YOUR LOCAL PRIORITIES - LOCAL ELECTION MANIFESTO 2022 Your Local Priorities | 1 - Scottish Conservatives
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YOUR
LOCAL
PRIORITIES
LOCAL ELECTION MANIFESTO 2022
Your Local Priorities | 1
OUR PLAN TO DELIVER ON YOUR
LOCAL PRIORITIES
1. CUT COUNCIL TAX FOR ALMOST ONE
MILLION HOUSEHOLDS
2. FUND TUTORING AND ADDITIONAL
CLASSES TO HELP PUPILS CATCH UP
3. OPPOSE THE WORKPLACE PARKING TAX
4. FIX POTHOLES AND LOCAL ROADS
5. FIGHT FOR A FAIRER DEAL FOR YOUR
COMMUNITY
Your Local Priorities | 2
Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 4
Your local priorities - not the SNP’s.....................................................................................................5
Helping pupils to catch up.................................................................................................................... 7
Rebuilding local economies................................................................................................................ 10
Building the housing we need........................................................................................................... 12
Delivering a fair deal for you and your community........................................................................14
Connecting communities.....................................................................................................................17
Strengthening local environmental protections............................................................................. 19
A local health and social care service.............................................................................................. 21
Putting your priorities first..................................................................................................................23
Your Local Priorities | 3
Introduction
The local election in May is an The other parties will cut a shady
important opportunity for you to do backroom deal that will put the SNP in
just that. power.
I served as a councillor for a decade We know this because we have seen
before entering parliament. I know the it before. After the last local election,
incredible work that they can do for Labour formed a coalition with the
their communities, through resolving SNP in six councils. They will always
everyday problems and delivering prefer to work with the SNP than lock
improvements to local services. them out of power.
By voting for Scottish Conservative The Scottish Conservatives are
councillors in your local area, you will Scotland’s second largest party and in
elect councillors who will be totally last year’s election we won 100,000
Scotland is emerging from a two-year focused on your local priorities. more votes to prove that we are the
pandemic that has done incredible only pro-UK party that is growing in
harm to lives and livelihoods across Councillors who will be focused strength and the only party that can
Scotland. on getting on with the job of fixing challenge the SNP.
potholes and the local roads that you
At this point we should be looking drive on; With your vote, we can beat the SNP
to rebuild our public services and in your local area and get your council
deliver our recovery. Pupils need investing in tutoring and additional focused on your local priorities.
help catching up from two years of classes to help pupils catch up from
disrupted schooling, patients are the damaging impact of two years of It is time to end this stalemate and put
facing long backlogs for treatment disrupted schooling; constitutional politics behind us.
and families are worried about rising opposing the SNP Government’s It is time to rebuild and recover from
costs. plans to introduce a workplace the pandemic and move forward
After all that we have been through, parking tax; together.
we should be looking ahead to the and fighting for your community It is time to get the focus onto your
future and coming together to move to have the final say over local local priorities.
forward. planning developments, not the SNP
Yet instead, we feel stuck. Nicola Government in Holyrood.
Sturgeon and the SNP Government They will do all this while tackling the
are again pushing their number one cost-of-living crisis, by keeping council
priority, instead of tackling the real tax low and cutting bills for almost one
issues that Scotland faces right now. Douglas Ross
million Scottish households.
Leader of the Scottish Conservative and
This is holding us back from our You will also send a strong signal to Unionist Party
recovery when we should be working the SNP Government that you want
with the whole of the UK to rebuild. Scotland to move on from nationalist
We need to break this stalemate. politics.
We need to send a strong signal to The alternative is an SNP-run council
the SNP Government to park the that will centralise local services, hike
constitutional debate and get the council tax and put the priorities of the
focus onto your local priorities. SNP Government first.
Your Local Priorities | 4
Your local priorities - not the SNP’s
This year’s local elections are about SNP Government are focused on increased, as the SNP take funding
the local services we use every their nationalist priorities. When we away from local services and use
day. They are about the roads we should be coming together to move it to pay for national projects. In
drive on, the schools our children forward from Covid, the SNP and addition, it means a council that will
go to, the housing being built in our their Green coalition partners are be distracted by their only real priority,
communities, the frequency of our bin distracted by their obsession with independence, instead of working
collections and the council tax we pay. another independence referendum. with the UK Government to secure
We believe that this is completely the vital investment in your community.
Our councils should be totally focused wrong priority for our country and
on these important local issues. This Scottish Conservative councillors However, if you elect Scottish
is even more important as we rebuild will be totally opposed to a second Conservative councillors then we
our public services and deliver our referendum. pledge to put your local priorities
economic recovery from the Covid first. Scottish Conservative councillors
pandemic. Our local authorities This election is your chance to get the will work hard to ensure that pupils
are facing immense challenges. focus of your council onto your local get the additional support they need
Our housing market is overheating priorities and not those of the SNP. to catch up on months of missed
because of a lack of supply, pupils schooling. We will keep council tax
have missed months of schooling If an SNP council is elected in your low and look to cut the tax for single
over the last two years and local local area, then they will put the adult households, to help them with
businesses are still seeing footfall priorities of Nicola Sturgeon and their bills. We will stand up to the
down dramatically from what it was the SNP Government first. That SNP Government over its plans to
before the pandemic. means local services being cut, as introduce a workplace parking tax and
the SNP Government take forward its plans to undertake an expensive
However, instead of supporting our their plans for centralisation without reorganisation of social care.
councils to deal with these difficult any objection from your council.
issues, Nicola Sturgeon and the It also means council tax being
Cllr Ade Aibinu
Candidate for Victoria Park
“I’m standing to oppose the SNP’s workplace parking tax and
improve local roads.”
