Liberal Democrat Manifesto for Milton Keynes

10.06.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 7th Apr 2007

The Liberal Democrats are standing on our record of delivering service improvements whilst keeping council tax levels down. Government inspections and independent public opinion polling both show that Milton Keynes has improved under the Liberal Democrats over the last five years.

Our Council tax levels are £60 below the English average. If you lived in any of the neighbouring Conservative run-areas your council tax would be much higher than in Milton Keynes. People in Leighton Buzzard pay over £5 a week more on average. Locally, MK Conservative councillors put in a last minute bid to increase council tax by almost 5%. The Lib Dem Council tax increase was 3.6%.

We are proud of our record of achievements which include:

• Local people say Milton Keynes is cleaner

• Council tax is well below the national average

• Education standards have improved

• Residents feel safer

• Older people are being helped to keep their independence

• Recycling and garden waste schemes are popular with residents

We have also been fighting hard on behalf of Milton Keynes residents:

• Led the campaign against developers who wanted to rip up part of the V10 grid road - and won

• Fought neighbouring Conservative Councils' plans to build a new town between Moulsoe and North Crawley - the fight continues

• Threw out proposals from Milton Keynes Partnership's consultants to demolish homes on some older estates

• Campaigned to keep Milton Keynes health services locally run - and won

• Continued to fight for fair funding for services for the growing population - and got an extra £2 million

• Fought plans for London's waste to be dumped in Milton Keynes.

For the coming year we are pledging that the Liberal Democrat Council will:

• Provide more activities for young people

• Clean up MK grot spots

• Promote energy efficiency across Milton Keynes

• Increase the number of community safety wardens

• Keep council tax rises to no more than inflation

• Help more older people to live independently in their community.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES for 3 May, 2007 elections

(* denotes sitting councillor)

Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Ward - ALFRED VELLA

Bradwell Ward - REX EXON*

Campbell Park Ward - CEC TALLACK*

Danesborough Ward - EDIS BEVAN

Emerson Valley Ward - ROSEMARY DREWETT*

Furzton Ward - CHRIS WILLIAMS*

Hanslope Park Ward - VAL MENZIES

Linford North Ward - ALAN RICHARDS

Linford South Ward - ALAN MALLYON

Loughton Park Ward- RAB MAKKI

Middleton Ward - DEREK EASTMAN*

Sherington Ward - SAM POTTS

Stantonbury Ward - BILL WATTS

Stony Stratford Ward - SACHA DHAMANI

Walton Park Ward - VANESSA McPAKE

Wolverton Ward - MIKE GALLOWAY

Woughton Ward - SHIB ROY