'We need to get the basics right in Leeds again' - Coun Alan Lamb
The Yorkshire Evening Post has asked major political parties for their manifesto in the run up to the Local Election in Leeds. Coun Alan Lamb, leader of the Conservative Group in Leeds, tells us the party’s priorities for the city.
Leeds City Council covers a large and diverse area — and Leeds means different things to different people.
For some, it is the city they proudly call home. For others, it is somewhere they travel to — while their identity is rooted in places like Wetherby, Guiseley, Pudsey, Horsforth, Adel and Alwoodley, as well as Morley, Garforth and communities across the city.
That matters, because a one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t work in a place as varied as this.
Too often, decisions are driven from the centre by people who think they know best. But the challenges facing different communities are not the same — and solutions shouldn’t be either.
In conversations on doorsteps across these communities, the message is consistent: people want the basics done properly.
Safe roads. Reliable bin collections. Clean streets. Well-maintained public spaces.
They also want to feel safe where they live, see action on anti-social behaviour, know that the most vulnerable are properly supported, and that young people have access to positive activities and opportunities close to home.
As Leader of the Conservative Group on Leeds City Council, that is my focus — and the focus of my colleagues.
Too often, residents feel they are paying more and getting less. A clear example is the condition of our roads. Potholes are one of the most common issues raised with councillors, and one of the few issues that affects every community across Leeds.
Leeds now faces a highways maintenance backlog of around £300 million. At the current rate, it could take close to twenty years to address. Yet in recent years, spending on highways has increased.
That tells us something important: this is not just about how much is spent, but how it is spent. We believe there is a better way.
We have set out a clear plan to fix roads properly, including a “Pothole Blitz”, longer-lasting repairs, and more preventative maintenance to stop problems developing in the first place.
But this is part of something bigger.
We need to get the right homes built in the right places — supporting growth while protecting our green belt and the character of our communities.
We need a stronger local offer for young people, with more activities and support in the communities they live in — helping to prevent problems before they start.
And we need a council that works more closely with communities and partners to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, rather than leaving residents to feel ignored.
Above all, we believe decisions should be taken closer to the people they affect — with local councillors and communities having a stronger voice in shaping priorities.
Leeds is strongest when it works for all of its communities.
These elections are an opportunity to refocus on what matters most — and to get the basics right again.
If you want to see that change, I would encourage you to support your local Conservative candidate — so we can deliver this approach for every community Leeds City Council serves.