Your Local Priorities | 5
The Scottish Conservatives are the
only party you can trust to say no
to a deal with the SNP. Labour are
already working with the SNP in six of
Scotland’s councils and the Greens
are in government with the SNP and
support them in Glasgow Council.
Both Labour and the Greens would
prefer to do a deal with the SNP than
work with other parties and will put
them into power in your local area.
Scottish Conservative councillors will
not do any deal that puts the SNP into
power.
At last year’s election, the Scottish
Conservatives won over 100,000
more votes while Labour and the
Liberal Democrats went backwards
again. We are Scotland’s second
largest party and the only pro-UK
party that is moving forward. Over the
last year, in local by-elections all over
Scotland we were only a few hundred
votes behind the SNP. Together we
can beat the SNP in your local area.
Cllr Angela Doran-Timson
In May’s local election, you face a Candidate for Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh
choice between an SNP council that
will put Nicola Sturgeon and the “I used to represent Labour but they can’t be trusted to stand up for
SNP Government’s priorities first or working people against the SNP anymore.”
Scottish Conservative councillors who
will put your local priorities first. Only
a vote for the Scottish Conservatives
can get your council focused on your
local priorities not the SNP’s.
Your Local Priorities | 6
Helping pupils to catch up
The Covid pandemic has meant equally across all pupils. Some would Conservatives believe that we need
that children and young people have been encouraged to do home to begin a national conversation
have faced two years of disrupted schooling and online lessons during around replacing Curriculum for
education, with school closures lasting the lockdowns while others would not. Excellence with a new framework
for months and widespread absences. built around returning to strong
This has had a significant impact We need to take targeted measures Scottish education traditions. Scottish
on pupil’s educational performance to help those pupils who have seen Conservative councillors will support
with the attainment gap at its widest their education suffer the most during that national conversation.
since 2016/17. Our children and young Covid. The Scottish Conservatives
people need additional help to catch have called for the SNP Government The SNP Government are considering
up so that the impact of the pandemic to set up a national tutoring the future of exams. Our view is
on their learning does not become a programme to provide one-to-one or that traditional exams provide a fair
permanent one. small group tuition for those children way of assessing pupil performance
and young people who need the against standards and should remain
However, despite the hard work most help. Scottish Conservative an important part of our education
of teachers and staff, the Scottish councillors will work to set up a system. Scottish Conservative
education system has been local tutoring scheme. They will also councillors will support the
plummeting down international provide additional funding for after- continued role of exams in our
rankings ever since the SNP came school classes and campaign for the schools.
to power. We cannot continue with SNP Government to allow schools
this same failed SNP approach. We to make payments to teachers who We welcome the SNP Government’s
need a mindset shift in our schooling, deliver additional revision sessions long overdue decision to scrap
which allows pupils and our education in the run-up to exams and for pupils the SQA and Education Scotland.
system to catch up not just from the who need additional assistance. In However, this cannot simply be a
pandemic but from the last 15 years. addition, they will pressure the SNP name-change exercise, it must be
Government to fund a pilot extension a substantive shift in the education
In 2016, Nicola Sturgeon said that to the school day, to further help oversight structure and its culture,
education was her “number one pupils to catch up on missed and should be led by teaching
priority”, but the reality is that a learning. professionals. At least one of the new
generation of Scottish school children bodies should be based outside of
have been let down by the SNP the Central Belt, such as in Aberdeen,
Government. We need to restore The future of Scottish to better understand the issues faced
our school system, so that it delivers education by schools in all parts of the country.
the world class education that all
Scots used to enjoy. Unlike the SNP
Government, Scottish Conservative
Scotland’s education system has Empowering schools and
gone from being one of the best in
councillors will make our schools the world to being just internationally teachers
their number one priority. average over the last two decades.
Our school performance is now not At the heart of our approach to
Catching up from the just lower than the UK average but Scotland’s education future must
be more autonomous schools and
worse than schooling in countries like
pandemic Estonia and Poland. empowered teachers. We need to
trust our teaching professionals more
The Covid pandemic has had an The SNP approach to managing and build a system which allows them
enormous impact on our children and our education system is dragging to run classrooms and schools in the
young people’s education. However, down standards and Curriculum best way for their pupils.
as the growing attainment gap has for Excellence is at the heart
shown, this impact has not been felt of that approach. The Scottish Scottish Conservative councillors will
Your Local Priorities | 7
support increased school autonomy We also need to ensure that our In addition, Scottish Conservative
through giving headteachers more schools have the best teachers. councillors will make more local
control over their schools, and Since the SNP came to power authority-owned attractions and
teachers more control of the content there are over 800 fewer teachers facilities free for children.
of lessons in their classrooms. They in Scotland’s schools. We need to
will also support greater parental attract more teachers to work in our Our schools have an important role in
involvement in the management of schools particularly in remote areas. educating our children about sexual
schools. Scottish Conservative councillors will health and wellbeing, but this should
support alternative pathways into be age appropriate and undertaken
Part of empowering our schools is teaching and set up grant schemes in close consultation with parents,
ensuring that they have the right to attract good teachers where who ultimately should decide what is
equipment to deliver a modern there are shortages, such as in rural best for their child. As such, Scottish
education. However, the SNP communities. Scottish Conservative Conservative councillors will vote
Government have been slow to councillors will also pressure the to boycott future SNP Government
deliver on their promise of a free SNP Government to fully fund the school sex surveys that ask children
laptop for every pupil. Scottish placement of dedicated STEM and intrusive personal questions.
