This is a web page preview of a Microsoft Word document from the Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats site. It is generated by a computer and is not manually edited. Formatting and content may be displayed differently to the original document, and should not be regarded as definitive.

• Protecting the countryside, Oxford's Green Belt and the Vale's towns and villages

• Recycling more of your waste

• Keeping your Council Tax low

1. We will address the urgent priority of climate change by developing a strategy for all the Vale's work. We will promote this strategy among our partners and businesses in the Vale.

2. We will promote environmental awareness through the Council's activities.

3. We will further develop our Staff and Councillor Green Travel Plan to encourage greener travel across the district.

4. We will take environmental considerations into account when we procure goods or services for the Vale.

5. We will purchase renewable energy for the Vale's buildings.

6. We will implement grey water schemes for the Vale's parks and gardens.

7. We will make clear how Recycling and Waste activities affect climate change.

8. We will develop and encourage further debates among young people on environmental issues.

9. In Planning and Regulation matters we will `require' not just `encourage' appropriate actions from developers to address climate change issues.

10. We will introduce a `green building code' for developers.

11. We will encourage green travel in new residential and commercial developments, through improved public transport and safe cycling provision.

12. We will make it easier to recycle and to recycle more:

• We will introduce weekly kitchen waste recycling as early as possible

• We will introduce an alternative to green sacks for garden waste to ensure that this waste stream no longer goes to landfill.

13. We will work with other local authorities to deliver the Oxfordshire Waste Strategy, to improve recycling and further reduce the amount of waste we send to landfill.

• In 2005 we became the best authority in England in terms of the least waste produced per household, helping to cut unnecessary landfill and saving council tax payers money they would have had to pay in landfill taxes.

• The Vale has the lowest costs for domestic waste collection in Oxfordshire.

1. We will continue our strong commitment to summer sports programmes and sports development, to provide enjoyable activities for young people, reducing the opportunities for anti-social behaviour.

2. We will continue to support the Vale's youth development team in working with young people and groups across the district.

3. We will support local plans for youth shelters developed by communities across the Vale.

4. We will continue to develop the Vale's highly successful Youth Forum, which was introduced by the Liberal Democrats in 1996.

5. We will work to develop more partnership working with the police

• through the neighbourhood action groups

• to continue support for Closed Circuit TV in the Vale

• to develop the role of Police Community Support Officers in the Vale

6. We will focus on environmental crime as a key priority. Following a series of successful prosecutions, we will continue to give combating graffiti and fly-tipping in the Vale a high priority.

7. We will continue working with our partners in the `Supporting People' programme, which provides important help for the most vulnerable groups in the district.

8. We will explore joint funding with neighbouring authorities to support outreach and hostel services for residents who have been victims of domestic violence.

9. We will continue to develop affordable housing for rent and shared ownership across the Vale. Since 1995 the Vale has funded and built over 1500 affordable homes, providing a secure environment for people and families who might otherwise have remained in temporary accommodation.

10. We will reduce the number of people the Vale places in temporary accommodation.

11. We will continue to reduce fuel poverty through our award-winning `Warm Front' funding to improve heating and insulation in homes across the district. This programme has been promoted strongly by the Vale's Energy Team, resulting in improved living standards for over 400 families in 2006.

12. We will draw up and implement a Housing Strategy which meets targets for `Decent Homes'.

1. We will protect the Oxford Green Belt in its entirety and we will oppose any moves to change or reduce it.

2. We will work for the best, long-term interests of residents in the Vale's response to Thames Water's proposal for a new reservoir in the district.

3. We will continue to oppose development in the countryside outside our towns and villages.

4. We will deliver an imaginative, high-quality development of Abingdon's Old Gaol site which delivers public access to the site and the riverside in Abingdon.

5. We will support the redevelopment of the market places in Wantage and Abingdon. The Vale contributed the majority of funding for Faringdon's much praised new market square.

6. We will ensure the delivery of high quality design in all developments in the Vale, through schemes such as the successful recent Design Awards held by the Vale to reward good local practice.

7. We will work with developers at Grove airfield to ensure the best deal for existing and new residents. Our record on securing benefits from developers is second to none and we will continue to work positively with the developers of the airfield site to deliver real benefits.

8. We will support a `healthcheck' for Wantage, building on the success of the Faringdon `healthcheck', which has significantly affected the participation of residents and local groups in the life of the town.

9. We will encourage and support Neighbourhood Parish Plans and community projects across the district.

10. We will continue our commitment to sustainable tourism in the Vale

• We will continue our financial support for the local museums in Wantage and Abingdon.

• We will continue to develop the Vale's new tourism information website, www.visitvale.co.uk, supporting services in our villages and towns.

11. We will continue improving our car parks across the Vale, to make them safer, improve town centre vitality, address residents' concerns and provide fair and effective enforcement. Charges will be kept to the minimum level possible to fund the service.

12. We will defend our local health services, including the community hospitals in Wantage and Abingdon. The community hospitals in Wantage and Abingdon provide vital local services for the two towns and the numerous rural communities around them. We will work to ensure that community health services remain in the Vale.

1. We will continue to maintain the Vale's reputation for high quality services and low Council Tax. For two years in a row the Vale has had the eighth lowest District Council Tax charge out of the 238 District Councils in England and we have never overspent our budget. The Vale has had a very low Council Tax for many years. This contrasts with Tory Oxfordshire County Council, which has the fifth highest Council Tax out of 34 English counties.

2. We will seek more joint working opportunities with other Councils and organsations to deliver our services and achieve savings, building on our existing successful partnerships, including:

• Leisure services across the Vale provided by SOLL

• The award winning White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre, run by CLS

• An innovative link-up of our Revenues and Benefits service with neighbouring South Oxfordshire District Council and Capita - the first such scheme in the country

• The Vale's grounds and parks maintenance, provided by J.V. Strong

• Waste and recycling, managed by Cleanaway

3. We will continue to expand our highly successful work to combat benefit fraud, following many successful prosecutions over the past year.

4. We will continue to demonstrate real value for money to residents, staff and councillors, not just to the Government and the Audit Commission, as we have done in the past through regular consultations such as the Vale Voice panel of residents who have helped us to decide on our priorities.