The Liberal Democrat record on North Somerset Council

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Apr 2007

The Lib Dems have a record of success in North Somerset

In May 2003, the Conservatives lost control of North Somerset Council and no party had an overall majority. The Lib Dems gained 12 seats and used their increased influence to:

• We have launched a new website where residents can access a range of online services

• We have generated £7.1 million in efficiency savings to keep the council tax rise down to 3% - the lowest in 10 years and one of the lowest in the country

• Our adult care services have achieved the top rating, going from a one star to three star rating in three ears, the best score in the West

• Government inspectors described North Somerset as "a fine place for children to live, learn, play and grow"

• Priory Community School in Worle and Gordano Secondary in Portishead have had a total of £17 million spent on a mixture of new build and refurbishment

• We have secured a government grant to completely rebuild Nailsea Secondary School as part of a £37.8 million project

• Plans to build 10 new children's centres across North Somerset have seen the recent completion of centres at Ashcombe Primary School, Windwhistle Primary School and Oldmixon Primary School

• Services for children and young people in North Somerset are some of the best in the country according to OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education)

• We've had yet another successful year of improved results in A Levels and GCSE exams

• A new library for Yatton with computer suite, improved opening hours and community meeting room has been opened

• £5 million has been secured from the South West Regional Development Agency to invest in Weston town centre and seafront

• With Business West we've helped 330 new businesses to start up

• £20 million will be invested in the creation of affordable housing following the transfer of the housing stock to a not-for-profit association

• Regeneration work is well underway in Weston-super-Mare with Knightstone Island being transformed

• More than 30% of all waste is now being recycled - North Somerset's best ever figures

• We have invested £1 million in a new recycling centre in Backwell

• New facilities for recycling plastic bottles are being provided at all our household recycling centres

• Sales of compost bins to residents has increased by 64% year on year

• Green waste sent to be composted has increased by 119%

• Glass recycling is up, paper recycling up and metal can recycling up

• Many council buildings are now powered by 100% green electricity and all public toilets fitted with the latest water saving devices

• A specially converted 'streetsafe bus' regularly takes to the streets of Weston in the evening to reduce crime and help people in trouble

• The Youth Offending Team has won an award for the way it helps troubled teenagers mend their ways

• We now have more than 60 CCTV cameras in key areas of North Somerset alerting police to early signs of danger

• With the police we have contributed to reduced crime, including violent crime, across North Somerset

• The Government has rewarded our anti-crime work with the police by short-listing us for a prestigious Beacon Status award

• Our nationally recognised 'Operation Jupiter' initiative with the police has seen a marked drop in crime at troublesome houses of multiple occupation

• We have secured £3.6 million to support work making communities safer in the south ward of Weston-super-Mare

• Year on year we've increased the amount of affordable homes by 50%

• In the last 12 months we've halved homelessness in North Somerset

• Our top scoring adult social services department has secured an extra £1 million from the government specifically to fund projects for older people