Promises, promises... from school meals to council tax and alcohol control zones
Published: 9 April 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB
IT’S as if they didn’t know a council election was coming.
Not one of Islington’s parties managed to produce a completed manifesto when asked by the Tribune this week, but all promised they were imminent.
Even before manifestos appear, pledges have been abundant, and there’s much similarity. All have promised to be greener, stop being wasteful and crack down on anti-social behaviour.
Much has been made of Labour’s universal free school meals policy versus the Lib Dems’ preferred council tax freeze.
The Lib Dems favour an alternative “fair school meals” policy, but the debate is further complicated by the government’s announcement last week that it will grant Islington half the money for a one-year pilot of the meals scheme.
Yet Lib Dem council leader Councillor Terry Stacy stands by his alternative plan. “We have to make a decision on the circumstances but we still think fair school meals is a better option,” he said. “Something like this is not easy to scrap overnight but the government is only paying for the pilot for one year.” He would prefer to keep Islington’s council tax among the lowest in London. Aside from this, the Lib Dems – depending on funding in the wake of the general election – are promising more late-night police, a saturation zone limiting licensed premises and tougher action on irresponsible dog owners.
On green issues, they have promised a network of local energy generation schemes across Islington with the aim of creating jobs, cutting emissions and lowering heating bills.
While the vow to improve school exam results lives on, Lib Dems also want to give extra housing points to Islington-born young people and provide more apprenticeships.
Labour, which continues to champion universal free school meals, promises to cut wasteful spending, “pointless council propaganda” and councillors’ expenses.
Its big priority is the building of thousands of affordable homes, including council homes for families and “ending the easy ride for luxury flat developers”.
There are promises to crack down on knife crime and anti-social behaviour but no detail on how this will happen. And the party wants to invest in new facilities for young people.
In terms of the environment, there will be rapid action on fly-tipping and dog mess, the return of free skips and a new programme to insulate homes, cutting carbon emissions and energy bills.
The £100 council tax discount for over-65s will be protected.
The Greens want more jobs and apprenticeships, safer streets and help for residents who want to save energy. They will defend the NHS from privatisation, and increase the proportion of affordable housing.
The Tories are making a strong appeal to leaseholders, with promises to scrap Homes for Islington and a campaign to extend the £10,000 repair cap for all leaseholders.
There are more promises to cut wasteful spending, council expenses and council tax and a vow to take the publication of payments to high-paid council staff a step further by revealing all salaries over £60,000 and expenditure over £25,000.
They are calling for more dispersal zones, alcohol control zones and temporary toilet facilities in Upper Street on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tories have promised a radical reform of secondary education but again no details, and will extend rubbish and recycle collections.