Election Parties

The five main political groups have, through the Hereford Times, attempted to help the undecided by putting forward the reasons they believe make their party the choice to run Herefordshire Council.

The local Conservatives, Greens, Independents, Labour and Liberal Democrats also responded to two questions posed by this paper seeking their positions on vital issues that will affect the county for years to come.

We hope their answers will help those going to the polls next Thursday.

Their responses, in alphabetical order, are set out below with the parties' general statements listed first.

CONSERVATIVES A Conservative Administration would: Continue to provide value for money by promoting greater efficiency across the council.

We would continue working with the local NHS in partnership with voluntary services, parish councils and local communities.

Conservatives would provide a quality service of choice for all adults. We would aim to find employment for people with learning difficulties. It is generally agreed that paid work helps them to feel accepted and improves self-esteem.

Conservatives would strive to provide at least 1,000 affordable houses by 2011 and continue to support home improvement adaptations where necessary.

Opportunities for all young people must be available and protection for the vulnerable and at risk ensured.

We would protect and enhance our valuable environment by continuing to support renewable energy sources. We would work to reduce carbon emissions and promote recycling.

A Conservative Administration would continue a robust programme of re-surfacing roads and pavements which would include minor rural roads.

We would continue to support our farming community, encouraging greater appreciation of locally grown produce while accepting that the widespread growth of polytunnels and plastic sheeting needs to be controlled by planning law.

The Edgar Street Grid project will see huge investment in our county city providing vibrant leisure and commercial benefits to residents and visitors alike.

The Conservative programme is on going. We have taken up major issues over the past four years and there is more to be done. We must drive our plans forward and prove that we are on track to deliver.

GREENS GREENS advocate a fundamentally different direction to the established parties.

We would place climate change at the heart of council decision making. In doing so we can create renewed communities sustained by a vibrant local economy, in harmony with our natural and historic heritage.

We reject the big, expensive and unhealthy policies promoted by a mistake-prone council and allowed by a lacklustre opposition.

More supermarkets, roads and housing in the wrong places do not suit Herefordshire. They create traffic congestion and pollution, accelerating the slide into run down "clone towns" and increasing climate change.

Damaging schemes such as the Rotherwas "cul-de-sac" put huge strain on council finances which may affect education and schools.

Our young people are leaving in droves. Ugly flood defences, city centre regeneration and executive housing on green fields are nodded through with little apparent understanding and without informing the public effectively.

Greens will instead promote Herefordshire's individual character through encouraging small shops and businesses, cleaner, safer and more attractive "social" streets, more arts, music and creativity and more provision for young people.

As well as boosting tourism, we will encourage ecological and IT business which is less road dependent, actively support local farmers and rural enterprise, and develop affordable local food networks.

We will switch resources to cheaper traffic reduction solutions such as cycling, pedestrian networks and public transport to reduce congestion.

From litter to climate change, there is so much that needs doing. Refresh the council. Vote Green.

More information on www.herefordshiregreens.org.uk HEREFORDSHIRE GROUP OF INDEPENDENTS APPROACHING the elections, it is timely to remind voters that Independent councillors will be standing for election in significant numbers across England and Wales.

Independent councillors make choices which are not based on party political lines, or the party whip. Without the constraints of party political practice, their first and only reference point is finding the right solutions and choices for the communities they serve.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that party politics is relevant only to party members and less and less so to local people and communities. Independent candidates offer the electorate a refreshing alternative.

We make ourselves available to progress the various concerns of the people of our ward free of any constraints imposed by the national political parties.

Currently we share, 50/50, the administration of the county. In 2003 the Independents and Conservatives set up a joint administration with a Conservative Leader, an Independent deputy and four Cabinet members each - truly sharing the control.

Additionally other major posts are held by Independents - chair of Regulatory Committee, chair of the Fire and Rescue Authority and the council representative on the Police Authority to name but a few.

As Independents we fund ourselves and do not have a national party behind us fundraising and supporting. This tends to concentrate the mind somewhat and ensures, in the main, that there is a sound interest in and commitment to the task.

The important thing is that people use their vote. A vote for an Independent candidate is a vote for your voice to be heard, most strongly of all, in the planning and delivery of local services.

LABOUR THE Herefordshire Labour Party is proud of the achievements of this Labour Government and what it has done for the people of our county.

