Bristol's new council leader Barbara Janke has promised to bring more "people power" to the city.

In an exclusive interview with the Bristol Evening Post, Mrs Janke outlined a number of key issues where the ruling Liberal Democrat group wants to make progress.

One of her top priorities during the next 12 months is to start devolving power to local communities.

This will be done by starting to channel funding to neighbourhood partnerships so that local communities can take decisions over the way in which some civic money is spent in their areas.

Mrs Janke explained that partnerships would not be given lump sums to be spent as they wished. Instead, they would be encouraged to prioritise their needs and money would be devolved from council budgets as appropriate.

Mrs Janke said: "We want to start devolving budgets from the centre to communities.

"This will not be new money. It will be money in existing council budgets which is usually spent on issues such as traffic calming, improving parks and open spaces, street lighting – those kind of things that people in local communities know best what they need."

She said partnerships could also help with issues such as improving recycling rates – especially in areas where many houses are turned into flats.

She said that as the partnerships – there are about 20 of them covering the city – take on more responsibility, then they could gradually take control of larger sums of money covering a wider range of issues.

She said: "We believe that people do want to be involved in the decision-making process and they are keen to help to make a difference. If they have more control over the way in which the money is spent, then they can have a direct say in the choices that need to be made for their own communities."

Mrs Janke also outlined her ambitions for the city and how the council must change in order to provide efficient and quality services.

The Lib Dems won power at the local elections earlier this month, ending six years of a hung council with no party in overall control.

Their triumph came after political meltdown for Labour who suffered one of their most humiliating defeats in living memory.

Mrs Janke highlighted a range of key issues:

New stadium for Bristol City FC

"We are very much behind the new stadium and the bid for the World Cup to come to Bristol."

The club wants to build a new stadium at Ashton Vale but it says the move is dependent on Tesco being allowed to build a new supermarket at the City ground to fund the project.

The Evening Post understands some council officers and politicians are against the plan because of the effect that another supermarket would have on local traders.

Club chairman Steve Lansdown says that development of Ashton Gate is "crucial" to the funding of the new stadium, which could be a venue for World Cup games if the FA wins its bid to host the tournament in 2018.

Primary schools

"We are not scrapping the primary school review but we are taking a fresh look at how primary schools serve their neighbourhoods."

The Bristol Primary Review carried out last year looked at all 110 schools for children aged four to 11.

Many heads, staff, governors and parents were upset by the proposals, mainly because they felt they had not been consulted before the plans were drawn up.

The review put forward plans for new buildings, expansions, amalgamations and federations to be carried out in three phases. Two primaries were scheduled to close – St Pius X Catholic School in Withywood and Stockwood Green School.

The aim of the review was to cut surplus places and provide extra places where needed, to drive up standards and to secure Government funding for rebuilding.

This year it emerged that the proposals did not provide anything like enough places for children in certain areas.

The Lib Dems want to revise the scheme to ensure that every child can attend a school within its local community.

Residents' parking schemes

"If people support them, then we will take them forward –otherwise they will be scrapped."

Council officials are currently drawing up detailed pilot schemes for Kingsdown and Clifton Wood.

Anyone living within the zones would pay £30 for one vehicle, £110 for two and £310 for three, and up to £50 on visitor permits.

Portishead rail link

"We are very keen on rail-based solutions to help ease traffic congestion and particularly want to see the Portishead rail link developed."

A rail link between Bristol and Portishead could take six years to build and cost as much as £28 million. This sum is twice the previous estimate for the scheme.

The extra costs include upgrading the signalling and other infrastructure on parts of the line, which currently only take freight trains.

A feasibility study is underway and its findings are to be published in the summer.

Cycling city

"We want to introduce pilot schemes for 20mph zones."

Complements Bristol's mantle as Britain's first Cycling City.

It beat seven other cities to win an £11.4 million pot of funding from the Government. The windfall means the city council and neighbouring South Gloucestershire Council must raise matched funding to create a budget of nearly £23 million to provide more cycle lanes, better facilities for cyclists, training for children and finding new ways to make cycling an alternative to using vehicles.

Digital city

"The introduction of 3G broadband in areas such as south Bristol can make a big difference to attracting investment and creating jobs."

This issue doesn't sound very interesting but it could help to revolutionise areas such as Withywood, Hengrove and Hartcliffe by attracting firms which harness state-of-the-art technology.

Green technology

"We are looking at ways to encourage investment to help small firms which specialise in areas such as windpower."

Bristol has long been accepted as a centre for firms which are at the cutting edge of developing new ways to harness power from natural resources.

Ironically, these firms are prospering in the economic downturn as industry looks for different ways to source energy which is not only cheaper but also eco-friendly.

Colston Hall revamp

"We want to press ahead and do whatever we can to secure the funding for the next stage."

A new £20 million foyer has been built at the popular venue in the centre of the city.

But the second phase of major improvements, which would cost a further £37 million, are currently on hold.

This second phase would include improvements to the main auditorium, such as installing a flexible ground floor so the front stall seats could be removed.

New museum for Bristol

"We want to press ahead with this project."

The £26-million project on the site of the former Industrial Museum is not due to open until 2011.

It will have three permanent galleries full of objects and stories which illustrate the city's history.

The largest exhibits will include trains, cranes and boats and visitors will be encouraged to get involved in debates about the city.