ORKNEY MANIFESTO GROUP Manifesto for the Orkney Islands Council election to be held th on Thursday, 4 May, 2017 The Orkney Manifesto Group believes that at any election the electorate should know what they are voting for as well as who they are voting for. ORKNEY MANIFESTO GROUP Published by the Orkney Manifesto Group Sycamore Main Street Kirkwall KW15 1BU Email: [email protected] Web site: www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/omg Manifesto for the OIC election on 4 May, 2017 Page 2 ORKNEY MANIFESTO GROUP Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 5 Strategic Considerations ..................................................................................................... 6 Sustainability of island life ............................................................................................. 6 Economic development ................................................................................................... 6 Infrastructure ................................................................................................................... 7 Health and social care ..................................................................................................... 8 Community empowerment.............................................................................................. 8 Conservation of the environment .................................................................................... 9 Governance ................................................................................................................... 10 Current Financial Picture .................................................................................................. 11 Council tax .................................................................................................................... 11 Revenue grant ............................................................................................................... 11 Drawdown from reserves .............................................................................................. 11 Efficiency savings ......................................................................................................... 12 The financial outlook for the council ............................................................................ 12 Priorities ............................................................................................................................ 14 Economic development ................................................................................................. 14 Energy policy ................................................................................................................ 14 Social care ..................................................................................................................... 14 Community empowerment............................................................................................ 15 Transport ....................................................................................................................... 15 Jobs, Development and the Orkney Economy .................................................................. 16 The building sector ....................................................................................................... 16 Agriculture .................................................................................................................... 17 Fishing and aquaculture ................................................................................................ 18 Tourism ......................................................................................................................... 18 Energy generation ......................................................................................................... 20 Academic research ........................................................................................................ 20 Oil platform decommissioning ..................................................................................... 21 Housing Our People .......................................................................................................... 22 The challenges for social rented housing… .................................................................. 22 …and a proposed solution ............................................................................................ 22 The challenges for owner-occupation… ....................................................................... 23 …and a proposed solution ............................................................................................ 23 Private rented housing................................................................................................... 24 Rural Housing Fund ...................................................................................................... 24 Low cost home ownership ............................................................................................ 24 Empty homes ................................................................................................................ 24 Care and Repair............................................................................................................. 25 Fuel poverty .................................................................................................................. 25 Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 25 Education and Childcare ................................................................................................... 26 Manifesto for the OIC election on 4 May, 2017 Page 3 ORKNEY MANIFESTO GROUP Provision of schools ...................................................................................................... 26 Getting it right for every child ...................................................................................... 26 School transport ............................................................................................................ 27 Childcare ....................................................................................................................... 27 Natural play areas ......................................................................................................... 28 Career development with a link to Orkney College...................................................... 28 Apprenticeships............................................................................................................. 28 Social Services - Health and Social Care .......................................................................... 29 The demographic challenge .......................................................................................... 29 Care in the community .................................................................................................. 29 Integration of health and social care ............................................................................. 30 Residential care ............................................................................................................. 31 Self-directed support and the private sector.................................................................. 32 Community level integration of services ...................................................................... 32 Health services .............................................................................................................. 33 Mental health ................................................................................................................ 34 Voluntary sector ............................................................................................................ 34 Transport Infrastructure .................................................................................................... 36 Orkney Ferries .............................................................................................................. 36 Loganair ........................................................................................................................ 36 Churchill Barriers.......................................................................................................... 37 Bus services .................................................................................................................. 38 Energy Policy .................................................................................................................... 39 Local electricity generation........................................................................................... 39 Community benefit ....................................................................................................... 40 Transmission of electricity to the national grid ............................................................ 41 Local electricity consumption ....................................................................................... 41 Fuel poverty .................................................................................................................. 42 Marine renewable energy research and development ................................................... 42 Energy storage .............................................................................................................. 43 Hydrogen......................................................................................................................