We’re Councillors Scott and Jack from Burnley Green Party and as part of the Northern Voices initiative, we want to tell you how we have gone from winning our first Council seat, to becoming part of the administration in just six short years. Burnley is a former Lancashire mill town and one of the most deprived areas in the country.

Since 2018, when Andy Fewings was first elected, we have gained Councillors every year.We have been reliant not just on money from local donors, but also on the regional funds for our campaigns and all the other help the region provides; such as the expertise of the Field Organiser and the Action Days.

This year saw a large fracture in the ruling Labour Party over the party’s stance on the unfolding situation in Gaza and we were able to form an administration with the former Labour Group councillors and the Liberal Democrats. It’s been refreshing to be the change makers we have always wanted to be.

We are immensely proud of what we have achieved in our first 100 days in office.

Between us we hold two portfolios: Health, Culture and Wellbeing, and Sustainable Development and Growth.

In his first 100 days, Cllr Scott Cunliffe, as executive member for Sustainable Growth has:

• Approved a level two feasibility study into geothermal power extraction from Burnley’s decommissioned coal shafts, with a view to forming a district heating system across the town. These are the first steps in developing a Renewable Energy Strategy for Burnley;
• Improved the pace and acceleration of climate action across the town;
• Agreed to host a Climate Action Conference in 2024 marking 5 years since Burnley declared a climate emergency;
• Met with East Lancs Chamber of Commerce, the North West Aerospace Alliance and other large advanced manufacturing and engineering business leaders to advance Burnley’s role in being a centre for low-carbon technology;
• Facilitated local F&B businesses to work together to establish a ‘Best of Burnley’ venue in the town centre;
• Secured heritage funding to upgrade new Creative Spaces in Burnley town centre –  first steps in improving Burnley’s Creative Economy;
• Worked with Councillor Launer to improve Burnley’s visitor economy attracting more folk to enjoy our friendly hospitality and outdoor town in the South Pennines.
• Introduced a substitute system for all groups attending committees on the council.

In his first 100 days, Cllr Jack Launer, as executive member for Health, Culture and Wellbeing has:

• Changed the course of Burnley Borough Council on Falls Prevention for the frail – a pilot scheme has been promised by stakeholders in Lancashire.
• Secured an Audience Growth Grant for Burnley Mechanics (the town’s theatre) for 2024 for 3 new live original music projects
• Set up a Burnley Film Society at Towneley Hall
• Planned a wider conversation around Mental Health Services which has been agreed by all the stakeholders in county and town
• Written to defend Parkinson’s Nurse services in East Lancashire and was given assurances of the future services
• Helped engage with Burnley Businesses from a culture perspective into the Economy and Growth department, now managed by Green Party Cllr Scott Cunliffe.

We are immensely proud of the work we’re doing and hope you take inspiration and heart from our story and the impacts we are having. Burnley is not a place you would typically associate with Green successes, but with hard work and investment from the regional party, we are smashing it.

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The elections are behind us and the adrenaline which fed us through the past few months has now gone down. I came short of four votes so my life is back to normal for the next four years (or until the by-elections which aren’t unusual here in Warwickshire) but for so many others – their victory means excitement and… more work, and often new responsibilities. Pressure from others but also, be it unconsciously, from Green supporters means that many will be working extremely hard and might forget about themselves as a result. Yet, if we don’t look after ourselves properly we limit what we can do.  

What do the flight attendants say at the beginning of every flight? “If the cabin looses pressure… put your oxygen mask on first, then help others”. Selfish as it sounds, it is an act of sense and care for others as having run out of oxygen you can one of no help to those around you. 

They remind passengers this simple rule before every flight and so here is a reminder for you to prioritise yourself – for the good of everyone.  

You might want to ask yourself the following question daily: have I had my MEALS today? 

M for Move:

Keywords: any movement, stretch, walk, barefoot, regular. 

We often hear about exercise, e.g. NHS talks about 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week. Exercise might sound scary and hard, something to properly prepare for and… rarely to be done. Yet, if we think about it as movement, we find that movement is much easier incorporated into our life, doesn’t require that much preparation or special equipment and thus can be free or very cheap. A combination of walking and stretching is the best and normally simplest option. For some muscle strengthening, gardening and carrying shopping bags as well as climbing stairs might be considered.

If you feel like doing something more: yoga, Tai Chi and – my favorite – Aikido are wonderful activities, which address not only physical but also mental health.

