From handing over Jesmond Dene to a charitable trust to budget cuts, candidates  clashed on several pressing issues at JesmondLocal‘s fifth local election hustings event at Jesmond Library on April 24th.

Most of the 22 candidates standing for election were present at the Question Time-style event. Residents of North and South Jesmond attended in large numbers to listen and question the candidates over pressing issues.

Ian Wylie, JesmondLocal editor, said: “We value local democracies and holding a hustings is a way to contribute to it. We also value local journalism which we think should go hand in hand with local democracy.”

Great to see these future journalists learning the ropes and hosting their own hustings event @jesmondlocal pic.twitter.com/WSmWdU3Drj

— Claire Hawthorn (@ClaireHawthorn) April 24, 2018

You can rewatch the entire debate on our Facebook page or re-read our live blog of the evening here, while we’ve recapped what the candidates had to say on key issues.

1. What needs to be done to make Jesmond cleaner?

James Bartle of the Conservative party acknowledged that Jesmond residents and groups like Keep Jesmond Clean (KJC) were doing an excellent job to keep the area clean. However, he said the council can do much more. He said: “As a Conservative party representative we are opposed to installing more bins and ensure instead that there is less litter.”

Gerry Keating of the Liberal Democrats said that the recycling facilities taken out of Jesmond should be brought back and landlords should be made responsible to make sure student areas are clean and tidy.

Stella Postlethwaite of Labour agreed with Bartle on working towards reduction of produced waste and Labours own contribution towards waste commission. She highlighted how KJC is working closely with the two universities in organising litter picks.

The Green Party is keen on tacking the root of the problem by making Jesmond plastic free.

Martin Levy of the Communists believes that problem of litter requires national politic change and the budget cuts has resulted in the city council not having the resources to keep the city clean.

2. Is one ward meeting a year enough to keep councillors accountable to their communities?

All the candidates agreed that there should be a ward meeting every other month to meet residents, understand their problems and set priorities for the community.

Postlethwaite highlighted creative advertisement using social media of the ward meetings to target students living in Jesmond, while Keating assured that the council would take responsibility and pay for the cost of hiring the room for the meetings.

Judy Pearce of Labour pointed out how knocking doors and going to people instead of expecting them to come to meetings has been helpful.

3. The city council is having to do more with less: is council money being spent in the right places in Jesmond?

The Green party believes that increasing council tax is not progressive and does not benefit the poor and there should be a different system of raising money locally, while Labour believes that the council money in the right places in Jesmond. The Communist representative noted that the council is being forced to do less. The Lib Dems simply said that council is doing less with less.

Bartle said: “We have asked the council to make some difficult decision in the last few years. The council has made some wrong decisions.”

Many members of the audience were agitated by his answer.

He added: “Conservatives will take acknowledgment for the part it played and Labour should acknowledge its decisions on where the money goes.” Postlethwaite replied: “I hold conservatives and Lib Dems responsible for the terrible situation we are in now.”

Keeping Jesmond clean is first on the agenda for tonight's discussion at Jesmond Library #VoteJesmond pic.twitter.com/rDy1uwJBRY

— JesmondLocal (@jesmondlocal) April 24, 2018

4. Is student accommodation a blessing or curse?

The Lib Dems strongly believe that what Jesmond needs most is young couples and children, while Labour said “it is not a blessing or curse.”

The Conservative Party said they believe in the long term it could be a blessing to bring more family accommodations in the area. “However, I am worried that in the future we might get in a situation where we will have empty large blocks in prime areas of city centres,” Bartle said.

The Green Party promised to work with the council and the private rental services so that the quality of houses is improved to target more families to live in Jesmond.

The Conservatives proposed a national legislative change with restrictions on private property land.

5. Is the balance between pedestrians, cyclists and motorists right in Jesmond?

The Green Party is determined to tackle air pollution and improve health and well being of our community. Clare Andrews suggested temporary road closures during the school run which she said would encourage people to use active forms of transport.

The Labour Party agreed that there are too many cars in Jesmond. Felicity Mendelson said: “We would like to work on improving bus services. The council has done a huge amount for cyclists keeping in mind pedestrians.”

Crispin Welby of the Lib Dems pledged: “If I am elected, I will do my best that all of you get your value for money from Streets for People.”

The Conservatives believee that changing road layouts isn’t working too well to solve the problem of congestion.  “I haven’t seen reduction in the number of cars in Jesmond in the last six years,” said Bartle. “The consequences are congestion and poor air quality.”

There were mixed opinions on the continuous pavement on the west side of St George’s Terrace.

6. Are volunteer led facilities like Jesmond Library and Pool sustainable in the long run?

All the candidates agreed that the library and pool were running well. They all acknowledged that the pool was an income generator while more volunteers were required to run the library. An audience member commented that the difference between trained librarians and volunteers can be huge.

7. Is Jesmond is a safer area to live and work?

All the candidates agreed that Jesmond was a relatively safe place but could be made safer. Bartleraised concerns that older residents do not feel safe while walking past the pubs on Osborne Road in the night.

The Green Party would want to work more work with the universities to address anti-social behaviour, excessive drinking and sexual harassment – plans which were met with a huge round of applause.

Both Labour and the Lib Dems would want to see more police involvement in Jesmond.

8. What, if anything, can councillors do to help Jesmond businesses flourish all year round?

All the candidates were willing to help local business flourish. Bartle said: “We can help support local businesses by increasing parking for people to use these unique businesses.” On the other hand, the Green Party would like to increase cycle parking.

The Lib Dems wants flexibility with taxes. “Local business can pay less during slack months and more during busy months,” Welby said. Labour would like to work towards fewer cars in the longer term.

The Communist candidate said: “Estate agents and student property agents are doing well and don’t need any help.”

9. Is it right that Jesmond Dene is to be taken out of direct council control?

Except for Labour – who believed the trust secures the future of the parks and great potential for charitable income – all the other parties were doubtful about the charitable income and control of the parks. Levy commented: “I don’t understand why it has been transferred for 125 years. The Government might change before it.”

Lib Dem Welby said:  “There are too many ifs in this. It will be drain to council funds till the money comes that is if the money comes still.”

The Conservatives raised concerns about the future of the green assets of Jesmond Dene once the initial funds from the council run out. The Green Party added that it was a risk to one of the most precious resources in the area.

The topic stoked some of the most impassioned debate of the night, with one audience member saying: “It is not a huge leap in the wild and charity trusts run parks across UK. This is just scaremongering.”