Lib Dems promise school focus (From thisisoxfordshire)

Lib Dems promise school focus

4:14pm Sunday 10th May 2009 in News By Tom Shepherd

Zoé Patrick

The Liberal Democrats promised to focus on improving education standards, the roads and having stronger social services if they are elected to run Oxfordshire County Council.

The party, which holds 15 of Oxfordshire County Council’s 74 seats, put those three areas at the heart of its manifesto for the June 4 election.

Zoé Patrick, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said she believed the party could improve services without Council Tax increases as she unveiled the manifesto, Ambitious for Oxfordshire.

She said: “In recent years, the Conservative regime at County Hall has been criticised for poor attainment in schools.

“It has raised social care charges and tightened eligibility criteria.

“It has left our roads full of holes and our pavements covered in weeds.

“But when given the opportunity in this year’s budget to invest in these three key services, they chose to spend money on spin instead, funding a new head of communications, marketing and public affairs and printing even more glossy leaflets.

“We are clear – we need to invest in the basic services that local people rely on every day.

“And we need a county council that genuinely listens to people.

“This is what we set out in our manifesto, and what we will do if elected on Thursday, June 4.”

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to create a “thriving economy” by spending more on roads and building projects, tackling fuel poverty and increasing debt advice to residents and businesses.

In its 16-page manifesto, the party also sets out its plan to invest more in children’s services and raise standards in schools, calling for A Fair Chance for Every Child.

Mrs Patrick said: “Investing in family support early is essential and hugely cost-effective. We will provide more social workers for this vital service.

“If Oxfordshire was staffed at the average of other counties, we would have another 50 social workers.”

She added: “Oxfordshire’s exam results have been worse than most comparable authorities for many years.”

Other sections are called Investing in Roads and Transport; Putting People First – Social and Community Services; Safeguarding the Environment; and Fighting the Fear of Crime – Safer Communities.

Asked whether the programme would require a rise in taxes, Mrs Patrick replied: “Not at all. We’re not considering raising council tax.

“The corporate core at the council has been expanding, with more and more jobs.

“We would be spending more on front-line services. We’re talking about how we spend taxpayers’ money.”

To read the Liberal Democrats’ manifesto in full, see oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk l The Oxford Mail will be reporting on the other political parties’ county council election manifestos in the coming days.