The Conservatives have spelt out their local election manifesto promises for Brighton and Hove.
The 20-page manifesto document is called A Common Sense Council for Brighton, Hove and Portslade.
It pledges to bring back a reliable refuse and recycling service by putting the organisation into the hands of those who work for it along the lines of John Lewis.
The manifesto says: “The Conservatives trust those people delivering frontline services to know the best way for the council to improve.
“We will therefore be reducing unnecessary and expensive senior management overheads and trusting those working in services such as Cityclean, Cityparks and Parking Services to take over the running of these operations – transforming them into public service mutuals.”
The Tories also promised “an end to rip-off parking charges” and that “council tax will not go up”.
Conservative group leader Councillor Geoffrey Theobald said: “Our young people need somewhere to live. The city’s housing needs will be addressed in a grown-up way.
“We will reduce the waiting list for social housing and ensure over a thousand new homes for local people are built.
“A Conservative-run city council will not just talk about a clean and green environment – we will deliver.
“Valley Gardens will be transformed, Black Rock redeveloped, the King Alfred rebuilt and new public open spaces created.
“Our offer to you all is credible, affordable and achievable.”
Other themes include driving up standards in schools while providing new places for the growing number of school-age children – and supporting the elderly and those unable to look after themselves.
The party’s manifesto promises a flourishing voluntary sector, a great place to visit, do business and create jobs and public services of which people can be proud.
It says that there will be “no gimmicks, no waste, no unnecessary bureaucracy – just a relentless focus on getting the basics right”.
The Brighton and Hove City Council elections take place on Thursday 7 May – the same day as the general election. Voters will be able to choose 54 councillors in 21 wards.
