Reading Conservatives have launched their Manifesto for the local Council elections on 3rd May. Conservatives have pledged to freeze Council Tax for the second year running and, following the theme of encouraging local responsibility, promised to hold a referendum on an elected Executive Mayor for Reading.
The Conservative Party of Reading has also pledged to implement a major bike-hire scheme, plant more trees, provide more support for the disabled, create even more primary and secondary school places and develop Reading’s rail network so it includes a direct rail route from Reading to Heathrow Airport. We have also promised to switch to “all out elections” every four years.
The document also highlights key successes from the year when the Conservatives led the Council in coalition with the Lib Dems: these include, increasing the funding given to the voluntary and community sector; stopping the funding of Trade Union officials from Council Tax; new grants to the Gurkha community and to the African Caribbean community in order to reopen the Central Club; freezing of town centre short-term car park charges and freezing all parking charges in Caversham and Tilehurst; doubling of cycle parking in the town centre; and the doubling of apprenticeships and foster carers.