Conservatives Launch Stratford-on-Avon District Manifesto

The Conservative Party has formally launched their 2011 District Manifesto.

The full document, entitled Your District, Your Community, You're in Control, outlines the Conservative Party's track record in the Stratford-on-Avon District and their policies for the local Council election on the 5th of May.

You can read the entire document here 2011 District Manifesto

Conservatives act to review housing numbers

The Conservatives on Stratford District Council have ordered an urgent review of its key planning and housing policies after the new coalition government confirmed plans to scrap Regional Spatial Strategies.

Immediately after the Queen's Speech promised legislation within 18 months to "return decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils", Cllr. Gill Roache (Con. Vale of the Red Horse), the council's planning portfolio holder, said:

"I will be sitting down without delay with planning officers to see how we move forward. The aim will be to reduce the 7,500 dwellings imposed on us by the previous government - which before the election we said we would do given the opportunity.

"The promise of early legislation obviously changes everything. We don't yet have all the details but it's reasonable to assume we can revisit the draft Core Strategy and revise it in line with what the District wants, not what regional or central government felt was best for us.

"We have always said that 7,500 new homes is far too many and that we would like to cut the number with the aim of keeping them as low as possible without compromising our ability to meet our future housing needs.

"Now it looks as if we are free to set our own numbers based on our assessment of local housing needs, including affordable housing - and that will be welcomed by everyone in Stratford and elsewhere in the District."

Cllr. Roache added: "Nick Clegg and his LibDem Ministers and MPs will all support the legislation. Therefore, I hope the local LibDems will now call off their phoney war on over-development in Stratford and elsewhere and work with us on agreeing new numbers.

"It's time they stopped trying to score political points on an issue where we had no control before, and instead joined us in listening to what people in the District have to say about future development and housing numbers."

Conservative Group elects new Leader

Cllr. Stephen Gray (Long Compton) is the new Leader of the Conservative Group on Stratford District Council.

He was elected on Monday evening to succeed Les Topham and will take over as Leader of the Council at its annual meeting on May 19.

Cllr. Gray, who rejoined the Council in 2005, was re-elected at last week's election. He was Portfolio Holder for Revenues and Housing in the previous administration.

He said: "We fought and won last week's election on a clear set of policies - policies that we will aim to deliver in the coming year, and beyond.

"Our main priority will be to continue to keep our Council Tax as low as possible - through cutting Council costs and working collaboratively with others - while maintaining good quality services.

"Our other priorities are flood defences, keeping our neighbourhoods safe for everyone, promoting social inclusion, delivering more affordable homes for local people, supporting young people's aspirations and supporting the visitor economy.

"We warned during the election campaign that the Council faces a difficult period with the likelihood of heavy pressure on our finances which will require difficult choices and decisions. But we are committed to protecting our priority areas."

He added: "I am keen that we strengthen our communication with residents, listening to them - and in the case of Stratford trying to understand better their concerns - and informing them fully of the reasons for our decisions."

Cllr. Sue Wixey (Kineton) was re-elected Deputy Leader of the Group.

Nadhim gets down to work as MP

Top of Nadhim's list of priorities is the problem of on-street parking charges in Stratford.

"I am pressing for an early meeting with the leader of the county council to discuss this issue.

"Everyone I meet tells me that the charges are an additional barrier to people coming to Stratford to enjoy the town's excellent shops".

Nadhim is also calling on local business leaders to feed him "good ideas" for revitalising the local economy "so that we can make the town and the whole constituency vibrant again".

And he is pushing for plans to close local fire stations to be abandoned.

Nadhim was elected as MP with a majority of 11,346 over the LibDems, with Labour trailing third.