Leeds MP Alex Sobel: A chance to decide our city's destiny

COUNTDOWN IS ON: Vote-count volunteers at work at Leeds Arena during a recent local election in the city.

Whilst it seems like we’ve only just voted – with the snap General Election last year as well as the EU referendum the year before that – these local elections will have a very significant impact on the lives of people here in Leeds.

The ‘all out’ nature of the vote, where everyone in the city is given three votes to elect three city councillors, mean that the make-up of Civic Hall may look very different a week from now than it does today.

So, it is very important that we take some time as a city to reflect on who we are, where we have come from and where we are going.

Since 2010, Leeds has lost 47 per cent of its core funding – as the weight of austerity was placed upon local councils to administer.

Despite this, Labour have protected community policing, kept all the Sure Start Children’s Centres open (unique amongst UK councils) and have made sure that no families in the city are  without a home or staying in B&B accommodation (again, sadly unique amongst UK cities).

When austerity hits, invariably one of the first sacrifices made is the protection of the environment.

I am extremely proud that this is not the case here in Leeds.

Solar panels installed on council housing, a new city-run energy supplier to tackle fuel poverty established as well as over 70 electric vehicles in the council fleet and soon an alternative fuel station for the region.

In Parliament I sit on the environmental Audit Committee which I am pleased is making great progress with reducing plastic consumption and encouraging plastic recycling.

It was also interesting  to note Conservative  Minister Theresa Coffey’s praising of Leeds for being  the first city to go to consultation on a Clean Air Zone and the ambitious nature of that zone.

The city has set challenging recycling targets and in my recent submission to the consultation I set out how we can be even more ambitious with our targets for air quality by adapting WHO standards and implementing better monitoring across the city.

This is not a cheap option and would require the Government putting its money where its mouth is to provide investment to local councils who wish to tackle this crisis in public health head on.

Moving people out of cars and on to public transport is key.

Leeds is the only major European city without a rapid transit solution so investment in our heavy rail network is an important first step.

I look forward to the Leeds Bradford Parkway Station being built in my constituency and back wholeheartedly the Airport’s call to bring it forward to 2021 from 2023.

Despite the best effort by the Government to the contrary, Leeds is a city on the rise.

I would urge all residents to vote to return a council that puts people first.

Alex Sobel is Leeds North West MP