Conservative councillors will invest in PE teachers in every primary school.
school IT equipment. They will also All of Scotland’s children deserve
pressure the SNP Government to
ensure that all schools have access to
Supporting our children’s the best start in life and improving
access to early years education is an
a full fibre broadband connection. wellbeing important part of delivering this. We
know that the SNP’s rollout of 1,140
This will allow schools to better Beyond education, our schools and hours of free childcare is being held
support each other through sharing councils have an important role in back by a lack of funding and staff,
resources and expertise online. ensuring the broader wellbeing of so Scottish Conservative councillors
However, this is no substitute for children and young people. The will lobby the Government for this
schools being able pool resources impact of the Covid pandemic has programme to be properly funded
locally where they are able. Clustering shown us all the importance of good from national budgets.
allows schools to build local mental health. Scottish Conservative
specialisation while offering pupils councillors will introduce trained Scottish Conservative councillors
access to a larger range of subjects. mental health leads with links to the also want to see parents given the
Scottish Conservative councillors will NHS in every school to help improve flexibility to choose the setting and
support the formation of both local children’s wellbeing. hours that work best for their family.
and online clusters to widen subject We believe the SNP Government
choice. We also need to encourage children’s must do more to help councils widen
physical activity to improve physical choice, make good on funding
This will allow our schools to offer and mental wellbeing. Scottish following the child and better
the broadest possible experience Conservative MSPs are bringing recognise the vital role childminders
to pupils. Scottish Conservative forward a bill to give children the and the private and voluntary sector
councillors will ensure that all pupils opportunity to participate in at least play in delivering this policy.
in their council area are able to take one week of residential outdoor
at least seven subjects in S4. They education in their schooling. Scottish
will also support school children to Conservative councillors will deliver
learn two additional languages in this opportunity locally to help build
order to increase the linguistic skills of children’s confidence and self-
Scotland’s students. Additionally, they esteem. They will also reintroduce
will ensure that every child has the P5 swimming lessons and will deliver
opportunity to play an instrument and more support for children and youth
play a sport. groups, especially those with a
focus on sport and physical activity.
Your Local Priorities | 8
Helping vulnerable While we believe that every effort
should be made to keep families
Pupils with additional support needs
are being let down by shortages
children together, this is not always possible. in specialist staff and inadequate
Scottish Conservative councillors services. Scottish Conservative
We need to ensure that appropriate will deliver on local authority councillors will ensure that teachers
support is in place for vulnerable commitments made through The in their local authority area receive
and disadvantaged children. Scottish Promise in full . They will also support the appropriate training to identify
Conservative councils would support the delivery of the Mockingbird and support children with conditions
a pilot programme for Family Hubs Programme in their local areas to such as dyslexia and autism. They will
to bring health, education and social build supportive communities around also press the government for funding
care services together and provide a foster families. to grow the school support staff
‘one stop shop’ of parenting support. workforce for children with additional
support needs.
Your Local Priorities | 9
Rebuilding local economies
Our town centres and high streets and £24 million for the upgrading of economic partnerships, to deliver
took a major hit during the pandemic. the B714 in North Ayrshire through the growth across our country.
Local businesses that thrived Levelling Up Fund. The Growth Deals
before Covid have closed or are Programme has also seen over £3
struggling to pay their bills. Many billion invested by both of Scotland’s Supporting local
shops, restaurants, pubs and hotels governments in every part of our businesses
are concerned about their future, country.
particularly once the SNP Government The pandemic is still having a
removes business rates relief in June. There are huge opportunities at all damaging impact on businesses in
levels for our communities to work our town centres and high streets,
During the pandemic, councils with the UK Government to secure with footfall not having returned to
played a major role in supporting investment, from the billions of previous levels. However, the SNP
businesses by distributing essential pounds available for crucial economic Government is ending support for
grant funding to them. It is important infrastructure through the UK Shared businesses in June. It is clear that
that as we continue to recover from Prosperity Fund to hundreds of businesses need to be supported
the pandemic, councils remain an thousands of pounds available for through the recovery and that taxes
important player in driving local community hall refurbishments should be gradually reintroduced.
growth. They must continue to have through the Community Ownership Scottish Conservative councillors
the flexibility to support businesses Fund. It is essential that Scotland’s will pressure the SNP Government
that fall between the cracks in communities take advantage of to keep business rates relief in place
national schemes and support local this exciting agenda to boost their for the entire financial year. They will
partnerships as we rebuild. They must economies, rather than allowing also look at introducing longer-term
also work hard to attract national the narrow nationalism of the SNP discount schemes for businesses
funding and new opportunities for Government and SNP councils to hold in traditional town centres and high
their local areas. them back. Scottish Conservative streets. Additionally, they will look into
councillors will work hard to creating joined up online systems for
Consumer habits have shifted secure access to UK Government businesses for licensing and non-
because of Covid. Our response investment for their communities. domestic rates.
must be to distinguish between what
are likely to be short and long term However, we know that there is However, we also need to do more
changes and realise the benefits while not a level playing field, with some to help businesses to rebuild their
mitigating the challenges. Scottish councils being larger and more customer base and encourage footfall
Conservative councillors will work able to access funding than others. in our town centres. To support local
hard to create jobs and growth in their Scottish Conservative councillors shopping, Scottish Conservative
communities. in smaller councils will work with councillors will remove parking
enterprise bodies to build capacity in charges in council owned car parks
their local authorities, so that they can for set times at weekends and will
Levelling Up our successfully bid for projects. pressure the SNP Government to
communities fully fund their scrapping entirely.
