Matthew Dormer: End Labour’s drift and short-termism in Redditch

Cllr Matthew Dormer is the Leader of the Conservative Group on Redditch Borough Council.

With the local elections approaching, the key question in Redditch is simple: who can be trusted to deliver competent government and real value for residents? After a challenging period nationally, Conservatives know we cannot win arguments on slogans alone. We have to win them on performance — on the basics people notice every day, and on whether a council has a serious plan for the future.

In Redditch, voters are seeing the consequences of drift and short-termism at borough level, while at county level the new Reform administration is discovering that governing is far harder than campaigning. Promises made in opposition are colliding with the realities of budgets, service pressures, and delivery on the ground. That is the backdrop to the elections ahead — and why they matter.

At borough level, the Labour administration has struggled to demonstrate either vision or leadership. A flagship investment in a new market has failed to deliver the revival that was promised, leaving traders and residents disappointed rather than energised. More broadly, the town centre continues to decline, with no coherent strategy to reverse falling footfall or restore confidence.

Most striking, however, has been the absence of leadership. Decisions that should be taken decisively by the council’s leadership are repeatedly deferred to full council, diluting accountability and slowing progress. The recent decision not to hold elections this year is a clear example. Rather than owning that choice as a leadership decision, Labour has chosen to hide behind process. Councils do not succeed by managing procedure alone; they need leaders prepared to lead.

At county level, the picture under Reform has been one of contradiction rather than renewal. Despite strong rhetoric in opposition, there has been little meaningful engagement with the serious and complex issue of local government reorganisation. District councils and residents alike remain unclear about direction, consultation, or timescales.

Meanwhile, delivery on the basics is slipping. Highway repairs have slowed, investment schemes across the county have been cancelled or deferred, and confidence is ebbing. Most tellingly, the administration has already postponed its budget-setting meeting, raising questions about grip and preparedness. This sits uneasily alongside election promises to lower taxes, with residents now being warned to expect council tax increases of up to ten per cent. It is a familiar pattern: bold commitments made on the campaign trail, followed by difficult reversals once the realities of governing set in.

Against this backdrop, Conservatives in Redditch have been deliberately focused on rebuilding trust through competence and clarity. We know residents are tired of politics that promises much and delivers little. Our response has been to concentrate on the fundamentals: sound decision-making, financial discipline, and a clear sense of direction for the town.
We are organised, engaged, and serious about governing. That means scrutinising decisions properly, offering practical alternatives, and being honest about what can and cannot be achieved. It also means learning the lessons of our time in office, when we secured record levels of government investment and demonstrated that Redditch could compete for attention and funding when it had a credible plan and strong leadership.

Importantly, we are listening again — to businesses frustrated by the decline of the town centre, to residents concerned about basic services, and to families worried about opportunity for the next generation. Our focus is on rebuilding support around everyday priorities, not headline-chasing.
It is also important to be clear about the context of the elections ahead. Redditch elects its council by thirds, so control of the council will not change overnight. This election is therefore not about an instant takeover, but about momentum, direction, and trust.

Our objective is straightforward: to make gains, to rebuild confidence, and to demonstrate that Conservatives are the only credible option for change — the only alternative to continued Labour drift at borough level and the growing chaos being seen under Reform at county level.

None of this will be easy. Voters are frustrated, and national headwinds remain real. But local elections are still about who people trust to make decisions, run services competently, and stand up for their community. Residents remember that when Conservatives were in charge, things got done. Investment was secured, leadership was visible, and the council had direction.

Redditch matters beyond its boundaries. It is a typical working town, with small businesses, families, and public servants who expect value for money, fairness, and leadership that takes responsibility. If Conservatives cannot re-establish themselves as the credible governing option in places like this, we will struggle nationally. If we can, it shows the route back to trust runs through competence, not slogans.

My ambition has always been to serve Redditch — first as a firefighter, then as a business owner, then as council leader. Who knows where that journey of service may take me in the future? For now, the task is clear: make gains, restore confidence, and show that Conservatives are once again ready to lead.