Aberdeenshire Council Liberal Democrat Group – Manifesto Commitments Delivered
In the run-up to the 2007 Council Elections, Aberdeenshire Council Liberal Democrats published their manifesto for 2007-11. The Manifesto covered all areas of the council’s work and set out before the residents of Aberdeenshire a well thought out and balanced programme of initiatives, all based on our core principles of fairness, equality and responsiveness.
In all, the manifesto contained 227 specific commitments, grouped under the headings of Working in Partnership, Strengthening Democracy, Stewardship of Public Funds, Empowering Individuals and Communities, Sustainability, Life Long Learning, Safe and Sustainable Communities and Caring for Communities.
Analysis has shown that 94% of these commitments were met, in whole or in part.
Against a background of severe budget reductions, Aberdeenshire Council Liberal Democrats can take some pride in their record of delivering their 2007 Manifesto commitments. We have
• Worked in meaningful partnership with our communities.
• Ensured Aberdeenshire is recognised as having the best quality of life.
• Established a record for sound financial management, recognised externally.
• Delivered significant capital projects across Aberdeenshire, despite the pressures on capital resources, including schools, road improvements, upgrading of council buildings and meeting the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act for access to our buildings.
• Supported a wide range of community groups, including Community Councils, Rural Partnerships, Community Development Groups and Tenants’ organisations. As budgets have been reduced, we have assisted them to identify sustainable sources of funding to move towards being self-supporting.
• Put economic development in the broadest sense at the heart of our work.
• Delivered improvements to the planning service as well as attracting external funding for our Regeneration Areas.
• Delivered a Local Development Plan, designed to foster sustainable development across Aberdeenshire and give certainty to communities and the development industry.
• Maintained and developed the high standards of Aberdeenshire education
• Ensured the introduction of Curriculum for Excellence has been carefully planned.
• Delivered enhanced sporting opportunities for schools and communities
• Maintained our Library services and enhanced access to IT facilities within communities.
• Maintained our road network through some of the harshest winters in living memory and increased investment in road maintenance
• Established Design and energy efficiency as key parts of the Planning process
• Worked with our residents to increase the amount of waste that is recycled.
• Supported our rural and fishing communities
• Campaigned for Scottish Government investment in major road and rail projects in the North East. No such projects are currently under construction.
• Worked with partners to improve public transport provision across Aberdeenshire.
• Worked to engage with young people in particular and involved them in Community Planning at the highest level.
• Delivered high quality homes for our tenants and maintained the 30 year Business Plan.
• Delivered, in partnership XXX Affordable homes during the council term.
• Enhanced Care & Repair to enable many more people to remain in their own homes for longer.
• Worked closely with the NHS and other partners to provide seamless Community Health and Social Care services.
• Invested in our Sheltered Housing stock, family centres and care homes.