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Labour will work with partners to build a conference and concert venue as part of
the redevelopment of the waterfront. Labour will work with our universities and sports
clubs to build a water sports centre next to the Itchen Bridge. Labour will continue to
progress with the construction of a State-of-the-art Leisure destination on the east of
the city with extra-care affordable housing built on freed up sites.
We inherited the worst industrial relations in local government from the previous Tory
administration. We have worked hard to improve these and ensured that workers
representatives are consulted about all major decisions. We have not lost one day
to strike action in five years. We are committed to investing in our staff and
promoting from within. We will establish the LATCO to bid for commercial work, as
we have confidence in our staff and the services provide, and reinvest the profits
into council services/projects.
Housing Regeneration – Affordable Homes for sustainable Living
The country is in a housing crisis and hasn’t built enough homes to house our
population for thirty years. This shortage is driving up prices both to buy and rent. We
need a public sector -led home building programme to deliver eco-friendly homes
of all tenures.
Labour will bring forward plans to regenerate large sections of our city centre
creating 4,000 homes as well as exciting leisure and job opportunities. Labour will
safeguard industrial land and use our land ownership and planning powers to bring
the high tech industries of the future to Southampton.
A Labour Council will invest in homes to rent; our target is to build a thousand homes
in the next five years, all of them rented out by the council. We could do much more
if we had a government committed to affordable housing.
Labour is committed to building further Extra Care housing, especially on the east of
the city where there are shortages. Labour will work with housing associations and
Private Rented Sector housing providers to add a further thousand homes to rent
over the same period.
We will renew the HMO licencing scheme for Bargate, Bevois, Swaythling and
Portswood, running alongside a similar scheme in Freemantle, Bassett, Millbrook and
Shirley. We will explore extending licensing to the rest of the city. We will also simplify
the process for making complaints about landlords and increase awareness of this
valued service.
Devolution and greater Local Democracy
Following Brexit it is essential that we see the devolution of powers and responsibilities
to local decision-makers. The case for transport, skills and infrastructure investment
being passed to local authorities is very strong. We will work with other Solent
Councils to establish a mayoral combined authority.
We also believe that we need to bring real community decisions – small capital
schemes, community grants and environmental improvements closer to the people
and will investigate whether urban parishes are a way to achieve this. We will
consider piloting the establishment of urban community councils which allow local
people a bigger say about how their local environment can be enhanced and
improved.
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