In many parts of Scotland, the Growth
The UK Government has set Deals Programme saw councils come Local cultural events are an important
up substantial funds to deliver together to form natural partnerships way of encouraging footfall, yet
growth and opportunity across to deliver regional growth. We need to many will have struggled during
Scotland. These have already led continue to embrace this approach to the Covid pandemic and will be
to transformative investments in build on Scotland’s regional economic facing continued uncertainty around
communities, such as the £20 million strengths. Scottish Conservative their future. Scottish Conservative
investment in the ‘masterplan’ councillors will support the formation councillors will establish a grassroots
regeneration of Aberdeen city centre and strengthening of regional events fund to incentivise the return of
Your Local Priorities | 10festivals and other cultural events, and tax, which will further increase start up and scale up. Scottish
provide start-up support for new ones. costs on those businesses. Scottish Conservative councillors will support
Conservatives councillors will oppose comprehensive Business Gateway
Accommodation providers have the introduction of any tourism tax Services in their local area.
had their businesses restricted or which damages local businesses.
closed for significant periods over Broadband infrastructure plays an
the last two years. We should be Our councils spend £4.9 billion of essential role in helping businesses
supporting those businesses to get public money collectively each year to develop, particularly with a
back on their feet but instead the on procurement in Scotland. This level larger proportion of the workforce
SNP Government are imposing new of funding has the potential to be a continuing to work from home.
administrative burdens through the transformative investment in local However, the SNP’s R100 programme
short-term lets licensing scheme. businesses. Scottish Conservative is not due to be finished until 2027,
Scottish Conservative councillors councillors will support a ‘Scotland six years after the originally promised
will continue to fight for the blanket First’ procurement policy and buy completion date. This slow rollout is
short-term lets licensing scheme to for quality and to protect local jobs. holding Scotland back, households
be scrapped and for it to replaced They will also increase procurement and businesses deserve better.
with a scheme that has local choice at spend with smaller local firms by 2% Scottish Conservative councillors will
its heart. every year. work to support the faster rollout of
full fibre broadband to every home
At the same time, some councils Business Gateway services and business in their local area
are considering introducing a tourist are essential for businesses to and will ensure that new homes are
connected.
Ade Aibinu
Richard Brooks
Candidate for Kincorth, Nigg and Cove Candidate for xxxxxx
“We are the only party that stands up for the North East economy
and Scotland’s oil and gas industry.” “xxxxxxx”
Your Local Priorities | 11Building the housing we need
Scotland is facing a housing crisis. home they have lived in for decades increase taxes.
Too few houses are coming on the because they can no longer afford to
market and there is pent-up demand pay, while many young adults cannot Heating bills have increased rapidly
following the Covid pandemic. This afford to pay the bills that living alone following the pandemic and the
is leading to spiralling prices, with would entail. While higher council tax Russian war against Ukraine. In the
home ownership rapidly becoming can lead to better local services, it will immediate term, to help tackle the
an unaffordable ambition for too also damage individuals and families cost-of-living crisis, we need to cut
many Scots. The SNP Government at a time when they can least afford it. heating costs. Yet, in the long-term,
have only increased this problem. to cut bills and achieve our net zero
Over the last parliament they fell over It is clear that there needs to be a target, we need to reduce heating
8,000 homes short of their affordable balance, particularly in the middle demand. However, making our
house building target and they are of a cost-of-living crisis. Scottish homes more energy efficient will
continuing to show a lack of ambition Conservative councillors will keep cost thousands of pounds that many
in home building in this parliament. council tax increases as low as homeowners cannot afford. Scottish
possible, while protecting local Conservative councillors will press
At the same time, monthly bills are services. They will ensure that every the SNP Government to introduce a
increasing at an unaffordable rate. penny of your money is spent as Help to Renovate scheme, to support
Yearly household energy bills have effectively as possible to support home upgrades that will reduce
gone up by £693 since April and local services. When budgets allow, heating costs and increase energy
council tax by an average of £38. Scottish Conservative councillors will efficiency. Scottish Conservative
Renters have also faced rising costs, freeze council tax, so that households councils will also support
with average monthly rents increasing do not face rising costs. homeowners and businesses in the
by £81 from last year. The most recent removal of combustible cladding.
SNP Government budget has left We know that council tax hits single
councils with a £251 million real-
terms cut in their funding, leaving
households hardest. Single parents,
young professionals and elderly
Cutting the costs of
them again with the difficult choice to people living alone face paying getting a home
increase council tax or reduce local higher housing costs because of
services. their personal circumstances. The House prices in Scotland are
single persons discount provides 25% increasing at an unaffordable rate,
Scottish Conservative run councils relief from council tax for single adult with the average sale price increasing
already have lower levels of council households. Scottish Conservative by 30% in the last decade. While the
tax than SNP or Labour councils. councillors will increase the single pandemic has increased this problem,
Our councillors will continue to work persons discount to 35% when the SNP Government have also failed
to keep your bills low, while helping funding is available - saving a single to meet their own house-building
buyers to get onto the property person £134 per year on an average targets, leading to a shortage in
ladder. Band D property and benefitting supply and increased competition.
almost 1 million Scottish households.
