Cardiff Council Listens

Written by Jenny Randerson AM and published in Cardiff Post on Tue 13th Mar 2007

Last time I wrote my column for the Cardiff Post, I used it to support proposals for Controlled Parking Zones in some of our inner-city areas, which would have provided more residents' parking and would have stopped commuters from parking all day outside local shops, thus making it impossible for shoppers to park.

Since then, I have attended the public meeting about these plans. Those who went to the meeting voted decisively against the proposals, which was a big turn-around from the large majority of residents who supported them when the Council undertook a thorough written consultation some time ago.

Why has this change of heart occurred? Having listened to the points put forward at the meeting, it was clear that many people had real fears about the scheme; many of them, unfortunately, based on inaccurate information. Whatever the cause of the public change of heart, it has happened, and any sensible Council has to work with the grain of public opinion.

So, the Council have bowed to public concerns, listened to the people and decided to abandon the scheme. That is grassroots democracy at work. Of course, I am already getting e-mails and letters from very disappointed residents who want more residents' parking and better enforcement. So it is obvious that something will have to be done and the Council are already looking at other more modest measures, which might help to reduce our parking problems and allow buses to move more freely around our City, which was recently reported to be one of the most congested in the UK.

The Liberal Democrats have proved to be a listening Council yet again. They inherited massive problems from Labour 3 years ago - the worst Social Services department in the UK; the worst recycling rate in Wales; thousands of empty school places, as well as major traffic congestion. This has set major challenges for our Council, but they are well on the way to tackling them. Social Services have been officially recognised by Inspectors as being decisively improved and well on the way to 'good health'. Recycling rates have shot up as free doorstep recycling is rolled-out across the City. Some changes to deal with falling pupil numbers have already been agreed on a cross-party basis. They have also employed more Community Support Officers and more street sweepers.

And this has been done with only relatively low increases in Council Tax. Remember, under Labour the average Council Tax rises were well over 11% but under the Liberal Democrats it has been only 2.6%.