Throughout an unprecedented period of economic prosperity, Herefordshire has seen major investments in public services and benefited from initiatives that have improved the lives of working families.

A new hospital, new schools, new community centres and new police stations show that the Labour Party is dedicated to revitalising and safeguarding communities.

Families have gained from a minimum wage and working families' tax credits, while the everyday life of many has been improved by the introduction of community policing and anti-social behaviour orders.

Labour candidates aim to bring to the people of the county a vision of life where their neighbourhoods are safe, clean and enjoyable places to live, and where the city centre is a vibrant place to work and visit.

Labour councillors will ensure that Herefordshire neighbourhoods are safer, cleaner and more prosperous: Crime is down and will continue to fall with our support for community policing, expansion of the Community Support Officer programme, and the use of CCTV and ASBOs.

Residential and school areas should have more 20 mph zones; Litter and rubbish are a continual problem. Fines and penalties need imposing on those who dump rubbish, abandon vehicles and foul our common areas; the Rotherwas access road, a second river crossing and a bypass are vital elements for the economic prosperity of the city together with a revitalised Hereford city centre.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS Local Liberal Democrats have launched a carefully researched Five Point Pledge focused on putting people first in Herefordshire.

Local LibDems are passionately committed to ending the mismanagement and fiasco of the current Conservative /'Independent' controlled council.

Over the past four years Herefordshire has plummeted from being one of the best councils in the region to one of the worst as rated by the Audit Commission.

The council has been largely run behind 'closed doors' without members of the public or opposition members being allowed to attend.

The Liberal Democrats are outraged by the damage that has resulted and the waste of taxpayers' money.

Herefordshire Liberal Democrats are the only choice for change. Our five point pledge includes: 1. Traffic and Transport: Over the past four years Hereford City has ground to a halt. LibDems demand action from our council to end the traffic chaos.

2. The Environment: The Liberal Democrats are committed to making Herefordshire a sustainable county including by increasing recycling.

3. More Youth Facilities: The Tory/'Independent' Council has closed many council-run youth centres in Hereford north of the river. Local LibDems strongly believe young people need public services too and have pledged to increase facilities.

4. Affordable Housing: The LibDems are campaigning to make 50% of all new housing affordable for local people as introduced by LibDem led South Shropshire Council.

5. Listening to You. The Council should listen to peoples views. The Liberal Democrats would bring common sense and transparency back into local government in Herefordshire.

KEY questions posed by the Hereford Times were: 1) What are your views on the proposed linking of Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Primary Care Trust into the Herefordshire Public Service Trust?

2) Does your party support the campaign to get radiotherapy treatment at Hereford County Hospital?

CONSERVATIVES 1) The council and the Primary Care Trust currently work together to provide services to county residents.

These services are funded by taxes either general taxation or council tax.

The council and the Primary Care Trust are investigating the potential benefits of an integrated staff organisation under a Public Services Trust.

This has the potential to reduce duplication, give increased buying power and the economies of scale could provide more money for frontline services.

Currently staff from the council and the Primary Care Trust are examining every aspect of the work of both organisations and drawing up reports.

A major public consultation exercise on the business case will be undertaken this summer. We must continually strive to improve services to our residents, seek to reduce bureaucracy and retain our county Primary Care Trust and county council 2) We must lobby hard to ensure that the travel distance for specialist cancer treatment is reduced. This is particularly important in our rural county.

Many residents have family and friends who have suffered the daily grind of travelling to Cheltenham for radiotherapy treatment.

Radiotherapy services at Hereford would still involve a journey for many patients, which is particularly upsetting if you are experiencing the side effects of treatment.

Residents, businesses and local organisations have demonstrated their determination by raising over £1,000,000 in a short time towards the Macmillan Campaign for the new Renton Unit.

The council, Primary Care Trust, Hereford Hospital and residents must continue to fight this campaign.

GREEN PARTY 1) GREENS believe in decisions being taken at as local a level as possible in a way that is accountable to local people.

Currently, education and schools remain democratically accountable through Herefordshire Council and it is vital that this accountability to Herefordshire people continues.

The Primary Care Trust is only accountable through the Strategic Health Authority to the Secretary of State.

If the proposed Trust goes ahead it too must be accountable to Herefordshire Council and if so can be welcomed as a major step forward.

Strategically, it appears that the Trust will have two chief executives. Greens are concerned that this might prevent clear leadership and direction.

