A Thriving Community Based on Fairness and Caring
Dorchester and District Labour Party Manifesto
Town councils are the local part of our democracy and play an integral role in the functioning of our communities. In that respect, town councils give real power to local citizens at grassroots level.
The present Conservative government and the previous Tory-Lib Dem coalition have taken rural communities for granted, allowing for chronic underinvestment in public transport, broadband and public services. Our infrastructure and local small businesses have been neglected, which has led to a low-wage, part-time economy of unskilled employment. For far too many local residents on low wages, Dorchester house prices are now unaffordable, often causing young people to move elsewhere, or stay living with their parents. This is unsustainable, and if not addressed will irreversibly change for the worse the fabric of our community in Dorchester.
DEFENDING THE NHS IN OUR COMMUNITY
Incessant, austerity-driven underfunding and wasteful policies that put private company profit before patients mean constant cuts to our health and care services are worsening the crisis in the NHS that affects us all.
We support healthcare initiatives that don’t waste tax payers’ money on services with the primary goal of private profit, but do deliver much-needed services for our children, elderly and the chronically ill and disabled.
We will support local health services in every way we can and initiatives to encourage healthy lifestyles with mental health being given the same importance as physical health.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Dorchester lacks a modern, integrated transport system that is reliable and affordable.
In Dorset, subsidised evening and weekend bus journeys were withdrawn to save £850,000. The elderly and disabled must not be allowed to pay the price for these cuts by losing their bus passes. Neither should they ever be shamed into not using their passes on public transport.
We will consult with residents on ways to reduce traffic congestion in our town and facilitate greater use of public transport and car share schemes.
We will explore the possibility of setting up a council-run, not-for-profit local car hire system using electric vehicles and encourage more cycling.
THE HOUSING THAT DORCHESTER NEEDS
Dorchester needs high-quality, low-energy homes that are genuinely affordable social housing for local people to rent. This will be our priority.
The Tory government defines ‘affordable rent’ as 80% of local market rates and restricts funding for new social-rented homes. As a result, most local authorities no longer require developers to build social-rented homes if they are able to claim the development will not make a profit. To address this we will press for genuinely affordable social housing at rents that reflect the local low-wage economy of West Dorset.
We believe that our housing policy should begin by helping people on the housing register and those living in unaffordable insecure private rental accommodation. To achieve this we will fully support housing developments that prioritise the delivery of low-rent social housing. This will ensure that all new developments deliver higher percentages of truly affordable social housing. Unless and until these criteria are guaranteed, Dorchester Labour will oppose the North Dorchester development and any similar large scale housing applications.
We will support housing initiatives led by local people, such as Dorchester Community Land Trust, and explore innovative approaches to providing homes for sale and rent, such as the Community Housing Fund, self-build projects and bringing empty buildings back into use.
A Labour town council will do more to make sure enforcement action is taken against irresponsible private landlords who are not complying with the law - ensuring decent standards are met in the private rental market.
We fully endorse Labour’s new policy to levy double council tax on second homes. Dorchester Labour will also endeavour to close the loophole introduced by the government - which enables second-home and holiday home owners to avoid paying any council tax at all simply by the means of claiming business rate relief.
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY
It is said there will be more changes to retail in the next 5 years than there have been in the last 50 – this is something we have to face up to. But the move to online retail and the changing nature of the way we shop doesn’t need to mean empty high streets and job losses. It can mean a vibrant community space, with local independent shops, cafés and restaurants.
In 2014 Dorchester Labour successfully lobbied the Town Council to become a living wage employer. We will extend this to include suppliers and contractors to the Town Council and we’ll put pressure on businesses to stop using zero hours contracts.
In Dorchester Labour will identify ways to ensure our town centre continues to thrive. We will develop schemes to encourage local businesses and cooperatives and reward local shoppers and make the public pound go further by committing to procure goods and services from local SMEs and suppliers.
We will ensure that local people have a meaningful say in the development of Dorchester town centre.
CHERISHING OUR ENVIRONMENT
Dorchester must have a far greater say in planning decisions and in shaping developments that affect our town. We need robust community planning alongside full engagement with local electors that allows local people rather than councillors not associated with Dorchester to decide the kind of community we the residents live and work in.
