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www.readinglabour.org.uk http://on.fb.me/ReadingLabour @ReadingLabour STANDING UP FOR READING We need a Labour Council that will make Reading’s case and be on YOUR side

Reading Borough Council has been controlled by the Conservatives, propped up by the Liberal Democrats, since last May. In that time the Conservatives have set about cutting a massive £9 million from local services. The Conservative failed to stand the case for a fairer deal for our town. up for our town. Despite boasting of We will make sure that Council how chummy they are with ministers, charges are fair and sensible. We will Reading’s grant from Government review and reorganise services prop- has been slashed. Their response erly – not through random, panicked was to describe the cut as cuts that leave services in shreds. “putting right the unfairness Year after year when Labour ran of previous years”. Reading Borough Council the The Government has effectively independent auditors said the Picture here forced Councils to set a 0% Council Council’s finances were well Tax rise, but in Reading the Con- managed and that services offered servative have increased charges good value for money. CONSERVATIVE FAILURE – Esther Walters for Council services, amounting to a It’s time to get rid of the Conserva- (Caversham), Paul Woodward (Church), ‘Stealth Council Tax’ of £63.32 per tives and their Liberal Democrat Labour Group Leader, Jo Lovelock, and Reading household. It’s equal to a supporters before they can do even Jan Gavin (Redlands) highlight the unfair 6% rise – what a massive con! more damage to our Town. Restore cuts in grant to local councils imposed Labour will stand up for YOU and some common sense to our by the Conservative-led Government. stand up for Reading. We will make Council – vote Labour on 5 May. TORY ‘STEALTH MoRE ONLINE labour’s COUNCIL TAX’ Labour’s local bloggers. alternative 6% equivalent What we would do to get Reading rise to hit Borough Council on YOUR side. Reading people LABOUR LEADER, JO LOVELOCK, WRITES 7

Promoted by Ben Zielinski on behalf ofReading & District Labour Party and its candidates named herein all at 3 Windsor Square, Silver Street, Reading RG1 2TH. Designed and printed by Public Impact ©2010. 6 Southern Court, South Street, Reading RG1 4QS. Images subject to copyright. to subject RG1 4QS. Images Reading Street, South Court, Impact ©2010. 6 Southern by Public and printed RG1 2TH. Designed Reading Street, Silver Square, all at 3 Windsor herein named its candidates Party and District Labour & ofReading on behalf Zielinski by Ben Promoted 6 3 In Brief Conservatives COST OF LIVING RISING scrape the With Labour Britain enjoyed low THE 0% CON barrel inflation and low interest rates for Despite having grabbed control the longest period in history. Stealth Council Tax The things you can do for £43.03 of the Council propped up by The Conservative Government’s cuts - the cost of attending a Council their LibDem supporters, the Conservatives have struggled to have already reduced demand and Day Centre under the Tories : slowed down the economic recovery is the equivalent find candidates who actually while increasing VAT to 20% has • Have lunch with wine at L’Ortolan – Reading’s LIVE here in Reading for this helped push up inflation. Soon interest of a 6% increase Michelin Star restaurant (£7.03 change) year’s elections. rates will be on the way up and with Their candidate in Church Ward them mortgages. The Conservatives are hoping that people won’t • Play a round of golf at one of Berkshire’s most exclusive courses (£3.03 change) is a former banker who lives 13 With Child Benefit frozen, or abolished notice the vast increases in charges for Council (YES THIRTEEN) miles away in for many middle income families, women services. Their ‘Stealth Council Tax’ hits the most • Go to see Chelsea play Man United in the Midgham (that’s along the A4, half are feeling the pinch. Tax indexation vulnerable hardest. Champions League (£17.03 change (OAP)) way to Newbury). Minster will be contested by someone who is a changes mean that in time we will all John Bosher of Southcote told us, “They must think we • Pamper yourself at Nirvana Spa Parish Councillor in Shinfield and pay more tax while pensions will increase are completely stupid. It