We need a strong team and a clear manifesto that is united by a commonality of purpose, with a drive to deliver for the residents.
A box-ticking conformity means that officialdom is content if the process is followed – no matter how drab or expensive the outcome.
As believers in low tax, we think that now, more than ever, the council should be doing all it can to reduce the ask on hard-pressed Council Tax payers.
A report has found a lack of proper audits, unlawful payments, and a refusal to answer queries from councillors.
There are far too many town hall officials earning over £90,000 a year. A recruitment freeze would help allow a Council Tax freeze.
It offers the opportunity to devolve powers directly to county and unitary authorities – rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all Metro Mayor model.
Labour’s failures in our borough have been monumental. But our campaign was a positive and optimistic one.
Labour spent all their time telling people what they disliked about our borough. One of their candidates claimed the ward they were hoping to represent was “a dive”.
New high rises have wrecked the look and feel of our borough. People also see their hard-earned money wasted. They understand that things must change.
Inertia and vested interests mean councils are ignoring technological solutions. The result is a terrible physical and financial cost.
Decades of careful financial management are now at risk from their spending pledges. We know from Croydon what can happen next.
Plus: Welsh council reserves increase during the pandemic. The complex Council Tax rebate is an utter shambles, with widespread delays.
Plus: Pet projects in Durham, with a £50 million new HQ. Councillors in Wolverhampton increase their allowances by 17 per cent.
We will also adopt a brownfield first building policy – and stop Labour’s plans for destroying the city’s valuable park land.
Council leaders can pass the buck and play political blame games when they should be taking action. We need proper accountability.