It needs to be clarified whether or not this is a genuine merging of two organisations into one, or simply a sharing of some administrative functions.

If local accountability is strengthened, and clear strategic direction given, Greens would welcome the proposed Trust as a step in the right direction.

2) GREENS believe local is best because supposed efficiencies of centralisation are usually more than cancelled out by financial, environmental and health costs of having to travel so much further. Smaller organisations tend to be more efficient, adaptable and receptive to users. We therefore believe that health care should be provided as close to the patient as possible and fully support the campaign to get radiotherapy treatment at Hereford County Hospital.

HEREFORDSHIRE GROUP OF INDEPENDENTS 1) THE group of Herefordshire Independent councillors fully support the investigative work being carried out into the proposed formation of a Public Service Trust, however full discussions have yet to be completed with emerging candidates.

The merger of Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Primary Care Trust is a forward looking and innovative proposal to sustain Herefordshire's own independent council and Primary Care Trust from amalgamation with other authorities. Combination of "backroom services" could produce considerable savings, while maintaining the front of house specialisations. Subject to Government approval the combining of both budgets will lead to a streamlined system that is a further step forward from the current Partnership working that already exists.

Full consultations will be carried out with the general public before reports are submitted to both the PCT and the council for consideration by the newly elected councillors 2) THE campaign to get radiotherapy treatment at Hereford County Hospital is fully supported by all the Independent Candidates. Allan Lloyd, the Independent candidate for Kington, has led the project. He has been leading the fight to "cut the cancer misery miles" endured by many patients in Herefordshire who have to travel to Cheltenham for treatment.

It would be of great benefit to people having to make important decisions over their recommended treatment. Many decide they are too unwell to make the journey to Cheltenham. Herefordshire has put up a strong challenge for the County Hospital to become a satellite link and for the equipment to be installed in the new £3.5 million Macmillan Renton Unit, planned to open at the end of 2008. If the challenge were successful it would herald the end of long and tortuous journeys for patients. We will support the people of Herefordshire in continuing the fight.

LABOUR 1) THE Herefordshire Labour Party has supported the proposed merging of Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Primary Care Trust to become the Herefordshire Public Service Trust, since the idea was first promoted.

This is preferable to any combination with other counties in the West Midlands. Many council services, such as children's and adult services, especially for the elderly, already overlap with Primary Care.

Duplication should therefore be avoided and the savings made must then be ploughed into services; additionally it should produce a clearer management style.

It should also ensure that the public has better access to the whole range of services.

Labour believes it brings an essential democratic element into the running of the health service in the county: the resultant accountability to the electorate will be welcomed and the merger should be completed within a reasonable period of time to allow staff in both agencies to be dealt with fairly.

2) HEREFORDSHIRE Labour Party supports the campaign to have radiotherapy treatment available at Hereford County Hospital. The present journey to Cheltenham, often for five weekdays for a five-week period, is stressful and adds to the distress this treatment invariably causes.

The financial costs involved can be burdensome and this would be addressed too if a clinic was nearer to hand. Chemotherapy is already available at the Charles Renton Unit and when the new Charles Renton building is completed at the County Hospital and replaces the present Unit, an opportunity will arise to add radiotherapy to the options provided.

The range of specialist services for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer will still continue to be centred at Cheltenham but once a treatment regime has been agreed then it should be more easily accessible.

South Shropshire and Powys patients are adding their voices for treatment to be closer and Hereford County Hospital would be ideally situated.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS 1) THE proposal is for the health and social care responsibilities of Herefordshire Council and Herefordshire Public Services Trust to be brought together into one joint trust. The reason is because currently some health and social care functions are carried out by both organisations with unnecessarily overlap. If the specific health and social care functions are brought together and managed efficiently it could result in substantial savings. These savings could then be used to provide better social care for Herefordshire people. Local Liberal Democrats are supportive of the draft proposals to bring these specific functions into one trust but will scrutinise the final proposals thoroughly to ensure the best possible results for local people.

2) PAUL Keetch MP and the Liberal Democrats have been supporting the campaign for radiotherapy treatment at Hereford County Hospital. Many Liberal Democrats are active in the Macmillan fundraising campaign for the Charles Renton Unit and have been working for the improvement of our hospital facilities for many years. Liberal Democrats are strongly supportive of Hereford County Hospital continuing to provide the critical and therapeutic services on which we all rely.