Keeping home bills low The best way to slow rapidly
The other Scottish parties have increasing prices is to build more
proposed overhauling our system homes. Scottish Conservative
Council tax helps to fund the of local taxation, however their councils will therefore support
essential local services we use alternatives would lead to some increasing the rate of house building,
every day. However, it also leaves households paying hundreds or even so long as it is matched by an
many individuals and families facing thousands of pounds more in tax. expansion in local services and
hundreds of pounds in charges each Scottish Conservative councillors in transport infrastructure. Where
year just to live in their home. Many will oppose any immediate reform, possible these new developments
of our elderly face having to sell the especially if used as an excuse to should be placed on brownfield
Your Local Priorities | 12sites. We want to see completions the government’s Rural Housing allow councils to respond to varying
across all sectors increase to 25,000 Fund, to help incentivise construction prices across Scotland. Scottish
new homes per year, with a specific in remote and rural communities. Conservative councillors will support
focus on the affordable and social Scottish Conservative councillors will a raising of the national threshold for
rented sectors. Scottish Conservative also fund a serviced self-build plot LBTT from £145,000 to £250,000 to
councillors will also work to increase pilot across local authorities in rural take account of rising house prices,
their local authority’s stock of council areas cutting the tax on home purchases
housing. by up to £2,100. We also believe that
However, increasing house building councils should have the opportunity
The lack of new housing is a particular will take a longer time to have an to raise the threshold further in their
concern in rural communities. effect, when buyers need help just local authority area, to take account of
The Scottish Conservatives have now. The SNP Government needs higher local prices.
continually called for a doubling of to cut taxes for home buyers and
Helping the most future proofing of new-build housing
for easier accessibility adaptations.
secure accommodation. Scottish
Conservative councillors will support
vulnerable with their In addition, they will work with the the delivery of a Housing First
housing third sector to help develop additional programme in their local area and
capacity for assisted living schemes. press the SNP Government to deliver
Many elderly people live in dated a national programme.
homes that are inefficient to run and Rough sleeping and homelessness
no longer tailored to their needs. are a blight on modern Scotland. Over The war in Ukraine has led to a
However, they may have emotional 5,000 adults sleep rough at least humanitarian crisis, with over one
attachment to the property and their once a year and our homelessness in ten Ukrainians already having
home may also be in close proximity death rate is more than double the been forced to flee their country. It is
to their support networks. rate in England and Wales. The essential that we do all that we can
number of children in temporary to support the Ukrainian people at
We should support elderly and accommodation is at its highest level this time and offer a place of safety
disabled people to live independently since records began. All of this is a for those who have had to leave
for as long as they are able to. national scandal. their homes. Scottish Conservative
Scottish Conservative councillors councillors will press for their local
will work to properly support care The Scottish Conservatives are authority to be generous in its
and repair services to reduce waiting committed to ending rough support for the Homes for Ukraine
times for adaptations for assisted sleeping by 2026, by ensuring that Scheme.
living. They will also encourage the everyone has access to safe and
Your Local Priorities | 13Delivering a fair deal for you and your community
While we need to build more housing
to meet increased demand, this
Fighting for a fair deal for final decision on planning approvals,
to ensure developments, such as
will put increased pressures on your community wind farms, directly benefit their
communities if not managed properly. communities. They will also oppose
Far too often, housing estates are built The SNP Government have grabbed new incinerators and support a
without the infrastructure, schools, powers and cash from our local national moratorium, due to the harm
shops and community facilities to authorities for years. Right across they can do to communities and the
support them. Local roads are not Scotland, money meant to be used to environment.
upgraded, leading to increased fund local services, such as business
congestion. All of this results in a rate revenue, is being distributed We also need to ensure that large
worse experience for newcomers through national schemes by SNP developments benefit the people who
and the residents already living in a ministers. We need to see local already live in a community. Councils
community. taxation being used to fund local should not approve large housing
services. developments without making sure
Scottish Conservative councillors will there are services to support them.
ensure that Scotland’s local authorities Scottish Conservative MSPs are Scottish Conservative councillors will
are not just supporting house-building bringing forward a bill to deliver work with large property developers
but are building whole communities fair funding through a new fiscal to secure more investment in local
instead. That means ensuring that framework for local government. Our services, like new schools, expanded
communities benefit from housing bill will deliver a fixed proportion of roads and upgraded community
developments, with developers the Scottish Government Budget facilities.
encouraged to invest in local services. to councils, so that they cannot be
It also means maintaining proper underfunded by the SNP. Due to the Derelict properties are a blight on
safeguards in planning rules to ensure UK Government’s Spending Review our communities. Across Scotland
that developments do not put undue this will also ensure that councils there are around 43,000 long-term
pressure on communities. can plan ahead, with the certainty of unoccupied properties. Scottish
multi-year spending plans. It will also Conservative councillors will support
However, our local services will ensure that taxes raised in a council the introduction of Compulsory Sales
always be overstretched if they area are spent in that council area. Orders for long-term unoccupied
continue to be underfunded and Scottish Conservative councillors properties to stop the growth of
undermined by this SNP Government. will fight for a fairer deal for their unused buildings in our communities.
Local government revenue funding local communities from this SNP They will also support a relaxation of
has fallen from 36% to 33% as a Government by supporting this bill. planning laws, with regards to derelict
proportion of the SNP Government’s properties, so that they can be more
budget from 2007/8 to 2021/22. Encouraging responsible easily redeveloped.
Meanwhile, in the last 5 years,
379 local planning decisions were development
overturned by SNP Ministers. It is Supporting local services
clear that the SNP Government are Scottish Conservatives believe that
stripping powers and funding away communities should have the final Our local services are what build
from communities and the services say over developments in their area, communities. However, after 15 years
they rely on. Scottish Conservative not the government in Holyrood. of SNP underfunding of our councils
councillors will stand up to SNP However, SNP Government Ministers they are overstretched, and many
centralisation and fight for a fairer currently have the power to overturn facilities have already been forced
deal for their communities. council decision making and local to close. Scottish Conservative
democracy. Scottish Conservative councillors will make protecting
councillors will fight for their local frontline local services a key priority
authorities to be able to take the for the next five years.
