hall and want as many people as possible to take part in the consultation.
Support the development of Extra Care (independent living) facilities and the long-awaited development of the former Revlon/Cosi site.
Opposes Labour’s 1% cut to individual school budgets saying it undermines drive to raise standards.
Pledges to work with residents to come to terms with new waste contract and anti-social behaviour.
Also pledges to defend best interests of the Llynfi Valley, standing against cuts to services.
Plaid Cymru
Promises to help the elderly and vulnerable in the county by investing in services and reversing cuts to respite care.
Has pledged to crack down on top-level pay and says Plaid councils on average pay chief executives £22,000 less than Labour-run councils.
Wants to boost the economy by ensuring more procurement contracts for goods and services are awarded to local businesses in the county borough.
Has pledged to bring empty homes back into use and called for greater investment in social housing.
Wants to reopen scrutiny on the council’s Local Development Plan.
Pledge to block what they see as “unsustainable housing proposals”.
Porthcawl Independents
Describe themselves as a broad coalition of likeminded people.
Their common goal is to stand up for the people of Porthcawl and ensure the town “gets a fair slice of the BCBC pie”.
Claims Porthcawl, as third largest town in the borough, has been ignored for too long.
The group says the “waiting for regeneration” excuse has contributed to the slow and gradual decay over the last 30 years.
They believe it is time now to focus on repair and renewal, and better basic services such as combating littering and dog fouling, recycling, street and pavement repairs and creating a vibrant welcoming environment.
The group says it will work to ensure taxes are spent wisely and fairly to benefit the people of Porthcawl.