For the sake of our future, it is essential that local government puts sustainability at the heart of what it does.
Green Party policies for St Albans & District are practical and achievable - many have already been successful in other places. They are also affordable, as new costs are offset by new savings.
Our local Green policies are driven by the underlying philosophy of the Green Party, and we will also press for action on national and international issues, like air travel, security and pollution.
Green politics is based on three principles; social justice, sustainability and peace. We want to make Real Progress towards a future where we can all share a high quality of life whilst living within the means of nature.
WASTE - Reduce waste collection and disposal costs by rapid expansion of recycling. Promote 'reduce, re-use, repair and recycle' within council and across district. Include local retailers in efforts to minimize packaging. Develop a district-wide 'zero-waste' strategy.
PLANNING - Developers required to include renewables, resource conservation, and top energy efficiency measures. Support local and independent shops.
TRANSPORT - 20mph limit for all residential streets. Pedestrians to have top priority, eg. reduced wait at pelican crossings, repairs for pavements before roads. Transform St Albans in to a Cycling City, as achieved in small cities like York and Lancaster, so improving health, safety, choice, congestion, mobility, the local environment and the local economy. Introduce a taxi-bus service, car-pooling scheme, and minibuses for school runs.
HOUSING - Affordable housing quota of 50% for all new developments. Higher Council Tax for unoccupied homes and second homes in the district. Energy efficiency and renewables to be used in all council-owned properties. Major drive to promote and provide energy efficiency for all private homes, using government grants.
CLIMATE CHANGE - Invest in Combined Heat & Power, and micro-generation, reducing fuel costs. Full time Energy Reduction Officer, scrutinising impact of all council decisions. Joined-up thinking in other policy areas: transport, planning and housing.
LOCAL ENVIRONMENT - Protect local green spaces and create new ones. Trees to be regularly pruned, not pollarded. Improve park facilities, notably the maintenance of Verulamium Park. Reorganise park management to prioritise biodiversity.
LOCAL ECONOMY - Maximise the use of local goods and services. Promote local, organic food, and farmers markets. Audit the health of local retail outlets, and assess impact of new supermarkets. Motivate local companies to act ecologically, eg. through discretionary rate relief.
LOCAL DEMOCRACY - Involve more residents in pre-policy consultation. Work to devolve power, so more decisions are taken locally by affected residents. Reduce council's administration costs in favour of front-line services, eg. abolish Chief Executive.
Green councillors in St Albans will:
> Keep in touch with residents through newsletters and personal contact
> Respond quickly to every phone call, email or letter
> Hold regular Ward surgeries
> Ensure residents are informed about nearby planning and licensing applications, and speak on their behalf at the relevant meetings
> Be a loud and consistent Green voice on the Council, raising the profile of Green ideas and pushing for their implementation in all areas of local government
Green Councillors around the UK are making a real difference: Huddersfield now has 5% of the entire country's installed solar capacity, thanks to Green councillors holding the Housing portfolio in a shared administration.
In St Albans just one Green councillor could end up holding the balance of power, and so really influence decision-making.
The Council has already been inspired by Green ideas, though a lot more can and must be done. In particular, climate change is the main problem we face today, and there is a great deal local councils can do to tackle it.
Click here to download the local manifesto above.
Click here to download the national Green Party's mini manifesto (856Kb pdf file).
Click here for more on national Green Party policies, principles and philosophy.
