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LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
LAST year, Wirral Council faced a significant challenge - four years of a divided Cabinet had produced a looming budget deficit of £45m, a bins collection service in chaos, and a council lacking direction.
One year later, things are starting to change. The council's budget has been stabilised, bins chaos has been ended, and the council knows where it's going.
£16 million of efficiencies have been achieved and we have the second lowest council tax rise on Merseyside at 3.66%. The bins service is back on track. Recycling rates have more than doubled to 32%, the best on Merseyside.
Around £1m of additional spending has been put into local services such as reducing graffiti and dog fouling, investing in reading, allotments and play areas, reducing carbon emissions, introducing 20 mph zones and giving local people a bigger say in how money is spent in their local area.
This change has come about because for the first time Liberal Democrats have taken a bigger role as equal partners in a joint administration, replacing the Conservatives who had previously failed Wirral through their inept leadership of the environment and streetscene portfolios. The Liberal Democrats have brought a new vitality to the borough, resulting in a new vision for Wirral through its new Corporate Plan.
Looking forward, we need to implement that vision, building greater prosperity through attracting investment to create jobs and a vibrant local economy. We need to invest to narrow the disparities in health, education and quality of life that exist in Wirral. At last the economic potential of this peninsula is being recognised, but we must make sure this benefits everyone.
The council is getting better; our aim is to make it better still. We will devolve more power to local communities, giving greater choice to everyone. We will continue to make a safe clean and environmentally sustainable communities our priority. There is a saying, that if you keep doing the same old things, you will get the same results.
Liberal Democrats have shown that we can deliver change and make a difference. With your support we can do more.
By Simon Holbrook, Liberal Democrat group leader
4:38pm Tuesday 22nd April 2008
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