REDDITCH faces real challenges. Bus services are in decline. Too many residents of our borough face feelings of isolation, insecurity, of not belonging. Too many of our young people feel their future lies anywhere but here.

What is missing can be summed up in many ways. Lack of vision. Poverty of ambition. Fear of failure. The absence of civic pride and self-confidence.

What is needed is clear civic leadership. A more secure future for the voluntary sector. A stronger sense that our people, of all ages, have the facilities and the support within their communities to feel they really belong here.

The weakening of the Labour stranglehold on our council reflects their refusal, over many years, to innovate or change. While other towns have been more forward-looking, ours now lacks even a modern swimming pool or a cinema.

You'd think the lot of them would hang their heads in shame at what they failed to do in 20 years, and wish us well.

But the behaviour of the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups at the council's annual meeting was utterly cynical.

Former councillor Albert Wharrad's letter (Advertiser, May 28) goes some way to explaining what drives them.

They tried to deny my Conservative group - just 63 votes in Lodge Park short of an outright majority - any room for manoeuvre. They politicised the post of deputy mayor and so revealed that last year's informal pact, which meant the Lib Dems always supported Labour, is set to continue.

We want to make individual councillors responsible for the delivery of efficient services. The Lib Dems refused to consider this option for the next 12 months.

Labour councillors managed to contort themselves into a position where they claimed they'd thought of it first but wouldn't vote these posts any power to get things done.

It seems our opponents are already putting their narrow party political interests in the way of any progress.

They've stuck their fingers in their ears and they hum an ugly little tune.

We will continue to press for what is needed to improve the quality of life for everyone who lives here, in ways that matter to them.

New times call for new priorities. Council services can be much more effective and efficient here than we're used to. That's why our election pledge to freeze council tax rises at the rate of inflation for three years is realistic and morally right.

I hope our political opponents will support us in this. And, if they wreck our proposals, it's the people of Redditch who won't forgive their spiteful refusal to work for the common good.

GAVIN SMITHERS

Council Leader

Redditch Council