SNP Highland Council Manifesto

It’s time

The SNP believes that local decisions should be taken at local level – with this in mind we aim, along with our colleagues in the Scottish Parliament, to make the Highland Council accountable to the Highland people in order to keep decision‑making where it should be.  It is SNP policy to replace the unfair Council Tax with a local Income Tax to be spent at a local level.

Sustainable Communities

The current Government policy of selling Council houses, without replacing them, has resulted in a chronic shortage of housing.  This is the biggest barrier to sustaining communities. The SNP will:

• Work with the Council’s own Housing Service, Housing Associations and others to increase the building of homes to rent, buy or part-buy as a major priority
• Work with Scottish Water and others to ensure that lack of infrastructure does not hold up housing and other development
• Fight to retain our local post offices and our universal postal service
• Encourage the development of community enterprises to generate local income and local jobs

A Culture of Enterprise and Growth

The SNP supports enterprise and is therefore committed to accelerating economic development and increasing the standard of living of the Scottish workforce by:

• Working closely with business and with Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Removing the burden of rates for the smallest businesses entirely and reducing rates for others in line with SNP national policy
• Encouraging the local supply of local produce

A Skilled and Confident Population

For our people to make the most of their lives in this fast changing world, new skills need to be learnt by all. Skill building starts at pre-school and primary school.

• We will fight to stop unpopular closures of nurseries and primary schools
• We understand too, the value of supporting language, music, sport and arts education. 
• Trades of all kinds are in great demand and we will seek to enhance the availability of apprenticeships.
• The SNP supports the growth of Gaelic education and recognises Gaelic’s contribution to economic development  
• We fully subscribe to completing the creation of the University of the Highlands and Islands giving local access to further and higher education
• The SNP opposes the use of Private Public Partnerships to build new schools as financially hazardous and unsustainable, preferring not-for-profit Trusts

Improved Transport

For years, transport investment has been concentrated in the central belt and denied to the Highlands.  The SNP will seek equity in order to prioritise:  

• The upgrade of the A82, A9, A96 and A99 trunk roads,
• The construction of long-delayed strategic projects, such as the Inverness by-pass and canal underpass, the Berridale Braes flyover, the Dornoch rail bridge and the Fort William by-pass
• The desperate need for regular maintenance of local roads and bridges. 
• The improvement of public transport throughout the Highlands
• The ensuring of safe school transport for all pupils

A Clean Environment

We will be vigilant in protecting our priceless environment.  SNP policy is:

• A GM-free Scotland 

  SNP recognises the world class skills of the workforce at Dounreay and supports the decommissioning programme which will contribute to a nuclear-free Scotland

• Maximising the financial benefits to Highland communities of renewable power generation
• Energy saving by promoting higher standards of thermal and solar efficiency for new buildings 
• Stepping up efforts to re-cycle more of our waste and exploring new ways to make rural re-cycling cost effective

Policing Safe Communities

The SNP believes citizens should feel safe in their homes and communities and that retention of the Northern Constabulary, with its community-based policing style, best meets Highland needs.

• We support more ‘bobbies on the beat’ with officers deployed in sufficient numbers to ensure public and officer safety
• We oppose any further centralisation of the Scottish Police Service with the inevitable drift of finance, police officers and support staff to the Central Belt
• We acknowledge the valuable role of Highland Council’s Community Wardens and believe only those holding the office of Constable should have police powers

Care in the Community

The SNP are committed to setting achievable ‘Strategies of Care’ for all aspects of community care.  This would include:

• Mental health, drug and alcohol misuse, care for the elderly, physical and learning disabilities and care for all members of our communities who need social support. 
• Respecting and addressing the needs of our older people who have spent decades contributing to the wealth and benefit of our society.
• Recognising the valuable contribution carers make in our society; we will support  provision of respite care, day care and home support.

Bringing Youth on Board

Young people are our future. We will do all we can to foster their talents and work with them.  We support:

• An early review of young peoples’ facilities and activities
• Local initiatives to provide youth facilities, recreational areas and outdoor activities for children of all ages
• Free transport and other schemes to improve the mobility of the young

SNP March 2007

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