News Release

24th March 2003

LICHFIELD CONSERVATIVES PUBLISH MANIFESTO ON WEB

The Conservative Group on Lichfield District Council have published their Manifesto for the next 4 years on the internet. It can be found at:- http://www.users.waitrose.com/~lichconservative

Michael Fabricant says: "The Manifesto shows steady achievement over the last 4 years including the construction of the new Garrick Theatre in Lichfield and the nationally acclaimed sports centre in Burntwood. And despite massive increases in Council Tax imposed by the Labour controlled County Council (14.9%), the Conservative controlled District Council has limited the increase down to only 3%. Unfortunately. the Government forces the District Council to collect the tax on behalf of the County, and Lichfield's share of the total local tax bill is less than 10% while the lion's share of the tax, 76%, is the County's tax. The Council Tax also includes the 25.3% increase the Staffordshire Police Authority have had to make arising from the lack of funding for the police given by the Government.

"Plans for the future include a Burntwood Arts Space and the redevelopment of Lichfield City Centre with improved shopping. I believe that the Conservative controlled Lichfield District Council, as well as the City Council, has shown that they can deliver services with the minimum of cost. I hope that all that will not be reversed if a Labour controlled council were elected on May 1st. We all remember the shambles the last time Labour took control of the District Council." Michael adds