Promoted by Robert Haskins on behalf of North West Leicestershire Labour Candidates, both of 33 Piper Drive, Long Whatton, Loughborough Leics LE12 5DJ

Foreword Labour's manifesto for the 2023 District elections is a plan for real prosperity, built on innovation, sustainability and inclusion. A rebalanced economy which values skills and creativity. A healthy, sustainable environment. Communities where people feel safe and secure. New homes that meet people's needs rather than developers' greed. That is the promise of Labour's election manifesto, 'Build a Better North West Leicestershire.' Compare our plans with the miserable Tory legacy of unaffordable homes and endless warehousing. They have the nerve to call this growth, whilst preening themselves over their policy of an unfunded, long-term Council Tax freeze. Then again, these are the same people who brought us Liz Truss and her discredited tax policies. As the proportion of Council revenue from local residents has shrunk, so has the power of their voice; whilst the influence of the business community, whose taxes have been keeping the Council solvent, has grown. Yet aren't Councils supposed to be publicly funded local authorities which represent the public interest? Labour is committed to restoring the District Council's reputation as a democratic institution. We have made this our mission in Opposition. The manifesto which follows demonstrates our intent to act now, and in the interests of the people, to win back control of North West Leicestershire District Council.

Sean Sheahan Labour Group Leader April 2023

Setting high standards in housing A Labour Council will Increase the number of new social homes built for rent, whilst ensuring that growth in the Council’s housing stock stays ahead of sales under the Right to Buy Through a carefully planned maintenance programme, ensure that all the Council’s housing stock exceeds the minimum standards set by Government Closely monitor routine housing repairs to ensure work is completed on time and to a proper standard Make sure Council houses are energy efficient to help tenants’ manage their heating bills and reduce the impact on the environment. We will also investigate modern community energy schemes. Ensure that people at risk of homelessness have access to the support and advice they need to help them continue living in their home Tackle domestic abuse by focussing on prevention and support, whilst ensuring victims have access to safe and secure housing, should it be needed. Develop new schemes to help people take their first step towards home ownership, such as establishing a local authority mortgage offer for firsttime buyers Introduce a Good Landlords’ Charter, which will define a set of clear, practical and accessible standards that will drive up the quality of renting in the District, Encourage and support tenants’ and residents’ associations across the district, Increase resources to meet more tenants’ requests to convert wide grass verges or other unused land to off-street parking and, where appropriate, consider a scheme for installing drop kerbs and driveways for Council properties.

Better opportunities in the local economy Support the creative economy in North West Leicestershire by investing in low cost, managed work spaces, alongside a local business expertise network offering practical guidance such as marketing, retail and web design. Commit the Council to buying locally wherever possible and encourage other large local organisations to do likewise. Form a partnership with local businesses and colleges to cultivate the skills that will match local needs, both now and in the future Promote the District as a place for manufacturing businesses to set up and grow and encourage all businesses to take on apprentices. Seek to maximise the benefits to the District from the redevelopment of the Ratcliffe on Soar power station site. In the more rural areas of the District, encourage businesses and services which are sympathetic to the environmental and regeneration ideals of the National Forest. Promote public transport, and strongly support a passenger rail service between Leicester and Burton – the National Forest (Ivanhoe) Line. Support the restoration of the Ashby Canal. Press for an extension of the Nottingham tram service from Clifton South to East Midlands Airport. Campaign for, and where possible support, more local bus services in the evenings to keep communities connected.

Modern, safe and thriving town centres Pursue a policy of co-operation with the police and licensees to keep our town centres safe from anti-social behaviour, especially in the evenings. Take positive action to encourage new retail businesses, restaurants and entertainment venues to set up shop in Coalville. Work towards establishing more entertainment in Coalville particularly for young people, such as a cinema or ten pin bowling. Support the local museum within the old Snibston Mine buildings. Provide more start-up units for new small businesses and continue to support them through a reduced Business Rate for the first two years. Ensure continued investment in Ashby as a centre for tourism working closely with the Ashby Business Improvement District. Continue to support Ashby Tourist Information Centre. Keep car parking provision under review to ensure there are enough spaces, both for able bodied and disabled persons.

