Scottish National Party South Ayrshire Manifesto 2017 and Beyond. STRONGER FOR SOUTH AYRSHIRE /SNP South Ayrshire @snpayr /www.snpayr.org Promoted by M Peddie, 3 Whiteside Park, Monkton, KA9 2PR on behalf of the Scottish National Party, South Ayrshire. Printed by Minuteman Press Printing, 61 Kyle Street, Ayr, KA71RS We, the Scottish National Party candidates for election at the South Ayrshire Council Elections being held on 4th May 2017 are committed to serving you the people of South Ayrshire and the communities in which you live. To do so, we believe it will be necessary to make radical changes from the current situation where the Council impose major decisions on the public without any meaningful consultation, engagement or discussion to a position where it is acknowledged and accepted that as Councillors, we are elected to serve you and listen to your views and take account of what you would want to see happen in your communities. Put simply the SNP want communities to have a new experience of local government as active participants, partners and decision makers. Our first actions therefore will be to listen to your views and this dialogue will shape the detail of how we will bring control of budgets and services closer to our local communities. We know that our different communities have varied needs and accept that communities have different needs and priorities. We also firmly believe that we should be accountable to you, not just every five years at election time but always, and we will commit to regular meetings with communities to be held accountable for our decisions. For far too long South Ayrshire Council has operated along political lines, with political alliances and personalities dominating the decision-making process to the detriment of the people we were all elected to serve. Our vision for the 28 Councillors who will be elected on the 4th May is that we will all work together collaboratively in the best interests of the communities and people of South Ayrshire. We will work hard to seek consensus, be inclusive to best utilise the knowledge, experience, skills and talents of all Councillors and treat all with respect irrespective of their political views. We are also committed to concentrating on local issues avoiding discussion on matters decided at Holyrood or Westminster. In the following pages, we will outline our manifesto for South Ayrshire, introduce our candidates for the election and the keys issues which you have told us are important to you and on which we will take immediate action on in your local area. I commend this manifesto to you and look forward to hearing your views and to working with you to change South Ayrshire for the better. Councillor Allan H Dorans SNP Group Leader South Ayrshire Council April 2017 Our Manifesto Pledges South Ayrshire Council and Community Involvement We commit to: Ÿ Full consultation and engagement with the people of South Ayrshire, agree a vision which will make South Ayrshire the place of choice in which to live, work, raise families and enjoy leisure time. In doing so we will create a “Masterplan” for the development of the whole of South Ayrshire. Ÿ * Enabling people and communities to have a say in the decisions which affect them by ensuring that they are consulted, engaged and involved at the early stages, not only in statutory consultations, but also in matters including budget decisions, which services should be provided and how they should be delivered. Ÿ Being accountable to you, not just every five years, at election time, but on a regular, planned basis and will set up a framework to enable this to take place. Ÿ Being inclusive and to work collaboratively with all Councillors whatever their political view, in the best interest of the people of South Ayrshire and form strategic political alliance where appropriate. Ÿ Actively encourage public interest in local politics and issues by ensuring that Council meetings are well publicised and accessible to the public and investigate the feasibility of providing live online streaming of meetings of the full Council, Leadership Panel and other major decision making bodies. Ÿ Encouraging people and community groups to make better use of civil and public buildings including County Buildings, Ayr Town Hall, Town Halls and other community buildings across South Ayrshire. Committing 1% of the Council Revenue Budget, (not including the allocation of funding to the Health and Social Care Partnership), of £1.9 million for priorities identified by communities and to implement the recommendations of the Community Empowerment Act. We will implement this over the first five years of the Council following a process of building relationships and partnerships with the support of communities, community groups and Community Councils. Ÿ Assisting community groups in discussions with the Council in relation to Community Asset Transfers of Council owned buildings and land to community ownership. Ÿ Providing greater support for Community Councils and increase their budgets to give them