Achievements of your Conservative Crawley Borough Council

Conservatives took control of Crawley Borough Council in May 2006, for the first time since its creation in 1974.  After our first five and a half years, we can look back on an impressive track record of achievement.

• Increased number of litter pickers
• Doubled frequency of street cleansing
• The lowest Council Tax increases in all of Sussex for five years in a row
• More than £7 million per year efficiency savings
• Supporting the delivery of a much-needed new library
• Fast Way carrying 4 million passengers each year
• Adoption of a Heritage Policy to protect what really matters to Crawley people
• Successful lottery bid to restore Worth Park Gardens - a nationally important landmark
• Expanding the Community Wardens Service by one third and increasing the number of patrols
• Applying the maximum permissible litter fines
• Proposing a major general hospital west of Crawley
• Introducing the annual State of the Borough Debate
• Introducing the Business Debate
• A new vibrant Council logo reflecting an ambition for growth and the diversity of our community
• A Council presence on Facebook and Twitter
• Accelerated the neighbourhood centre improvement programme by two years, even during the recession
• Delivery of the Bewbush and Langley Green neighbourhood centre regeneration projects
• Improved jet washing of the town centre and neighbourhood parades
• Commitment to desilt and restore the important Ifield Millpond
• Faster Council decision making through a revised scheme of delegation; streamlined Full Council and Cabinet meetings; fewer Council committees and working groups
• Crawley wins South East in Bloom, Britain in Bloom and Champion of Champions
• Scores on the Doors for food retail businesses to provide guidance on health cleanliness and health standards
• Crawley Live, the Council's Borough-wide magazine, redesigned to an award-winning format
• Completed the Decent Homes Programme for Crawley tenants
• Reduction in the number of Council departments from 15 to 10
• Delivery of balanced Council budgets without a direct draw on reserves 
• Introduction of a green waste collection service and glass recycling in red-top bins
• Increased resources for tree maintenance
• Faster processing and increased funding for DFGs (Disabled Facility Grants)
• Major reductions in electricity and gas usage
• Major reductions in business car mileage
• Exploring options for a university presence
• Large investment in anticipative flood prevention, e.g. Tilgate Dam
• Launch of the Venture Service for young people
• Major reduction in traveller incursions
• Launch of the Crawley Faith, Belief and Culture Guide
• Adoptin of a Green Space Strategy
• Increased delivery of and funding for residential environmental improvement schemes
• Opening of the popular Crawley Skate Park
• Dramatically reduced staff absence and sickness
• Delivery of the Maidnbower Pavilion project
• Delivery of the BMX track in Langley Green
• Building of links with the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment - Crawley's local regiment
• Major improvements to housing responsive repairs
• Introduction of the Crawley Youth Mayor
• Introduction of CPE (Civil Parking Enforcement) and CPZs (Controlled Parking Zones)
• Made possible the Kilnwood Vale (west of Bewbush) housing development, providing up to 375 affordable homes for Crawley people
• Achieved planning consent for the North East Sector, delivering up to 760 affordable homes for Crawley peoplee
• Introduction of free on-line advertising for neighbourhood centre retailers
• Enabled the first phase of Town Centre North on the former Sussex House site, to start in spring 2012