Manifesto Commitments.9Apr2012
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ORKNEY MANIFESTO GROUP Commitments for the Orkney Islands Council Election on 3 May, 2012 Alistair Gordon (West Mainland) John Richards (Kirkwall West and Orphir) Bill Stout (Kirkwall East) 9 April, 2012 The three candidates who have collaborated to produce this manifesto for the OIC election on 3 May, 2012 believe that the electorate should know what they are voting for as well as who they are voting for. Orkney Manifesto Group Commitments for the Orkney Islands Council Election on 3 May, 2012 Page 2 Orkney Manifesto Group Contents Introduction ...............................................................................................................................5 Policy Highlights ......................................................................................................................6 Subsidised child care ............................................................................................................6 Lend-a-Hand Mortgage Scheme .........................................................................................6 House building programme .................................................................................................6 Openness ...............................................................................................................................6 Regeneration of Kirkwall town centre ................................................................................6 Landscaping of Hatston .......................................................................................................6 “Grow your own” .................................................................................................................7 Current financial picture ..........................................................................................................8 Jobs, Development and the Orkney Economy ........................................................................9 The Oil Reserve Fund ..........................................................................................................9 Building sector......................................................................................................................9 Agriculture ............................................................................................................................9 Regeneration of Kirkwall town centre ............................................................................. 10 Hatston landscaping .......................................................................................................... 10 Other projects .................................................................................................................... 10 Business development ....................................................................................................... 10 Housing .................................................................................................................................. 11 Social and affordable housing .......................................................................................... 11 Private sector ..................................................................................................................... 11 Lend a Hand mortgage scheme ........................................................................................ 12 Education and childcare ........................................................................................................ 13 Provision of schools .......................................................................................................... 13 Childcare ............................................................................................................................ 13 Career development with a link to Orkney College ........................................................ 13 Social Services/Health and Care .......................................................................................... 14 Health & Care subcommittee ........................................................................................... 14 New Kirkwall Care Home ................................................................................................ 14 Protection of care places ................................................................................................... 14 Voluntary sector ................................................................................................................ 14 Transport Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 15 Orkney Ferries ................................................................................................................... 15 Loganair ............................................................................................................................. 15 Churchill Barriers .............................................................................................................. 15 Bus services ....................................................................................................................... 15 Fixed links ......................................................................................................................... 16 Commitments for the Orkney Islands Council Election on 3 May, 2012 Page 3 Orkney Manifesto Group Renewable Energy ................................................................................................................. 17 Benefit to Orkney from renewables development........................................................... 17 Commercial and domestic wind turbines......................................................................... 17 Tidal power ........................................................................................................................ 17 Planning ................................................................................................................................. 18 Communication ..................................................................................................................... 19 Governance ............................................................................................................................ 20 Single Purpose Authority .................................................................................................. 20 Broader base of representation ......................................................................................... 20 Political representation on the OIC .................................................................................. 20 Costings: how would it all be paid for? ............................................................................... 21 Child care ........................................................................................................................... 21 Housing .............................................................................................................................. 21 Career development .......................................................................................................... 21 Communications ................................................................................................................ 22 Kirkwall town centre regeneration ................................................................................... 22 Second Barrier overtopping solution ............................................................................... 22 Winter garden .................................................................................................................... 22 Commitments for the Orkney Islands Council Election on 3 May, 2012 Page 4 Orkney Manifesto Group Introduction The Orkney Manifesto Group is a trio of candidates who are standing at the OIC election on 3 May, 2012. We three feel strongly that local politics must address the local issues of the day. Voters should know what they are voting for, not just who they are voting for. At the same time, we realise there is never enough money to do everything. This is why we are outlining where the money for our headline manifesto ideas should come from. The key manifesto highlights follow: Commitments for the Orkney Islands Council Election on 3 May, 2012 Page 5 Orkney Manifesto Group Policy Highlights Subsidised child care Many working parents with pre-school children struggle on a daily basis to find child- minders or to find the money to pay for child care. We would look into the options for introducing a subsidised service. This would support equal opportunity and benefit the local economy. Lend-a-Hand Mortgage Scheme New house-building in the private sector has been hit by the high deposits asked for by banks and building societies to secure a mortgage. Lloyds TSB is prepared to offer up to 95% mortgages if underwritten by the OIC. We would take steps to introduce this scheme. House building programme Funding for Council housing and Orkney Housing Association is limited. We are committed to making good the estimated unmet demand for around 300 houses and will explore sources of new funding to do this. (We would NOT rely on another rent increase!) Openness A more open OIC administration is to be encouraged. Web-casting of meetings would be one way of reaching a wider public. Regeneration of Kirkwall town centre We would follow up the current regeneration project in Stromness town centre with a similar project for Kirkwall.