doesn’t make any difference to (£14.03 change) by less. me if I have to pay £22.50 to have my green bin emptied their candidate in Park Ward lives • Have tea at The Ritz (£3.03 change) miles away in Charvil but qualifies This year alone a typical single-wage or have to pay a little more Council Tax.” to stand for Reading because he couple with children will lose over £1,500 Some of the increased charges are mind boggling. Hav- own houses as a landlord. – more than double the loss of a couple ing been forced to back down from their plan to charge without children. Next year the tax break £50 a day for an elderly person to attend a day centre, More Tory Stealth Council Taxes Why don’t these people want announced in the Budget will give them a it has now been reduced to £43.03 (what the 3p is for to stand for election where they mere £45 back. we can only guess). What kind of people believe that old • GREEN BIN TAX - £22.50 to have it emptied actually live? people can or will pay £43 a day to attend a day centre? (previously free) WOMEN HIT HARDEST – Paul Gittings (Minster) and Matt Rodda (Katesgrove) meeting young mothers at Waterloo Meadows. And there is no guarantee that the massive increases will • BULKY WASTE TAX - £32.90 for a fridge, Families with children will find themselves hit hardest by the Conserverative-led governement’s cuts. deliver the income the Council needs. £329 for a fully lorryload. (Up 40%) The Lib Dems - Labour’s Pete Ruhemann (Southcote) says, “The Con- • PARKING TAX - a fine of £60 to park your car on not standing servatives are gambling. They seem to think that people a grass verge if the Tories get their way will simply pay these charges and there will be no fall-off up for Reading in demand. The fact is they are hiding further cuts to • VERMIN TAX - dealing with rats will cost you The leader of the Lib Dems on be made after the election – just as they did before the around £117 plus VAT (up 458%) Reading Borough Council refused to General Election.” sign a letter to The Times with other WORKING TOGETHER Lib Dem leaders protesting at the Chief Constable severity of the cuts to local councils warns of “noticeable being imposed by the Conservative- led government. reductions in service” TO FIGHT CRIME She had the chance to stand up for Reading, but she refused. Here in Reading Labour introduced warned of “noticeable reductions LOCAL ACTION ON CRIME – Richard McKenzie It’s no secret that some Lib Dem street wardens to many of Reading’s in service”, with 297 police officers (Park) and Jan Gavin (Redlands) have taken up member don’t like what’s going on. estates and the town centre, set up and 556 support staff due to go. problems with crime targetting student homes Labour gave Reading Lib Dem coun- Neighbourhood Action Groups and across east Reading. Labour will stand up for policing cillors the chance to vote for the worked closely with the police to in Reading. policy objecting to the cuts as passed reduce crime. In Government by the recent Lib Dem conference. Labour introduced Police “There is no doubt where police All except one voted against – Community Support Officers, cuts will be most noticeable – the and he is standing down at the expanded police numbers and areas where crime and anti-social coming elections. brought more police onto our behaviour causes most problems. streets with neighbourhood policing. “Too many of those places are here Under Labour, with more police on in Reading. People I talk to are CONSERVATIVE FAILURE – Graeme Hoskin An Apology the streets, crime fell and more worried about crime. We need a (Norcot) and Pete Ruhemann (Southcote) criminals were locked up. Council that will make Reading’s Reading Banner has for many years case and fight hard to keep police discuss the Conservative and Lib Dem used pictures courtesy of The Reading Now with the Conservatives police on our streets,” says Richard increases in charges for Council services Post. In the last issue we made a numbers are being cut. The Chief McKenzie (Park). with local pensioners. Labour will stop the mistake and printed pictures for which Constable of Thames Valley has £43.03 day centre change and review other we thought we had permission, but increases imposed by the Conservatives. had not. We unresearvedly apologise to the Post for this oversight.

