The Conservatives formally took power of Winchester City Council last night at the Annual Mayor Making ceremony at the Guildhall. New leader George Beckett took his first cabinet meeting this morning.
Mr Beckett and his colleagues have pledged to concentrate on four major priorities.
1. To keep any rise in council tax to the level of inflation and make sure that every hard earned pound that council taxpayers give will be spent wisely.
2. To make planning more in tune with the concerns of local neighbourhoods and look more closely at applications for so-called back garden developments that cram estates into residential streets.
3. To improve the running of the council from what the Government has presently called "adequate" towards the highest mark of "excellent".
4. To recognise that residents deserve better service for their money and try to make sure that simple things, like grass getting cut and bins being emptied, always happen.
Mr Beckett said: "People have made it clear they want an efficiently run council, simple planning and better services. We are going to make sure that this is achieved so that the council can be given an excellent rating, but importantly, council tax payers can say they get a good service."
18th May 2006