Small changes to your daily practice can go a long way: short morning walks, stretching at least every 20 minutes, standing up and writing with your laptop on a sideboard or a special stand, abandoning your chair while talking on the phone, walking barefoot at home (or, for those braver souls, in the garden too!), and switching to Freet and VivoBarefoot shoes designed to enhance our walking experience, retrain our feet and improve our balance, thus reducing underlying stress.

E for Eat:

Keywords: whole food, plant-based, variety and fixed routine. 

If we throw in ‘local’, ‘seasonal’ and ‘organic’ as well, our diets will be perfect. There are a number of techniques to ensure one eats a variety of food every day: Dr Chatterjee recommends thinking about a rainbow of colours, Ayurveda suggests eating six tastes etc. Investing in a good quality blender (I currently use Nutribullet and we are now saving up for a Vitamix with many more functions) and a ceramic slow cooker can help you add to your diet things you wouldn’t normally bother to eat and make them appealing (or unnoticeable – in my case, spinach magically disappears in smoothies).

Mealtimes are probably even more important than what we eat, so fixing your breakfasts, lunches and dinners can be a good move. In the ideal world, you will have 12 to 16 hours before breaking your fast, thus I tend to suggest breakfast at 8-10am and dinner at 6-8pm. But please check with a trusted and well-qualified doctor, if you have any digestion issues.

A for Apply:

Keywords: less is more, natural, tepid or cool water.

Skin is our largest organ, yet we often think less about what we apply to it than what we put into our mouths. This leads not only to skin issues, but also to slow poisoning of the whole organism and unnecessary stress. In the case of applying creams, cosmetics, perfume, using various washing gels and shampoos, less is more. Occasionally skipping any of those substances in favour of pure tepid (not hot!) warm water can make all the difference. This will also save you money, which can be redirected to purchasing higher quality natural lines. If many house-cleaning products are “harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects”, perhaps they’d better be away from our homes as well. 

L for Love:

Keywords: me-time, self-indulgence, quality time with friends. 

Our life starts with love, we are born of love, but then we often forget to carry it on. Or we remember to love others, yet forget about ourselves. Dr Gabor Mate writes in detail how this affects our health, how many chronic illnesses start from losing oneself. Stress accumulates from having no time to relax, thus it is crucial to prioritise some me-time: listening to a few favourite songs, enjoying a cup of tea in a cosy coffee-shop, reading a book, taking a bath or whatever is the ultimate indulgence for you and you only, and… let go of guilt for spending time by and on yourself.

It is equally important to spend quality in-person time with friends and family. It is not necessarily about the amount of time you spend together, rather about quality and intensity, which generate shared revitalising energy.

S for Sleep:

Keywords: darkness, tech-free, winding down, pre-bed routine.

As someone, who finds it hard to stop using my laptop or smartphone, I am a big fan of apps, which make devices almost useless – temporarily. There are many free and paid options these days, my favourite one is called Freedom (www.freedom.to). It shuts off most of my Internet-based apps (browser, email, WhatsApp etc) between 10pm and 8am. I hope to extend my curfew soon and shut off everything at 8pm. This allows me to have some time with no screen glowing in my face before I go to bed, which is crucial for a good night’s sleep. I have no TV, and the laptop never travels to my bedroom. Ideally, lights in the bathroom should be replaced with low-glow red light so that you don’t wake up fully when going to the loo in the middle of the night. As darkness is crucial to the quality of sleep, investing in a quality cotton or linen eye mask might be a good idea. Last meal is better to be had at least two or three hours before going to bed. Self-massage – especially your feet and toes – for just five minutes before bed will help you relax. Scribbling a few lines in your gratitude journal, strategically positioned on your bedside table, will get you in the right zone and help you feel more positive. If you feel peckish, Ayurvedic golden milk (ideally, non-dairy – search for its simple recipe on the Internet) will be a wonderful gift to yourself, as will be a glass of water first thing in the morning (enjoyed in the garden or on the balcony, if available, to readjust your body clock).

Please do take good care of yourselves. There are still fewer Green Councillors than we need and thus we cannot lose you. 

Ignaty Dyakov-Richmond, life coach, member of the Association for Coaching (www.lifesensei.uk)

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  A residents’ e-bike loan/discount purchase scheme worth £150k will be rolled out across the county.

The hire scheme is expected to allow residents to trial e-bike ownership over a number of months, with the option to purchase the bike at a discount after the hire period. Studies have shown that those who trial an e-bike are significantly more likely to want one for the longer term, and to cycle more in the future. E-bikes are particularly suited to more rural and hilly areas and where there aren’t suitable, safe, separated cycling options, giving confidence and increased pedal power to those who need it and a cheap way to get around at a time when many are struggling with rising costs.