significant influence over spending decision on what they see as priorities in their areas. Ÿ Work with any civic or community body whose objectives are the improvement of the quality of lives of our people including the Kyle and Carrick Civic Society, Ayr Guildry, Rotary Clubs, the Common Weal, FreshAyr and others. Ÿ Contributing £500,000 to our six localities for Participatory Budgeting where local people and local community groups can submit funding bids for approval by their local communities, limited to £10,000 per bid. Ÿ Continuing to develop cultural change within the Council by embracing the principles of the “South Ayrshire Way” by being respectful, positive and supportive at all times in our dealings with Council colleagues, employees and the public. Ÿ *Exploring opportunities for joint working with East and North Ayrshire Council for back office functions where economy of scale may be beneficial including information technology, procurement and administration allowing front line operational services to be better funded. Ÿ Work collaboratively with Trade Unions in the interests of efficiency, workforce safety and satisfaction and representation for the benefit of all. Ÿ Work in partnership with Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Community Councils and communities to keep people safe and well. Ÿ Work with Police Scotland to develop a new community policing model in which identified Police Officers will have responsibility for community policing in specific areas. Ÿ Continue to support and develop the role of “Campus Cops” in our Secondary Schools. Ÿ Ensure that there is sufficient provision for public access to computers for the purposes of job searches, benefit claims and contact with government agencies. Children and Education We commit to: Ÿ Putting schools at the heart of our communities by ensuring the most effective use of these facilities for the benefit of all sections of communities. Ÿ *Investing capital expenditure of £63 million for improved and new build schools over the next five years. Ÿ Support the Scottish Government initiative to provide pupil equity funding of £2.4 million given directly to Head Teachers in schools across South Ayrshire to help close the attainment gap. Ÿ Maintaining or reducing the Pupil /Teacher ratio of 13.4 Ÿ Guaranteeing a probationer's teachers induction position of one year for any newly qualified Teacher who requires such a place. Ÿ Ensuring that the introduction of 1140 hours a year free child care for under 5's is implemented in line with Scottish Government guidelines by 2020. Ÿ *Tackle child poverty and the effects of austerity policies by continuing to mitigate the impact caused by the Benefit Cap, Bedroom Tax and Tax Credit cuts by providing funding in the region of £1.275 million to support those most affected. Ÿ Ensuring that young people at school feel supported. All pupils must have access to effective Personal, Social, and Health Education (PSHE) which addresses issues including lifestyle, health, relationships, budgeting, equality, social justice, and citizenship. We will work with pupils to ensure PSHE is meeting their needs. Ÿ Work to deliver better mental health services for children and young people, bringing together healthcare and education, to ensure faster treatment without stigma. We will also ensure that Additional Support Needs are met appropriately, in line with the aims of Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC). Ÿ Review the provision of school Breakfast Clubs and their funding arrangements to ensure that no child in South Ayrshire goes to school hungry. Ÿ Ensuring that where the Council have responsibility as Corporate Parents for “looked after children”, those leaving care and those in Kinship Care, then we will take whatever steps are necessary to make sure they have the support required to enable them to achieve their full potential in education, employment and life. Health and Social Care We commit to: Ÿ *Providing a total of £77 million as our contribution to the Health and Social Care Partnership delivering an extensive range of health and social care services in this financial year. Ÿ Work closely with the Health & Social Care Partnership in order that the vulnerable people in our communities including older people, people with mental health issues and people with addictions, learning and other disabilities receive the help and support that meets the needs of each individual. Economy and Tourism We commit to: Ÿ *Continue to support the Ayrshire Growth Deal which is anticipated to bring not less than £86.9 million of investment from central Government funding specifically for Ÿ South Ayrshire and a further £46.4 million for other Pan- Ayrshire initiatives to promote growth, create jobs, improve infrastructure and boost the economy. Ÿ *Focus on the development of Prestwick and its airport as a site for development of a Spaceport and a wide range of aeronautical industries and in increasing passenger numbers, freight handling and increased domestic and international routes.