Labour pledges to ‘run Renfrewshire properly’ as it unveils manifesto
Road repairs and swim lessons for kids on priority list
Renfrewshire Labour has released its manifesto ahead of next Thursday’s council election, promising to “get the basics right” for voters.
The group has outlined its policies covering areas such as education, the cost of living crisis, health and social care, and others as people prepare to head to the polls and vote on their local authority’s future.
The party has said it “isn’t promising the earth” but rather to run the area properly as it launched its plans for the next five years.
Some of the promises made by the group include a freeze of all local authority fees and charges for at least two years, as well as a pledge to keep council tax low, a strategy to repair roads and footways and a zero tolerance stance on fly-tipping and dog fouling.
Additionally, it has demanded “a renewed emphasis on literacy and numeracy skills” and school swimming lessons for all children by the age of ten.
The group has also called for a new town centre masterplans and for the area’s stock of social housing to be enhanced.
Margaret McCormick, chair of Renfrewshire Labour’s Local Government Committee, said the election should not be about the constitution or independence, but local matters.
She said: “It’s about local people, local services and the local community.
“Labour has a clear plan for change and for getting the basics right - with policies targeted to clean up our streets, fund the frontline, reinvigorate our town centres and local economy, and work to bring local buses under public control.
“Renfrewshire Labour isn’t promising the earth. We’re just promising to run Renfrewshire properly.
“Plenty of councils manage to fix the roads and keep the streets clean.”
Ben Smith, a candidate in the Paisley Northwest ward, said that the reception on the doors had been “really encouraging”.
He added: “Our diverse and energised team of local champions will provide the fresh thinking and ideas that Renfrewshire Council needs.”
It will not be possible for the Labour group to seize overall control of Renfrewshire Council in May.
This is because they have fielded 20 candidates, with 22 needed for a majority.
Local authority elections take place on Thursday, May 5.
Renfrewshire Labour isn’t promising the earth. We’re just promising to run Renfrewshire properly