THIS is what each of Wirral Council’s main political parties are promising voters ahead of the crucial local election on May 3.

Currently, Labour hold overall control and a majority they will look to add to, while the Conservatives, Lib Dems and Green will similarly hope to win votes and make gains.

But what are the main issues the four parties are campaigning over?

Here is what Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats and Green – the parties that currently hold seats on the council – are promising you as they look to win your votes next month.

Labour

Council leader Phil Davies has promised voters a Labour council that 'puts the needs of Wirral first every time, every day'.

Speaking at the Labour party’s local election campaign launch at Birkenhead Engineering College earlier this month, Cllr Davies said the choice at the coming election was 'clear'.

He explained the choice as: “A Tory party obsessed with austerity, cuts to the budgets of local services, the police, the fire service and attacks on the NHS – or a Labour Party which clears up the Tories’ mess, time and time again, acting as the last line of defence for Wirral families and residents against these damaging Conservative cuts.”

He said Labour was now 'fighting back', adding: “Fighting to protect and improve the communities and neighbourhoods we call home. Fighting to protect the services Wirral residents rely on – care for our elderly, care for our young people and care for the most vulnerable in our borough.

“Wirral residents are fighting back too. Wirral Labour’s campaign to Save Eastham Walk-In Centre was successful because people told the Tories ‘enough is enough’.

“Wirral residents are backing Labour and our work with the police and social services to clampdown on anti-social behaviour – making it easier for nuisance neighbours to be dealt with, forcing private landlords to look after their properties, and fining people who litter, fly tip or let their dogs foul our pavements and parks.

"While others are going soft on litter louts, I make no apologies for our tough stance.”

He also said the council was working with Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham to access funds to improve roads and highways.

That will mean more than £7m invested in fixing pot holes and repairing street lamps, as well as £5m on making sure parks 'are places Wirral can be proud of'.

He said that the party was partnering with businesses and investors to bring new jobs and opportunities to residents all over Wirral.

“As a Labour council, it is no secret that we face unprecedented financial challenges. Whilst we are charged with delivering vital front-line services local residents rely on, ministers are relentlessly cutting every single aspect of our budget,” he added.

Conservatives

Wirral Conservative group leader Cllr Ian Lewis said regardless of where you live in Wirral or how you vote in a General Election, the upcoming poll is 'your only opportunity to send a clear message to the leader of the council and the cabinet'.

He added: “At the moment, too much money is being wasted on things we don’t need – such as the Wirral View newspaper, management consultants and the plans for food waste bins in every home.

“Use your vote to send a message that the council tax we all pay should be used on your priorities – such as roads, play areas and street lighting. Every vote for one of the 23 local Conservative candidates sends a clear message to Phil Davies: enough is enough.”

Outlining the seven key points, he said the Conservatives’ plan for Wirral would see the party:

1. Make 'better use' of the council’s £800m budget: banning lending money to other councils

2. Scrap plans to build on the greenbelt. Cllr Lewis said: “We will develop brownfield sites instead and do more to bring 6,000 empty homes in Wirral back into use.”

3. Reduce spending on directors’ salaries and consultants. “We will cut the £2.6m a year that Labour is spending on consultants and we will stop recruiting directors paid more than the Prime Minister,” he said.

4. Abolish parking charges in country parks and coastal areas, and create a 'free after 3 policy' in shopping areas

5. Scrap the Wirral View newspaper, using the money to reintroduce school crossing patrols

6. Stop the £1.5m on food waste bins. He said: “We will focus instead on reducing the amount of waste, including single use plastics and packaging.”

7. Protecting libraries and leisure centres. He said: “We will scrap Labour’s review of these services and guarantee that no library or leisure centre will be closed.”

Liberal Democrats

While the party named several issues around which it will campaign, group leader Cllr Phil Gilchrist said: “The Liberal Democrats have a simple message: let’s focus on getting our basic services right.”

He said growing the local economy was 'entirely right'.

He added: “Wirral is sailing close to the wind. Its finances are under great strain.

"This year’s council tax relies heavily on the use of money salted away over the years.

"The planned reduction in government grant makes it essential to find extra sources of income.

“The aim of growing our economy, providing new homes that meet local needs, is entirely right.

"We remain determined to secure grants from the government that will recognise Wirral’s needs.”

The second issue was over 'giving local people a greater say', particularly over the Wirral Growth Company (WGC).

He said: “The WGC must be accountable to the council and the communities it aims to redevelop.

“The council must give people opportunities to shape their services in their local communities – a cloud of uncertainty still hangs over Wirral’s library, sports and leisure facilities.”

Another of the group’s policies promised to 'leave nobody out', particularly in the example of health and social services.

Cllr Gilchrist raised the example of The Hive, which offers facilities for young people in Birkenhead, and said people in other parts of Wirral deserved similar.

Under the heading of 'creating and shaping our communities', Cllr Gilchrist said money from the sale of council assets 'must be ploughed back into our communities'.

He also said a better maintained road network was needed with more 20mph zones to improve safety, and that housing developers must meet 'clear local needs'.

The Wirral View would be scrapped under Lib Dem rule, as well as the 'fortune' spent on consultants and pay-offs to chief officers cut back.

The controversial Hoylake Golf Resort would also be replaced by a 'more environmentally-friendly project'.

Green

According to Wirral’s Green group leader Cllr Pat Cleary, the key priority for candidates after May’s election will be to clamp down on waste and invest more in 'key public services'.

Pat Cleary, councillor for Birkenhead and Tranmere, said: “Just having one Green councillor has made a huge difference.

"We defeated Labour’s daft plans to waste £1.1m on a new road in Hamilton Square.

“We led the way in forcing Wirral to commit to abandoning single use plastic.

"Thanks to the Green Party, the Merseyside Pension Fund is the first major local authority pension fund to take concrete steps to reducing its exposure to climate wrecking fossil fuels.”

Cllr Cleary said the party’s key pledges include:

1. To scrap the Wirral View newspaper and invest savings made in improving the environment

2. Freeze executive pay and introduce measures to address the 'obscene pay gap' between the lowest and highest paid council staff

3. Prioritise key brownfield sites for regeneration and housing, 'ending the threat to Wirral’s green belt'

4. Transform democratic structures to secure 'a more inclusive and transparent council in contrast to the rigid closed shop operated by the Labour Party'

5. Prioritise investment in active travel with pedestrians, cyclists and cleaner air

Green candidate in Prenton, Chris Cooke, said: “Clearly, our environment is not safe in Labour’s hands.

"Recycling rates have plummeted and they have bottled it on food waste recycling.

“Labour’s plans for the so-called golf resort in Hoylake – as well as being deeply unpopular – would be an unmitigated disaster for Wirral’s environment.

“We urgently need more Green voices to shine a light on these and other failures and steer Wirral in a more people and planet-friendly direction.”

The Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts party is putting forward three candidates, while UKIP will attempt to win one of the borough’s seats.

There will also be one independent candidate.