2 Reading Banner - Election Special 2011 LABOUR – On Your Side in Reading 3 LABOUR’s Achievements Standing up for our kids THE NHS Reading has a lot to show for Labour’s time running the One of the first cuts put in place in particular at secondary level, with by the Conservatives running Reading schools delivering better and Borough Council. With Labour the Council was praised – YOU NEVER COULD Reading Borough Council was better results. Schools like Prospect, for its good leadership, effective management and for to withdraw funding from the the John Madejski Academy, Reading its prudent finances. In addition Labour: Whitley Excellence Cluster. Girls and Highdown all delivered TRUST THE TORIES • Restored Reading’s town centre, with pedestrian This was a Labour initiative where major improvements for the majority schools pooled resources and help of children. streets, The Oracle, the restored Town Hall, was directed to children who most Concert Hall, Museum and Forbury Gardens. Also in Whitley, Blagdon Nursery is needed it. It was scrapped by the having its funding cut by £110,000. • Built the A33 Relief Road, M4 Junction 11, won Conservatives because that idea Paul Woodward (Church) says: Paul Woodward funding for the track improvements at Reading didn’t suit them. Labour raised a “The early years are so vital. This (Church), Matt Rodda big petition, proving that the Station agreed by the LABOUR GOVERNMENT, is a real blow.” (Katesgrove), and initiative had the support of many modernised the bus network and reduced accidents. Jan Gavin (Redlands) people in south Reading. Labour in Reading won’t give up on campaigning against our children. We will work hard to • Helped reduce crime by creating street wardens, and This was just one of Labour’s the Conservative/ make sure that the Council continues getting communities working with the Police. education initiatives. Overall while Lib Dem withdrawal of to play a positive role and can help Labour was running Reading funding from the Whitley schools to achieve more by enabling • Improved results in Reading’s schools and invested Borough Council the performance of in new school buildings all over town after many Excellence Cluster. them to work together for the benefit local schools improved dramatically, of pupils and parents. years of neglect by Conservative Berkshire. • Restored the world-famous Reading Festival after the Tories had banned it (YES, they really did!). Growth Industries PROMISES TO CONSERVATIVE Need Support, Not Cuts BRITAIN’S YOUNG Over the past two decades Britain’s Dems, was to abolish the UK Film The Royal Berkshire Hospital, rebuilt BROKEN PROMISES creative industries have developed Council that had successfully by Labour, services for sale under the Tories. to become an increasingly important promoted and provided venture • In Reading the Tories promised that bus passes PEOPLE BROKEN part of our economy. Areas such funding for the UK film industry. When Labour took office fact they said anything to convince for pensioners and the disabled were safe with film, entertainment, design and The Liberal Democrats could not have made “The creative industries are an in 1997 the NHS was in people that they could be trusted them – but they have cut them before 9.30am, computer/video games have joined important part of our future”, says with the NHS. it plainer. Their MPs all signed up to the a mess: long waits for advertising, television and music as Labour’s Duncan Bruce (Thames) directly hitting those who need to get out early. Once they got into power all that National Union of Students pledge not to an increasingly important contribu- who is a freelance film editor. “The treatment, waiting a week went out of the window. First all • In Reading they promised to re-introduce weekly vote for an increase in student tuition fees. tors to UK exports. Conservatives don’t seem to have to get a GP appointment, of the standards Labour had used bin collections. They haven’t. Instead they have Yet, despite this success, one of any plan for growth in the new a funding crisis every Yet come the result of the election Now, with the Conservatives push- to improve services – your right imposed a £22.50 charge on having a green the first acts of the Conservatives sectors that can create new jobs winter, run down hospitals. waste bin emptied! the Liberal Democrats sold their ing up unemployment, young people Government, propped up by the Lib and diversify our economy.” to treatment within 18 weeks of principals for power and ignored their face the biggest struggle to find work Labour made all that a thing of the referral, your right to see a cancer • David Cameron said, “Our plans don’t involve an pledges. Even worse it was a Liberal since the 1980s – let alone to find a past: new hospitals were built, specialist within two weeks, your increase to VAT”. They put VAT up to 20%. Democrat minister, Vince Cable, who way to set up home for themselves. disgraceful waits for treatment right not to have to wait more than drew up the plan to increase tuition • David Cameron said, “We are not changing child “Fees will put some off University, ended, patients were given