HERE are the statements from parties fielding candidates in Monmouthshire for the council elections.

Conservatives

AS LEADER of Monmouthshire County Council I am immensely proud of our record over the past four years.

During this time money spent on education, road maintenance and social care services has risen. We have used our resources efficiently in the best interests of the county.

We have delivered a council tax freeze this year 2012/13 and will endeavour to maintain this next year as well. We believe that our families and especially pensioners need this extra help at the moment. This pledge will come from our efficiency savings, NOT frontline services. The welfare of all our residents is at the forefront of our manifesto and we want to build on our record of success with a promise of more.

We have listened to what Monmouthshire’s residents want from their council and we will continue to work in their best interests.

Our top priorities will remain education, protecting our most vulnerable and helping create jobs, while boosting the local economy.

Monmouthshire Conservatives are committed to making Monmouthshire the best it can be— we are a county to be proud of and we want to build further on this success.

Peter Fox, leader of the Conservatives in Monmouthshire

Labour

STANDING up For Monmouthshire.

Nationally, with the Tory-led Government, and locally, with Conservatives in control, things are bad and getting worse.

In Monmouthshire we have a council big on promotion but in key services are more like relegation candidates coming second from bottom in the league table of all Welsh councils.

In eighteen key areas out of 26 they are bad and getting worse.

Only Labour will stand up for Monmouthshire. We will focus on key areas and services to improve our schools and education, to boost business and jobs, to make sure our older citizens, young people and those in most need get the help they need and are protected from the worst of the Tory cuts.

A Labour-led council brimming with ideas, energy and compassion will cut through all the PR and selfcongratulation and work with others to provide real solutions to real problems.

Liberal Democrats

WE’RE proud of our achievements. We made a major contribution into an affordable housing inquiry: “A Place to Call Home”.

We’ll address the housing crisis with vigour.

We’ll attract new businesses in the digital and environmental industries, following the huge success of Mabey Bridge at Chepstow, and help residents, businesses and local organisations to install small energy schemes producing local ‘green’ power.

We’ll take every opportunity to find savings and invest in our childrens’ educations, who receive £600 per head less than their English counterparts.

We will start to close this gap. We will provide a better service for council tax payers and we’ll introduce a text reminder system for residents about recycling days.

We’ll campaign to bring both Severn Crossings back into public ownership when the concession ends in 2016/17.

We will demand that the tolls are priced fairly not the daylight robbery we suffer today.

Plaid Cymru

PLAID Cymru knows how tough times are for families and communities across Monmouthshire and the rest of Wales.

We know that during these difficult times we need front-line local services that will be there for us.

We also know that with dwindling family budgets it is important that local councils spend our money wisely and limit the burden they place upon us, especially where council tax is concerned.

That Plaid Cymru is the only truly Welsh political party is proclaimed in its title, ‘The Party of Wales’.

It is concerned with the aspirations of the people of Wales for strong and sustainable communities. That is why it is committed to creating new apprenticeship places so that our young people have the skills they need for long-term employment.

It is committed to helping family budgets and is consequently minimising council tax rises or, wherever possible, freezing them. Plaid Cymru cares about essential services to local communities. The Party is totally committed to the people of Wales.

● There are also 23 candidates standing as independents, alongside two Green candidates.