Your Local Priorities | 14Scottish Conservative councillors will
keep community facilities, like libraries
Backing community ensure that their council supports the
police in tackling them.
and sports halls, open. They will also action
ensure that admissions fares are Anti-social behaviour can result in
kept affordable and where there are People in our communities came possessions and property being
ALEOs in place they will ensure that together during the Covid pandemic vandalised or damaged and can
they deliver value for money for their to support one another on a scale lead to people feeling threatened.
communities. Scottish Conservative not seen in this country for decades. Scottish Conservative councillors will
councillors will also open school We need to continue to reward and ensure that local authority officers
facilities to the public in evenings support volunteering and create new are properly resourced to take
and at weekends. To ensure that opportunities for people to help. effective action, such as investigating
services are operating as effectively disturbances and issuing fines.
as possible, Scottish Conservative Scottish Conservative councillors
councillors will support the creation will establish a local community Councils manage Community
of a separate local government champions award to recognise Payback Orders and, with the SNP
ombudsman to assess and investigate people who have gone above and Government’s presumption against
complaints against councils and local beyond for their local area. They will short prison sentences, these will
services. also establish a local database of both be used even more frequently
council and third sector volunteering for offenders in future. Scottish
Scottish Conservative councillors opportunities, to make it as easy as Conservative councillors will ensure
will also ensure that essential possible for people to volunteer. They that these are used as punishment
services continue to be available in will also, if given financial certainty and to carry out work for community
communities. They will campaign to from the SNP Government, deliver benefit, such as litter picking.
keep local bank branches open and multi-year funding awards to third
ensure free access to cash in their sector organisations so that they can Since the creation of Police Scotland
communities. They will also support better plan ahead. by the SNP, 140 police stations have
the continued operation of community been closed. Scottish Conservative
hubs in their council area and expand Community councils play an important MSPs are bringing forward a Local
their services where they are needed. role in expanding local democracy Policing Act to guarantee a strong
In addition, they will support the and representation, however they are police presence in our communities
introduction of a community first right often held back by a lack of support and more regular patrols. Scottish
to buy when businesses or community and access to funding. Scottish Conservative councillors will oppose
facilities close. Conservative councillors will work police station closures in their area.
to support the activities of their local
Many women have raised legitimate community council and increase the
concerns about their rights and safety funding available to them for their Cleaning up our
following the publication of the SNP work. communities
Government’s Gender Reform Bill. We
believe that these concerns should Tackling anti-social Fly-tipping has damaged the
be heard and acted upon rather than environment around many rural
dismissed. Scottish Conservative behaviour and community communities and is increasingly
councillors will seek to ensure that
there are single-sex spaces available
crime becoming a problem in our towns and
cities. This has led to town centres
in all council-run facilities, including and community facilities being viewed
schools, parks and swimming pools. The Scottish Conservatives are the
only major party in Scotland that is as run-down and as unpleasant places
prepared to be tough on crime and to visit. The Scottish Conservatives
stand up for the victims affected by view it as our civic duty to clean up
it. Violence and anti-social behaviour our communities, yet we also need to
are on the rise in Scotland and deal with this problem at its source.
Scottish Conservative councillors will
Your Local Priorities | 15Scottish Conservative MSPs are
bringing forward a bill to ensure that
local authorities and other agencies
can effectively prosecute offenders
and make them pay for clean-
up costs. Scottish Conservative
councillors will support increased
fixed penalties and maximum fines
for litter and fly-tipping and use the
increased income to resource council
enforcement measures, as well as
introduce regular reporting.
Bin collections have reduced in
frequency as councils have had to
make savings. Scottish Conservative
councils across Scotland already have
more regular rubbish collections than
those run by the SNP and Labour.
Scottish Conservative councillors
will ensure that regular rubbish and
bin collections are a council priority,
to cut down on illegal dumping and
littering on our streets.
Cllr Nathan Wilson
Candidate for Motherwell South East
and Ravenscraig
“I’m standing to clean up your community and deliver
better local services.”
Your Local Priorities | 16Connecting communities
In addition to local services, our
communities need good transport
drivers will have to pay. Ensuring better public
networks in order to thrive and grow. One of the main criticisms of car transport
However, across Scotland there are travel is the emissions that it causes.
many villages, towns and even parts However, the Scottish Conservatives Our public transport network is
of cities that have inadequate public believe that this should be a essential for connecting communities
transport networks and poor roads. challenge to make driving greener and for our tourism sector. However,
Meanwhile, the SNP Government and rather than reduce car travel. Scottish the Covid pandemic has reduced
their Green partners are punishing Conservative councillors will therefore passenger numbers across all
drivers with a workplace parking tax, support the rollout of electric vehicle transport types and service reductions
when so many people rely on their car charging points across their local area. have exacerbated this problem
every day. This will include requiring new large by making public transport less
housing developments to incorporate frequent and less reliable. We need to
We need to ensure that there is a charging points, to make electric encourage people to return to using
proper balance between active, public vehicle ownership more accessible. public transport, by making services
and personal transport and recognise as frequent, as affordable and as fast
that one model will not work for every The condition of our roads is a serious as possible
community. Scottish Conservative issue. Across Scotland far too many
councillors will always support the local roads are plagued with potholes The nationalisation of ScotRail
most appropriate travel options for which damage vehicles. Scottish presents a real opportunity to
their local areas as they work to better Conservative councils will set aside deliver a better, cheaper service
connect their communities. local Pothole Action Funds, to give for rail users. However, ScotRail
communities the right to request have instead reduced services and
raised fares on passengers. The
Supporting drivers repairs to local roads.