rights, four hours in A&E, and so on – fees to as much as £9,000 per year the private sector was used to help benefit”. Now it is being frozen for two years (an but the cuts to EMA for all but 2% were scrapped. (as Reading University has done). will stop many more staying on at deliver NHS priorities and Labour effective cut) and being abolished for middle And they had the nerve to say they Then they announced reforms to school and college. That’s tragic.” got more doctors and nurses onto made the promise because they open the whole NHS up to private income earners. says Will Cross, Reading University the wards. didn’t expect to be in power. operators who can now take over • They said they would not cut the pensioners’ Labour Club President. “We can Everybody knows what the Liberal Labour improved the NHS – the most profitable bits. Not even winter fuel allowance - but the Budget cut £100 teach the Tories and their LibDems Democrats did was wrong. supporters a lesson on 5 May.” all the facts prove it and public Margaret Thatcher went that far. from over 80s and £50 from other pensioners. satisfaction with the NHS had never One recent patient from south been higher! • They said Education Maintenance Allowances YOU CAN’T AIRBRUSH Reading, told us, “It already takes A BROKEN PROMISE (EMA) was safe with them, now it is being Before the election last year the longer to see a GP, I’ve already – David Cameron’s Conservatives made all kinds of waited longer for treatment than I abolished for all but 2% of students. I said we’d keep EMA, infamous poster was promises about the NHS. They said so we scrapped 70% of it. widely lampooned. would have last year. The changes “If they had said what they were going to do, they they wouldn’t cut its funding. They the Government has brought in Now Nick Clegg gets the would not have been elected” – Michael Portillo, said they wouldn’t reorganise it. In have already made things worse.” same treatment at Duncan Bruce (Thames) joins BATFA winning film makers at a talk broadcaster and former Conservative Minister. www.mydavidcameron.com. at one of Reading’s Primary Schools.

4 Reading Banner - Election Special 2011 LABOUR – On Your Side in Reading 5 A COUNCIL THAT STANDS UP FOR READING AND FOR YOU Labour Leader, Jo Lovelock, writes: “Labour wants Council’s consultative forums. bring investment and jobs to Reading Reading to be a place where people have jobs People are no longer happy to leave LABOUR WILL: ■■ Explore and implement new ways of and opportunities. We know that to provide those the big decisions over their services ■■ Stand up for a cleaner delivering services More from to the politicians. Labour recognises jobs and opportunities we need to be a town with Reading by making ■■ Learn from the work of other councils efficient, well-run services, clean streets and a that things have to change. We will clean streets the Labour build new structures for involving the Council’s priority. ■■ Work sensibly with the workforce shared ambition between private, voluntary and the rest of public: properly representative service ■■ Radically re-organise the ■■ Explore co-operative service delivery the public services. We know what we can’t promise; to put user panels, social networking groups, online things back the way they were, because the Conservative traditional survey methods and in some Council and its services ■■ Restructure the Council’s publicity You can find pretty much everything on line to deliver savings and function and overhaul electronic com- Government’s enforced cuts are too severe. cases local referenda will be used to these days with all sorts of blogs, websites protect people in need. munications to make radical savings “But there ARE choices. We have to make the RIGHT choices. make sure everyone’s voice counts on every conceivable subject and social equally in Reading. ■■ Use the Council’s ■■ Put a stop to the Conservatives networks to stay in contact with people all watchdog powers to over the world – or just here in Reading. “Most of all we need a Council that stands up for its people, Standing Up for the Least Able abusing Council processes to deliver rather than just doing as they are told by their Party bosses.” stand up for your NHS. propaganda funded by the Council If you want to read more about Labour’s Conservative Councillors, propped up ■■ Stand up for those Taxpayer. work in Reading there are blogs and tweets Working Together for Reading Standing Up for Your Services by the LibDems, are failing to tackle the you can follow. Labour’s local bloggers are least able to care In these areas and many others the real problems of the Community Care voluntary members – ordinary people with When in office Labour created partner- Our NHS is being taken away from us for themselves Conservatives have failed to maximise service – a demographic time bomb of jobs, families, friends and hobbies in the real ships with organisations all over Reading. by Tory reforms, backed by the Lib the savings they could have achieved. ever more elderly people needing care ■■ Involve the public world, not just in ‘cyber space’. They don’t all Those partnerships delivered real