Commenting on the launch today of the Welsh Conservative local election manifesto, Shadow Minister for Local Government, Cllr Janet Finch-Saunders AM said: “I am extremely proud of this manifesto, one which outlines how the Welsh Conservatives will deliver what the people of Wales truly want.
“People have enough to deal with in these tough economic times than to worry about whether their child’s school will remain open, whether their beautiful countryside will fall into the hands of developers, whether they will have to pay more council tax next year, or whether their struggling small business can afford to pay rates.
“Our manifesto addresses all of these issues – no school will close without parent and teacher consent; planning will be localised and brought back to the community, in line with the Localism Act; council tax will be frozen – as the Welsh Government should have done already; and small businesses will be given a helping hand through business rate relief.
“The Welsh Conservatives are the party who listen to the people. We believe in local government staying local. The Welsh Government likes nothing better than to meddle in the affairs of local authorities, even though Cardiff-centric top-down approach is rarely the right way to conduct local government business!
“Government at all levels should be open and accountable – and of course this is true of local government. Taxpayers deserve to see where their hard-earned money is being spent, and the Welsh Conservatives have pledged in this manifesto to publish all council expenditure over £500.
“I am delighted that we are fielding a record number of top-quality candidates this year. We have candidates standing in 46.7% of wards, meaning a record number of people in Wales have the opportunity to vote Conservative at the upcoming elections.
“A vote for the Welsh Conservatives is a vote for empowerment. It is a vote for communities and a vote for transparency. I can assure the people of Wales that a vote for the Welsh Conservatives is not a vote wasted!”