Scottish Conservatives want to see
Many of our major roads are also this opportunity used to reconnect
For many parts of Scotland driving a communities that have not had access
car is not a luxury but a necessity, with in need of upgrading, to reduce
congestion and speed up journey to the rail network for decades.
public transport being too infrequent, Scottish Conservative councillors
slow, unaffordable or impractical. We times across Scotland. Scottish
Conservative councillors will pressure will pressure the SNP Government
should not blame drivers for this, yet to reopen the Beeching railway lines
that is exactly what this SNP-Green the SNP Government to do more to
upgrade our major roads including the and stations in their area.
Coalition is doing by introducing
the workplace parking tax and A77, A75, A82, A90, A96, A1 and the
A83 Rest and Be Thankful. Local bus services are an essential
considering the reintroduction of road way for many people to travel around
tolls. Conversely, the UK Government communities. However, rural bus
is supporting car drivers by cutting 20mph zones have been introduced
in many Scottish towns and cities. networks have been in decline for
fuel duty. years. To address gaps in services,
While these can improve safety,
particularly around schools, when Scottish Conservative councillors will
Scottish Conservative councillors consider setting up local authority run
will stand up for Scotland’s drivers introduced on a blanket basis they
can also cause unnecessary delays bus services where necessary. They
by opposing the introduction of the will also ensure that there is adequate
workplace parking tax. They will also to travel. Scottish Conservative
councillors will listen to their bus provision for pupils traveling to
oppose any plans to reintroduce road and from school, particularly in rural
and bridge tolls in their communities. communities as to whether they
want a 20mph zone introduced in a areas. To match the free travel offer
In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, being offered on our bus networks,
our councillors will not bring in SNP- targeted local area and will oppose
blanket zones being enforced. Scottish Conservative councillors will
led policies that increase the amount lobby the SNP Government to fully
Your Local Priorities | 17fund free travel for under-22s and
over-60s on the Glasgow Subway
and Edinburgh Tram.
Ferries are an essential lifeline for
our island communities, yet they
have been let down by an SNP
Government that has spent over £250
million on two unfinished ferries that
have been delayed for years. Scottish
Conservative councillors will pressure
the SNP Government to deliver a
reliable and affordable ferry service.
Encouraging active travel
It is important that we make active
travel as safe as possible for children
and adults. Scottish Conservative
councillors will ensure that every
major Scottish city has a dedicated
cycle network in place. They will also
ensure that their local authority invests
in cycling proficiency training for
children and adults and cycle repair
vouchers to encourage more people
to take up cycling and increase safety.
Your Local Priorities | 18Strengthening local environmental protections
People across Scotland want to live cycling and running. This includes place, and Scottish Conservative
in greener, healthier communities. developing new and expanding councillors will act to protect and
Our lands and waters are host to an existing playparks for our children. enhance ancient woodland while
iconic and beautiful array of plants supporting the delivery of tree
and animals, but Scotland, has Scotland needs more high-quality planting targets. They will also
experienced decades of biodiversity housing for families to live in, but there support nature corridors plantations in
decline. Species abundance has fallen is more than enough brownfield land every local authority, alongside local
by a quarter since 1994. to build on rather than erasing our woodland expansion and riparian tree
precious green spaces. We believe planting.
And this matters beyond that local communities should have
sentimentality, because nature the final say over developments Scotland is also home to the majority
underpins the food we eat, the air we in their area, rather than the SNP of the UK’s peatlands, which store
breathe and the water we drink. Many Government in Edinburgh, and this more CO2 than all our forests
efforts in our communities to protect extends to our Green Belt. Where it put together. But four-fifths of our
our green spaces and encourage enjoys community support, Scottish peat bogs are degraded. Scottish
wildlife also have the double benefit Conservative councillors will protect Conservative councillors will support
of locking up carbon and offsetting and enhance our Green Belt. measures to restore peatlands to their
pollution, helping us cut emissions former glory – helping deliver Climate
and meet international targets to limit Housing developments themselves Change Committee targets.
global temperature rises to 1.5°C. can also be greener. Some
That is why Scottish Conservative
housebuilders are leading the way
with inbuilt nature corridors, wildflower
Supporting local farmers
councillors will be focused on patches and simple measures like
protecting our natural environment, green roofs forming part of the fabric Scotland is home to the world’s best
ensuring that growing communities of buildings. Scottish Conservative food and drink, and it is becoming
means more parks and green spaces councillors will use the planning increasingly clear that the route to
and that we protect and enhance process to encourage nature-friendly a sustainable and climate-friendly
our Green Belt which has become housebuilding practices to become food production system requires
so important during the pandemic. more widespread. the consumption of more high-
Climate change and nature recovery quality, local produce. This should
can and must be twin priorities for go hand in hand with reducing
National Parks protect our beautiful waste, encouraging healthier diets
local councils. landscapes for future generations. and lifestyles. That’s why Scottish
They can support nature tourism, Conservative councillors will support
Protecting our green boost local economies, and prevent
the erosion of scenic views. Scottish
local food strategies which back
Scottish farmers and their high-
spaces Conservative councillors will support welfare, environmentally friendly
the designation of new National produce, especially in public
During the pandemic, we Parks across Scotland, where they procurement. To better educate P4/5
rediscovered how important our enjoy local support. children on local farming and food,
green spaces are for our mental Scottish Conservative councillors
and physical health. They also help Tree planting is the cornerstone of will also introduce a Countryside
create a sense of place and improve our efforts to tackle climate change. Education Day in their local
the desirability of a neighbourhood. However, we must avoid and correct authorities.