Taking back control of Planning

Labour will overhaul the planning system to make it fit for purpose: better protection for the countryside and green spaces, firmer control over numbers and types of housing and recognition that proper infrastructure is essential. Through the Local Plan process, we will strive to ensure local needs for affordable housing, social homes for rent and bungalows are met now and for the foreseeable future. In addition, we will – encourage and facilitate parish councils to develop and update Neighbourhood Plans, treat local people as stakeholders in the planning process, keeping them informed, engaging with their arguments and responding to their concerns, acting on behalf of affected local residents, hold the Government, their business and political partners to account over their Freeport plans, fully engage with the airport and other liaison committees to ensure that local concerns are fairly represented, make best use of planning powers to ensure that major new industrial developments come with sustainable and timely transport links to local communities, develop a Parking Planning Policy which meets the needs of existing residents, protects current parking amenity and ensures new developments provide sufficient parking spaces for new residents, protect the sense of place of rural villages and conservation areas by controlling the rate of development, scale and location of new housing and employment sites. Ensure staffing numbers in planning enforcement are maintained at the proper level to provide a credible and effective service, that deters unauthorised development and enforces compliance with planning conditions.

Looking after the environment We oppose HS2, but until it is stopped, we will work with affected local communities, businesses and other organisations to obtain mitigation or compensation for the inevitable disruption if the scheme goes ahead. We will renew the Council’s Air Quality Action Plan, incorporating clear actions to improve air quality in the District, particularly in relation to transport emissions. Actively pursue measures to reduce the carbon footprint of the District, to become a net-zero Council by 2030 and a net-zero District by 2050. In particular: •

Urgently seek a low carbon heating alternative for the new leisure centre

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Increase the number of electric car charging points

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Investigate new recycling schemes aimed at increasing recycling rates to the level of the best local authorities, including district wide waste food collection

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Replace hydrotreated vegetable oil fuelled Council vehicles with electric or hydrogen powered alternatives as quickly as is feasible

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Ensure the new Local Plan maximises energy efficiency of new homes within national planning constraints and encourages businesses to invest in renewable energy projects such as solar, wind and electric vehicle charging.”

Resist any move to reduce the frequency of waste collection rounds. Roll out an improved householder recycling storage system. Provide every household with one free bulky waste collection per year. Review waste collection staffing levels in order to avoid missed collections and excessive overtime .

Leisure for everyone

Make sure local people have a strong voice in determining which leisure activities are provided by the Council. Ensure continued improvement within Ashby Leisure Centre. Examine the potential to extend the opening hours of Ashby Leisure Centre Lido. Promote grassroots sport and seek ways to increase participation in sporting activities. Open up leisure and health-promoting opportunities for all ages and abilities. Fund and promote outdoor gyms. Aim to implement the Coalville and Ashby cycling strategies at the earliest opportunity, prioritising a safe Ashby to Hicks Lodge connection Celebrate community life by supporting public art and local festivals. Plan for improvements to leisure provision in the Castle Donington and Kegworth areas.

A Council that cares We will – Strive for the highest standards of customer services by investing in staff and technology. Ensure Council jobs pay at least the real living wage and where practically possible, ensure that partner organisations do the same, Never knowingly award Council contracts to companies that have been found to have Illegally blacklisted workers. Grant additional money for the Citizens Advice Bureau to fund a money advice caseworker. Carry forward the key initiatives that Labour proposed in the Council’s Fuel Poverty Action Group. Develop a comprehensive policy to tackle social isolation and loneliness. Help local communities retain access to convenient banking services. Seek protected status for all the District’s buildings and structures with heritage value. Support new uses for such buildings where this will help with their conservation. Support close working between District Housing, County Social Care and Community Health services to maximise the use of Coalville Community Hospital, support care closer to home and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions especially for those at the end of their natural lives.