We want to see brownfield sites prioritised for new developments before any building is considered in our beautiful landscape and AONB, which would be as a last resort.
The Labour Party is totally opposed to fracking because of the known impact on the environment.
We welcome the fact that Labour has pledged to end badger culls, which often take place across Dorset and that science tells us actually spread, rather than prevent, bovine TB.
Dorchester Labour is supportive of the proposed Dorset National Park and the increased tourism this would bring.
We will embrace the idea of Food Sovereignty which focuses on healthy food for people; values food providers, localises food systems and farming methods that work with nature.
CULTURE HERITAGE AND TOURISM
A Labour town council will be custodians and champions of our landscape, agricultural, tourist and leisure industries. We will protect the unique character of our town, promote our cultural heritage including Roman Dorchester. We will support the retention of the market at Fairfield and initiatives which promote local traders and producers to help the market thrive and grow.
We accept that tourism should be an increasingly important part of our economy, and we will support it by means of properly funding our Tourist Information Centre as well as encouraging the arts sector to play a more important role in attracting visitors to our town.
SUPPORT FOR OUR VULNERABLE CITIZENS
We will tackle poverty and inequality in Dorchester by working with independent groups of funders, businesses, residents, charities and voluntary organisations, such as Dorchester Foodbank, and Helping the Homeless in Dorchester. We will introduce a Community Fridge scheme and support initiatives to set up children’s holiday clubs, where children who are eligible for free school meals can access meals and activities.
We will support community allotment projects and inclusive use of them, enabling the produce from them to be used within the community. We will tackle isolation and loneliness by supporting befriending schemes.
LOCAL DEMOCRACY
Labour town council candidates pledge if elected to be readily accessible to all Dorchester residents - to hold drop-in surgeries where any concerns can be raised, as well as public meetings to discuss council policy and planned developments.
A Labour town council will continually strive to harness the initiative, energy, drive and diverse skills of all Dorchester residents by listening to and representing their views and ensuring these have a direct influence on decisions made - delivering real power to local citizens at grassroots level.
Town councils are the local part of our democracy and play an integral role in the functioning of our communities. In that respect, town councils give real power to local citizens at grassroots level.
The present Conservative government and the previous Tory-Lib Dem coalition have taken rural communities for granted, allowing for chronic underinvestment in public transport, broadband and public services. Our infrastructure and local small businesses have been neglected, which has led to a low-wage, part-time economy of unskilled employment. For far too many local residents on low wages, Dorchester house prices are now unaffordable, often causing young people to move elsewhere, or stay living with their parents. This is unsustainable, and if not addressed will irreversibly change for the worse the fabric of our community in Dorchester.
DEFENDING THE NHS IN OUR COMMUNITY
Incessant, austerity-driven underfunding and wasteful policies that put private company profit before patients mean constant cuts to our health and care services are worsening the crisis in the NHS that affects us all.
We support healthcare initiatives that don’t waste tax payers’ money on services with the primary goal of private profit, but do deliver much-needed services for our children, elderly and the chronically ill and disabled.
We will support local health services in every way we can and initiatives to encourage healthy lifestyles with mental health being given the same importance as physical health.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Dorchester lacks a modern, integrated transport system that is reliable and affordable.
In Dorset, subsidised evening and weekend bus journeys were withdrawn to save £850,000. The elderly and disabled must not be allowed to pay the price for these cuts by losing their bus passes. Neither should they ever be shamed into not using their passes on public transport.
We will consult with residents on ways to reduce traffic congestion in our town and facilitate greater use of public transport and car share schemes.
We will explore the possibility of setting up a council-run, not-for-profit local car hire system using electric vehicles and encourage more cycling.
THE HOUSING THAT DORCHESTER NEEDS
Dorchester needs high-quality, low-energy homes that are genuinely affordable social housing for local people to rent. This will be our priority.
The Tory government defines ‘affordable rent’ as 80% of local market rates and restricts funding for new social-rented homes. As a result, most local authorities no longer require developers to build social-rented homes if they are able to claim the development will not make a profit. To address this we will press for genuinely affordable social housing at rents that reflect the local low-wage economy of West Dorset.