That’s why Scottish Conservative the SNP’s mistake of over-planting
councillors will support the creation non-native conifers, often against Many farm businesses are looking
of new green spaces in cities and local wishes, which harms rather to diversify into other sectors of our
towns on existing brownfield sites, than strengthens local biodiversity. economy, such as tourism. This can
to allow more space for walking, The right tree must go in the right
Your Local Priorities | 19have benefits for the development extreme weather.
of local green spaces and our
environment. Scottish Conservative Flooding can also be a significant risk
councillors will support those farms for communities in parts of Scotland
by promoting agritourism and easing and can cause significant damage
planning barriers. to property. Scottish Conservative
councillors, in the affected areas, will
The decline in local abattoirs across fast track a Catchment Management
Scotland has undermined local food Assessment, to ensure that flood risk
networks and is a hinderance to is properly analysed at all points in the
sustainable farming. To help farmers river.
to find an appropriate abattoir for
their produce, Scottish Conservative
councillors will support an expansion
in the network of local and mobile
abattoirs and processing facilities.
Protecting against storms
and extreme weather
We saw during the extreme weather
of the past few months, such as
Storm Arwen, the terrible damage
that high winds can do to people
and communities. It can lead to
households being cut off as roads are
blocked and left without power and
heating. It can also damage properties
and, at its worst, kill. Unfortunately,
due to climate change, we can
expect extreme weather to be a more
common occurrence in the future and
all levels of government need to be
better able to respond to it.
Despite the best efforts of workers
on the ground, our public services
were too slow to respond to extreme
weather and help households
affected. Scottish Conservative
councillors will work to build better
local resilience and coordination
with emergency response to prepare
for future extreme weather. They will Kathleen Robertson
press for the SNP Government to be Candidate for Forres
better prepared to activate the Bellwin
Scheme and will set up local Climate “The SNP have left rural Scotland behind. I’m standing to deliver a
Resilience Funds to be deployed in fairer deal for our communities.”
the initial response to a storm or other
Your Local Priorities | 20A local health and social care service
Our health and social care services by supporting a Local Healthcare uniform consistency above quality.
are vital to people and communities Guarantee. We will campaign for a We will ensure care and support is
across Scotland. However far too presumption against centralisation delivered as close as possible to
many local facilities are being closed and to protect local services like GPs those who need it, especially in rural
down and essential services moved and community hospitals. or island communities.
elsewhere. This problem is only going
to get worse when the SNP undertake
a costly reorganisation to centralise Keeping care local It will also see our care system move
towards ethical commissioning of
social care into a national service. care, including investing in staff
As we emerge from the pandemic, we and fair terms and conditions for
People across Scotland deserve do so with a renewed appreciation the workforce. In addition, our
to have good local health and care for the role that social care and councillors will support the building
facilities. They should not have to carers play in our national life and a of minimum pay and conditions into
travel for hours for routine operations determination to build a care system the commissioning and procurement
and treatment or to access maternity founded on dignity, human rights of local authority delivered care, often
services. They should also expect and individual freedom of choice and called ‘ethical commissioning’ and
to get a residential care place close control. work to make care a rewarding career.
to their family and support network Scottish Conservative councillors will
- not moved across the country by a We agree that social care must also support supported breaks from
national service. change and improve but this can be caring for unpaid carers and call for
done without further centralisation. this to be appropriately legislated for
Scottish Conservatives believe that The SNP’s proposed National Care and funded by the SNP Government.
health and social care services should Service would merge a budget four
be delivered as locally as possible. times greater than Police Scotland. It has been nearly a decade since the
Our councillors will campaign hard This will lead to a costly reorganisation Social Care (Self-directed Support)
against any centralisation of services that will take funding away from the Act 2013 was introduced, which
by this SNP Government. frontline where it is needed most. was supposed to revolutionise our
approach to care. But people still
Backed by SNP councillors, the SNP describe accessing support as a
Fighting for a community Government will centralise social ‘battle’ and less than half of people
health service care services just as they have health
services. Every Scottish Conservative
report that all four SDS options
were discussed with them during
Councillor elected in May will fight to their needs assessment. Scottish
The SNP’s centralisation agenda retain local services and quality local Conservative councillors will
has removed local health and social care partnerships – acting on your support a renewed push to embed
care facilities from communities local priorities, not the SNP’s. We will Self-Directed Support into local
across Scotland. All over the country, support the creation of a Local Care practice and call for the necessary
departments at local hospitals have Service, run by local communities for funding to be provided by the SNP
closed or moved miles away with local communities. Government.
patients facing lengthy journeys
just to get essential treatment. The
downgrading of maternity services Scottish Conservative plans for a Any proposals to fix social care must
at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin and Local Care Service would provide a start with fair funding after years
Caithness General Hospital in Wick guarantee against out-of-area care, of SNP cuts to local government
are prime examples of the SNP riding where a person is moved miles away settlements. The UK Government’s
roughshod over local clinicians. from their community, family and announced increase in national
support networks. This risks becoming insurance contributions will provide
more widespread under the SNP’s an estimated additional £1.1 billion to
Scottish Conservative councillors will centralised service, which prizes Scotland by 2024/25. This is a rare
fight for the retention of local services
Your Local Priorities | 21You can also read