results: Dems – neither said a word about this have the time to blog every day or to spend from the same pot of money – and their more effectively. Labour Investment in Reading before the election. They simply don’t their lives following Twitter. None of them • Working with schools delivered service cuts are callous. ■■ Ensure that all voices have a mandate for these reforms that CAMPAIGNING ALL YEAR ROUND – Daya Pal Singh (Kentwood) and When in office locally Labour attracted speak for the Labour Party but they try to higher standards, better results and in Reading are heard write regularly about their council work or few people seem to want. Treatment Labour will work to re-invent the system Rose Williams (Tilehurst) out and about in Tilehurst. government and private investment to new school buildings funded in the equally – not just the their views on local and national events. standards introduced by Labour have of community care with the involvement Reading. Our town has got a lot to show same way as every other council. politicians and those been scrapped along with the rights of the retired, those approaching retire- Reading. We’ll work closely with growth in funding are too severe. What we will for it – new schools at JMA, Avenue, Here are a few to check out: We provided a long stop when head who shout loudest. of patients. ment and the families whose loved sectors in local business and partner with do is examine services in a different way. and significant facilities investment at Rachel Eden – Whitley Councillor, new teachers failed their schools and ones receive care. Labour is campaign- ■■ Create a New Local anyone who is seriously interested in We have already shown by proposing Kendrick, Prospect, Highdown and mum, serious about education. pupils. We were there with support The Council has the legal power to act as ing against unjust increases in charges Partnership to stand promoting growth across the area. We alternatives to put half a million pounds Reading Girls School, a modernised www.racheleden.blogspot.com to ensure improvements when a a watchdog over the local NHS. Labour and will reverse the daily charge of up up for Reading. will use the Council’s influence to attract into Children’s Services from reduced bus company, the M4 Junction 11 Chris Maskell – Battle school was struggling. will use these powers to hold the NHS to to £43 at Day Centres. These charges investment and bring new jobs, bureaucracy that there is a better way. improvements, better council homes Councillor, former Mayor, account in the interests of patients and • Labour kept Reading clean over 23 are not only wrong but could lead to a compete and attract jobs, if our town apprenticeships and training that serve Over the years Labour delivered millions all over Reading particularly on the born in the ward, one of our will involve the public in doing so. years in office. When things went drop off in use which will threaten the is to be worth living in, we have to be ALL the people of our community. of pounds worth of efficiency savings and estates that badly needed it, such as first bloggers. serious about keeping the streets http://cllrchrismaskell.com wrong with the services we put them Giving You a Greater Say viability of the services. Helping Local Schools we’ll make sure we do it again. Dee Park and North Whitley. right. We did it by making it a priority clean, dealing with graffiti and looking Duncan Bruce – freelance The Conservatives claim they con- Clean Streets – Do Even Better Labour will: These investments were paid for in the after our parks and public spaces. film editor, passionate about service with the help of partners and the Council’s Priority sulted the public over their cuts – but Labour’s work with local schools helped ■■ same way as around the rest of the his politics and the creative brought investment, business and Jobs – Always a Priority for Labour Radically review the Council’s senior only 900 people responded and their raise standards here in Reading. country through the system of Council industries, Labour’s candi- jobs to the town. You don’t have to look far to see the management. ‘consultation’ was only held through the effects of the cuts in Reading. The town The Conservatives have no plan for We have always been committed to funding. Now the Conservatives are date in Thames Ward. ■■ Achieve savings by freeing officers www.duncanbruce.blogspot.com • Working tirelessly with the Police to Council’s website. The fact is that many has been looking steadily more down at growth. Their cuts are increasing creating a better start for all the town’s distorting the facts about the funding of from bureaucracy. bring about neighbourhood policing, of the elderly and people who don’t or heel as the Conservatives go round cut- unemployment and forcing up the children. While it is already clear that, these projects. But they still try to take Sarah Hacker – Battle Councillor, mum pioneering the community warden can’t use the web were excluded. At the ting everything except the grass. benefits bill. Now one in four young under the Conservatives, councils will not ■■ Work tirelessly, as we always