SNP 'can do' councils will work with Scottish Government to deliver more for communities

The SNP manifesto for the local government elections is a commitment that SNP councils will prioritise jobs, families and fairness.  SNP councils and councillors, elected in May, will also work with the Scottish Government – a partnership approach that will mean a renewed focus on jobs and a fairer deal for families.

Manifesto policies to help households across Scotland include continuing the Council Tax freeze and delivering more free and flexible nursery hours. In addition, at the heart of the SNP plans is a commitment to jobs and opportunities, including Building for Recovery with new schools and homes and a guaranteed offer of training or education for all 16-19 year olds.

Policies for jobs include:

• A Building for Recovery programme that will see investment in new schools and homes to help create local jobs.
• The offer of a learning or training place to every 16–19 year old not already in work, training or education.
• Helping local businesses survive and thrive, by continuing the Small Business Bonus, the best rates relief package in the UK.
• No compulsory redundancies extended to include council workers, giving job security and thus boosting local economies.
• Unlocking new investment to protect and create jobs, including capital investment from pension funds, such as those supporting local authority pensions.

Policies for families include:

• A guarantee of at least 600 hours of free, flexible nursery education for every three- and four year-old, and looked-after two-year-olds.
• Delivering the Council Tax freeze, enabling households to keep more of the money they earn. Safer communities with the 1,000 extra police protected.
• New lower class sizes maintained and we will half the number of children in poor-quality school buildings.
• SNP councils working in close partnership with the NHS to deliver improved and more integrated care for older Scots.

Policies for a fairer Scotland include:

• A commitment to introduce the living wage for the lowest-paid council workers.
• Carers’ champions in every council to ensure carers receive better support from their local council.
• The guaranteed continuation of free personal care to support our older folk.
• Keeping the concessionary bus pass and extending it to cover Dial-a-bus services.
• New rights for local communities, urban or rural, to buy unused public assets for community use.