Lincolnshire First

Time To Put Lincolnshire First

In the County Council elections on Thursday 5^th May you have a chance to decide the future of Lincolnshire for the next four years. The choice is clear: more Tory failure, or a fresh start with Labour.

Tory Record of Failure

Time after time, Lincolnshire Tories have plunged our County Council deeper into crisis.

Failure:

The only council in the country to set up a ‘one party only’ Standards Committee. A national outcry forces a u-turn but Lincolnshire Tories still stonewall all moves to raise standards. The Standards Board for England has received official

complaints about the actions of four Conservative County Councillors.

Unlawful Payments:

Damning Public Interest Report unveils series of unlawful payments costing hundreds of thousands of pounds and exposes Tory Leader Jim Speechley as a ‘bully’ who ruled in ‘a climate of fear’. Tory response is to re-elect him as Council Leader.

Jailed:

Cllr. Speechley convicted of trying to influence the route of a by-pass to increase the value of his own land. Sent to prison for 18 months but refuses to resign as a Councillor.

Shame:

The Tory response to the jailing of Jim Speechley is to attack the whistle-blower. They shamefully force out a highly respected Chief Executive David Bowles at a cost to the council taxpayer of over £400,000.

Devastating:

Lincolnshire has just received one of the most devastating independent inspection reports ever delivered to a local authority. It reveals:

WEAK LEADERSHIP which is UNLIKELY TO IMPROVE.

DENIAL that anything is wrong and satisfaction levels with the Council as a whole is amongst the WORST IN THE COUNTRY.

The Audit Commission conclude, ‘the Council is not behaving in a way required of a modern local authority… this is VERY WORRYING for the people of Lincolnshire.’

Labour's Fresh Start

Labour will urgently start

repairing eight years of damage by the Tories.

Restore Confidence:

Trust in Lincolnshire County Council has plummeted under the Tories.

Labour will take urgent steps to restore confidence.

Highest Standards:

Labour demands the highest standards of behaviour and conduct from all elected members and officers.

We will stop Lincolnshire being dragged through the mire.

Stop The Waste:

The Public Interest Report, the Speechley affair and the shameful removal of the Chief Executive have cost taxpayers some £2 million.

Labour will stop the waste.

Better Value:

Government grants to Lincolnshire County Council have risen from £333m in 1997 to £560m last year – that’s £227 million more a year.

Labour will concentrate on improving services.

Improving Services:

Under the Tories, Lincolnshire has slumped to the bottom six of all shire counties in the country. That’s official.

Labour will improve Lincolnshire’s performance.

Caring For People:

Under the Tories, social care is in crisis. Last year, they hiked home care charges for those on fixed incomes by a massive 42%.

Labour will deliver better care for those who need it most.

End Scandal:

Every year, the Tories cut every school budget in Lincolnshire in order to raise £2m to give a few children a private education. You pay, but can only benefit if you live in Stamford, no matter how talented your child.

Labour will end the schools scandal.