have, to the credit when the projects are finshed! of two, down to earth common sense. http://cllrsarahhacker.blogspot.com that became the Police Community same time the Conservatives, propped people are without a job. be able to take some of the initiatives on Clean streets will be the priority of a Support Officer service and setting up by the Lib Dems, abolished the education that they have in the past, we Jan Gavin – former teach- Labour Council. If our town is to Labour has always stood up for jobs in up Neighbourhood Action Groups. believe that it is vital that local schools LIBRARIES er, mother of three and keen photographer. • Working with voluntary groups and serve local children and parents and that MATTER – Chris THE HIDDEN CONSERVATIVE Maskell (Battle) Labour’s candidate in funding them properly helped bring your Council has a duty to help them. Redlands Ward. AGENDA – Kelly Edwards and Mohammed about good race relations and built Labour will continue to take action that http://redlandslabour.org.uk (Whitley) and Paul Woodward Ayub (Abbey) at one of the best community transport makes it easier for schools to work John Ennis – Southcote Councillor, born (Church) at South Reading Battle Library - services in the country – Readibus. together on an area-by-area basis, pool and bred in Reading, follows the Royals. Youth and Community Centre, one of Labour’s resources, get better value for money www.cllrjohnennis.blogspot.com • Working with business for 22 years one of the many facilities many improve- Labour delivered jobs, investment, still under threat from and to produce better results. Tony Jones – independent thinking, ment projects labour supporting former councillor and and new infrastructure. Labour will also use the powers the Conservative Cuts. around Reading Mayor. http://jonesindep.blogspot.com In Reading we were doing ‘big society’ Kelly says, “The fact is the Council has at its disposal creatively to “Libraries mat- Richard McKenzie – assist Governors and teachers in Reading before Mr Cameron had even thought Conservatives have only just ter. Battle enthusiastic cyclist, volunteer about it. How dare he lecture Councils started. Their Council Budget in providing the best quality education at Library is at lollipop man, Neighbourhood like Reading on working with the volun- is so unsound that we can be ALL our schools and to ensure that they the heart of our Watch member, Labour’s tary sector. Now Labour will do what it sure they are holding back the remain accountable to the Reading public. community” candidate in Park Ward. has always done in Reading – find new most unpopular cuts until Re-inventing the Council says Chris. www.richardmckenzieorg.blogspot.com ways to tackle the problems facing local after these elections.” Labour in Reading has never promised And by the way, we’ve produced people and take the public with us. what we could not deliver. And we won’t the Reading Banner for nearly promise now to restore everything the 30 years - we’re not planning to Conservatives have cut – the reductions stop any time soon!

6 Reading Banner - Election Special 2011 LABOUR – On Your Side in Reading 7 THE CONSERVATIVES AND TRANSPORT – U-TURNS NOW COMPULSORY! The Conservatives control of Reading for the moment. But the Tory Parking Tax is Borough Council has turned into a farce. alive and well. They won’t make a decision until No more so than their feeble attempts to after the election. Labour will stop it. run transport. The Conservatives have failed to keep a grip Their first cunning plan was to introduce park- on schemes like the lights at Shinfield Rise. ing meters around central Reading. First they When a similar project ran into trouble on the charge £3 an hour for people to park in the Meadway Labour fired the failing contractors. middle of the night! They backed off from that, The Conservatives have just dithered. but the charges are still so high that nobody Meanwhile they are spending a fortune on uses the meters, so the Council loses money. a bike hire scheme while cutting bus pass The next bright Conservative idea was to fine provision for the disabled. They are turning off anyone parking with their wheels on the pave- the lights at pedestrian crossings - how on earth ment or grass verge anywhere in Reading £60 will the elderly cross at Jackson’s Corner? a time. In some streets this would mean fining We know transport projects are difficult and not almost everyone parking there every day. Again, everything that is tried can work, but it’s about MAD TORY SCHEMES – Matt Rodda (Katesgrove) after a Labour campaign, they backed off – time we restored a little common sense! campaigning against crazy parking charges and Richard McKenzie (Park) opposing the Tory Kerb Parking Tax. Vote LABOUR in your ward

Polls are open from ABBEY BATTLE CAVERSHAM Mohammed Chris Esther 7am till 10pm on 5 May ayub maskell Walters

CHURCH KATESGROVE KENTWOOD MINSTER NORCOT PARK Paul Matt Daya Pal Paul Graeme Richard Woodward rodda singh gittings hoskin mckenzie

PEPPARD REDLANDS SOUTHCOTE THAMES TILEHURST WHITLEY Dave Jan Pete Duncan Rose Kelly Absolom gavin ruhemann bruce Williams edwards Vote on May 5th