"Road Test" Our Manifesto

I decided that I should "road test" our manifesto with various groups before it launches in March. It hadn't been done before but perhaps thats why I decided to do it. Face the people first seemed a good maxim.

The first two meetings were this week. First a group of students and a group from the voluntary sector.

I had no control over who attended and the venue also was in their hands.

Both meetings were positive about our agenda but had their hard questions. The students liked the many environmental pledges we will be making. Amongst the most popular were cycle lanes on all main roads, increased support for buses, (but they wanted much more support for student travel), our commitment to investing in locally produced green fuel and to give businesses support and accreditation for using green fuel. They would like to see added in no quotas on Houses of Multiple occupation and big improvements in recycling for tenements.

The Voluntary organisation were both positive but perhaps even more challenging. Despite a commitment to developing a method of "core funding" voluntary organisations, they pushed hard on us recognising just how much the voluntary sector does in our city. I think that they are right and that we must do much more to acknowledge in word and action their role in the city

There was much much more from both groups but I enjoyed the experience and I am looking forward to the next meetings in a few days time

Who knows if I have persuaded them to vote Labour but whatever they decide, they know that they were given an opportunity to influence our thinking in a way no other party has ever done before.