We believe that our housing policy should begin by helping people on the housing register and those living in unaffordable insecure private rental accommodation. To achieve this we will fully support housing developments that prioritise the delivery of low-rent social housing. This will ensure that all new developments deliver higher percentages of truly affordable social housing. Unless and until these criteria are guaranteed, Dorchester Labour will oppose the North Dorchester development and any similar large scale housing applications.
We will support housing initiatives led by local people, such as Dorchester Community Land Trust, and explore innovative approaches to providing homes for sale and rent, such as the Community Housing Fund, self-build projects and bringing empty buildings back into use.
A Labour town council will do more to make sure enforcement action is taken against irresponsible private landlords who are not complying with the law - ensuring decent standards are met in the private rental market.
We fully endorse Labour’s new policy to levy double council tax on second homes. Dorchester Labour will also endeavour to close the loophole introduced by the government - which enables second-home and holiday home owners to avoid paying any council tax at all simply by the means of claiming business rate relief.
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY
It is said there will be more changes to retail in the next 5 years than there have been in the last 50 – this is something we have to face up to. But the move to online retail and the changing nature of the way we shop doesn’t need to mean empty high streets and job losses. It can mean a vibrant community space, with local independent shops, cafés and restaurants.
In 2014 Dorchester Labour successfully lobbied the Town Council to become a living wage employer. We will extend this to include suppliers and contractors to the Town Council and we’ll put pressure on businesses to stop using zero hours contracts.
In Dorchester Labour will identify ways to ensure our town centre continues to thrive. We will develop schemes to encourage local businesses and cooperatives and reward local shoppers and make the public pound go further by committing to procure goods and services from local SMEs and suppliers.
We will ensure that local people have a meaningful say in the development of Dorchester town centre.
CHERISHING OUR ENVIRONMENT
Dorchester must have a far greater say in planning decisions and in shaping developments that affect our town. We need robust community planning alongside full engagement with local electors that allows local people rather than councillors not associated with Dorchester to decide the kind of community we the residents live and work in.
We want to see brownfield sites prioritised for new developments before any building is considered in our beautiful landscape and AONB, which would be as a last resort.
The Labour Party is totally opposed to fracking because of the known impact on the environment.
We welcome the fact that Labour has pledged to end badger culls, which often take place across Dorset and that science tells us actually spread, rather than prevent, bovine TB.
Dorchester Labour is supportive of the proposed Dorset National Park and the increased tourism this would bring.
We will embrace the idea of Food Sovereignty which focuses on healthy food for people; values food providers, localises food systems and farming methods that work with nature.
CULTURE HERITAGE AND TOURISM
A Labour town council will be custodians and champions of our landscape, agricultural, tourist and leisure industries. We will protect the unique character of our town, promote our cultural heritage including Roman Dorchester. We will support the retention of the market at Fairfield and initiatives which promote local traders and producers to help the market thrive and grow.
We accept that tourism should be an increasingly important part of our economy, and we will support it by means of properly funding our Tourist Information Centre as well as encouraging the arts sector to play a more important role in attracting visitors to our town.
SUPPORT FOR OUR VULNERABLE CITIZENS
We will tackle poverty and inequality in Dorchester by working with independent groups of funders, businesses, residents, charities and voluntary organisations, such as Dorchester Foodbank, and Helping the Homeless in Dorchester. We will introduce a Community Fridge scheme and support initiatives to set up children’s holiday clubs, where children who are eligible for free school meals can access meals and activities.
We will support community allotment projects and inclusive use of them, enabling the produce from them to be used within the community. We will tackle isolation and loneliness by supporting befriending schemes.
LOCAL DEMOCRACY
Labour town council candidates pledge if elected to be readily accessible to all Dorchester residents - to hold drop-in surgeries where any concerns can be raised, as well as public meetings to discuss council policy and planned developments.
A Labour town council will continually strive to harness the initiative, energy, drive and diverse skills of all Dorchester residents by listening to and representing their views and ensuring these have a direct influence on decisions made - delivering real power to local citizens at grassroots level.