MANIFESTO for Wrexham
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It would be excellent if Wrexham Council Members published a full and complete manifesto for the future of Wrexham.
Just as the Labour party is currently hearing mutterings from senior figures that it is becoming a party of protest, this is Wrexham.
It is good to hear that the Leader is challenging the future of health provision, that pre-school work is bearing fruit, and interesting to note Lesley Griffiths say a scheme has created a record number of jobs (but what has happened to the total number of jobs, and opportunity for the future).
Wrexham needs to set out what it will do to put us in the top quarter of performances in education, health and housing. It needs to deliver jobs in Wrexham with earnings in the higher indexes, and attract industry (public sector facilities simply spend public money).
I think we need to cast our minds back to May ’12. Wrexham Labour had a manifesto, it was on the exact same piece of literature across the county, the only difference being a picture and a crude rewording of the back page.
I’ve got a copy somewhere, I’ll try and dig it out. But if I remember rightly, they haven’t done any of the things they promised.
They didn’t put up a fight to save Kerbcraft ( infact 2 out of the 3 members from Wrexham who are a part of the Taith transport board didn’t even show up – and that includes the Leader of the Council!)
The council does have a plan looking forward; but let us quickly remember all of the times that this council has said it is for the people. Let us remember how many times it has said it is especially for young people.
Yet they are cutting the number of youth centres, on the hope that an outreach service will pick up the slack ( very doubtful in my opinion, outreach has it’s place, but not on this scale!) – This is going to lead to higher rates of anti-social behavior.
They allowed the kerbcraft situation to happen, putting Wrexham’s young people in increased risk.
Ok, enough of a rant about the Council; Ian Lucas, categorically stated in the Leader a few years back that he would not support a Prison, since then he has remained silent – It’s a big moment for Wrexham, we need people to at least take a stance!
Lesley Griffiths’ time as Health Minister is just starting to show up in terms of what’s happening on the ground. 6 years of lost time because of inefficient handovers in hospitals across Wales, North Wales losing it’s specialist neo-natal care units to England…
I’m sorry for a rant but Wrexham Labour are no where near as shiny as people make them out to be. Incompetent, Indecisive and Ineffective.
Quite frankly it’s puppetry at it’s finest.
My little rant doesn’t even begin to cover the bulk of the education system ( Welsh Labour are in the driving seat in that one).
We’ve had a failing Welsh NHS and a failing Education System…
Business is dropping…
There’s no investment…
Services are stretched too thin…And the common factor is Welsh Labour, whether it be at Council or Assembly level.
Before someone mentions that it’s Westminster’s fault for not pumping more money into Wales, no amount of money will hide the incompetence shown by Labour in Wales – disgraceful.The two things that I would like to see in a Manifesto for Wrexham are policies for Business growth and policies for Education. These are cross fertilising and there is a need within both points of emphasis to encourage Entrepreneurial behaviour and the establishing of Businesses to provide Employment.
In fairness, the Welsh Assembly Government have grasped the need for more Enterprise and there is a ‘Dynamo’ scheme within Welsh schools to foster the main ACRO skills which SMEs actually use. Unfortunately someone needs to remind Wrexham Council that life is hopelessly competitive and so too is business. The schools need to rid themselves of the mixed ability approach and get back to encouraging youngsters to prepare for the real world.
While its good to hear Welsh Assembly are doing some good, it is probably crucial that Wrexham, if it is working to a manifesto, sets out what it is responsible for, what the assembly is responsible for, and what progress is being made. It appears education is put at the foot of the Assembly, but Wrexham seem to accept their policies, and have quite a number of councillors on the schools boards of governors!
The problem in the schools is that they aren’t democratic and both the Councillors and the Governors allow them to be that way. Education is controlled by the elite groups that are part Teacher Unions, part intellectuals. Instead of working towards a system that parents demand the schools are politicised and are classic examples of the tail wagging the dog. If they were in the private sector it would be the equivalent of a company ignoring their customers and only listening to their staff.
Crazy
The Manifesto should demand that the Council become consumer centred
Councillors on the board of governors, and a direct influence into the Council as paymaster … time for councillors to stand up for pupils and parents as consumers … and deliver education that gives young people a future!
Manifestos, some of the best pieces of modern fiction are political manifestos.
When they’re published, does anyone actually believe for one moment that when the party in question is actively going to go out of their way to achieve these ‘promises’ ?
A lot of voters have very short memories.
What ever happened to clarity, honesty and democracy ?It would have to start with a commitment to leadership & governance.
Each person proposing themselves for election and a potential member of council would need to demonstrate an unequivocal will to put party politics to one side, champion the locality, be pragmatic about working with public services and market forces in a natural geography.
Not seek any remuneration or expenses, be transparent to avoid any conflicts, and provide governance by providing a single vision for Wrexham and demonstrate clear collective leadership to achieve that vision.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR PROSPERITY
* Wrexham is to raise the disposable income of each citizen, comparable to the top quarter of local authority geographies in the United Kingdom.
* Those under 18 years of age, who are disadvantaged and over 65 years of age, will receive special attention, and specific measurements will be put in place to ensure those commitments are met and that their well-being and future is championed.
* Economic output will be championed to a level comparable with the top quarter of local authority geographies in the United Kingdom by maximising the freedom of opportunity to business and choice for the consumer.
* Education will champion each child based on individual capability, and without discrimination of impairment.
* Health provision and care support of those in need will perform within the top quarter of the United Kingdom, and deliver an indexed measurement for the well-being of its citizen.
* Housing should be placed in a mutual trust, governed by its members, be capable of continual reinvestment, and always provide the option of ownership to its households.
* Transport will be seen as the arterial system of the community, roadworks and closures will be limited, measured and published; investment will be a priority.
* Expenditure by the county would be reduced from the last reported accounts of £430m per annum to £400m, and remain the same for four years.
* A simple index of quality of life shall be adopted, that will ensure the built and natural environment and green spaces promotes the historic values and the future ambition of Wrexham.
GOOD TO START SOMEWHERE
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