Conservatives and Labour devise bureaucrats charter

9.08.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 3rd Jul 2008

A new agreement has been reached between Wiltshire Tories and the Government setting out their priorities and ambitions for the county.

The "Local Agreement for Wiltshire" states how local councils, health services and emergency services, together with the voluntary and business sectors will improve life in the county.

The three-year agreement, which replaces the previous local area agreement, also contains a series of targets that reflect these ambitions. It was approved by the Labour Government minister Hazel Blears on Monday (30th June 2008).

There are seven broad ambitions within the agreement which are:

Build resilient communities (meaningless)

Improve affordable housing (years of government ineptitude and neglect have generated the current housing crisis. Whilst it's nice of Wiltshire Tories to get the government off the hook by accepting responsibility for the crisis there's no sign of anything more than warm words being put forward to achieve this)

Lives not services (meaningless)

Economic growth (Yes, but if not happening at national and international level how will Wiltshire be able to go in another direction?)

Communities that are safe and feel safe (M***erh**d and a**le p**

Tackling climate change and improving the environment (As per economic growth above but more so)

Working together to achieve the ambitions (What?)

Each of these is supported by a series of actions that will be undertaken during the next three years, such as promoting the reduction of carbon emissions by public sector organisations, reducing problem drug and alcohol use, making local streets cleaner and more welcoming, and creating more greener (sic) and affordable housing in the county.

The agreement was jointly developed by members of the Wiltshire Strategic Board of which Wiltshire County Council is the lead organisation.

Jane Scott, Tory leader of Wiltshire County Council and chairman of the Wiltshire Strategic Board, said: "The Local Agreement for Wiltshire is an important document that is about more than a series of targets.

"This agreement sets out how key organisations in Wiltshire will work together on a range of issues that are important to local people.

"By undertaking the work in this agreement together we can make Wiltshire a better place to live not only for people who currently live in the county but for the generations to come."

The Local Agreement for Wiltshire can be viewed online at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/law-final-6th-june-2008.pdf and more information about local area agreements can be found at www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/866468