Secure bike storage (lockable hangars) worth £90k .

It is well established that people are more likely to travel by bike with the reassurance of having somewhere safe to store their cycling equipment, and the new bike storage facilities will further support the council’s commitment to increase active travel three-fold by 2030.

An increase to the Rights of Way budget of £100k (a Green amendment of £60k topped up by £40k from Labour)

This represents a huge increase to the budget of local footpaths officers and should make a material difference to their ability to keep footpaths open and usable for all. Walking is a good way to maintain fitness, doesn’t cost anything and helps to reduce carbon and traffic.

And a  £100k to pay for the recommendations of the Restoring our Rivers task group, which looked at the hydrology and biodiversity of the county’s waterways, the pollution pressures they are under and what can be done about it. Widespread national coverage of the poor state of river water quality and biodiversity led to the establishment of this Working Group  and the budget assigned to it will now ensure that its recommendations can be pursued.

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All Green Councillors are welcome to attend, whatever level of local Government you serve on.

There’s a working group planning a great programme of skills training and information sharing and there will also be loads of time to inspire and support each-other. Please let us know what you think the priorities for the programme should be and if you have any good suggestions or offers for contributors. And put the date in your diary now!

For more information and to register click here.

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The Green cabinet members and committee chairs who have signed the letter have called for a three-year funding settlement, an increase in all council budgets in line with inflation, an increase in investment for retrofitting homes and in services for the most vulnerable, particularly adult and child social care.

In the letter, the councillors say: “It makes no financial sense to cut local government funding to the point where they can no longer deliver even basic services.”

They urge Mr Gove to “join local government in working to protect the most vulnerable and build resilient, joyful communities, so we can serve our communities in the way they deserve and give them hope for the future.”

Co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer, who is a councillor in Bristol, said:

“Councils are at breaking point. Several, including Tory controlled Councils, are on the verge of bankruptcy. Michael Gove must listen, not just to the strong chorus from Councils run by opposition parties, but also to Tory councillors.

“The Conservative head of the Local Government Association has said: ‘the numbers just do not add up,’ and added: ‘We desperately need to protect budgets and services from the impact of inflation, without which there will be real service cuts to some of the most vulnerable in our communities.’ [2].

“As councillors, we work hard to build communities that are fairer, greener and healthier. We work to support local businesses, deliver vital services and protect and improve local environments.

“In order to do so effectively, councils need a guarantee from Michael Gove that we will receive an increase in all council budgets in line with inflation and a three-year funding settlement.

“We need that funding certainty so we can increase investment in adult and child social care. We need it to fund the insulation of our homes to make them warmer and cheaper for residents to run.

“If Michael Gove is really committed to levelling up, to decent housing and building strong communities, he must listen to councils and act.”

NOTES:

[1] Letter attached (pdf)

[2] https://www.local.gov.uk/events/past-event-presentations/lga-annual-conference-2022/lga-chairman-cllr-james-jamieson-welcome

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“The terms of reference for the review were clearly written to support ‘growth at any cost’. The review as it stands could result in the ditching or delaying of environmental commitments, undermining our national commitments, but also weakening our ability as council leaders to transform our areas” said Catherine Braun, Leader of Stroud District Council.

Douglas Johnson, who leads on housing policy for Sheffield City Council, added “we desperately need long term investment in insulation and renewable energy to bring down bills and to help eliminate greenhouse gases. We must also decarbonise our transport. Our councils stand ready to lead and have already made headway despite a lack of government support. So, a review of progress would be welcome, but not on the terms outlined under the last Prime Minister”. 

The review Call for Evidence closes this week, but Green Party councillors believe the questions were skewed to support a ‘Trussonomics’ agenda. In their address to the Secretary of State they say: “You can quickly display a commitment to the environment by ditching this wrong-headed and contradictory consultation and replacing it with a genuine engagement with civil society, business and local government on how to accelerate decarbonisation and adaptation in ways that deliver a fair transition for our communities away from fossil fuels.”

The letter can be read in full here.

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Green Party councillors who are members of ruling administrations in England have written to Simon Clarke, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, asking for a guarantee that councils will not be out of pocket as a result of the proposed cap on social rents. They also point to how local authorities would be undermined without a corresponding cap on private sector rents. A government consultation ends today, which has sought views on proposals to cap social housing rent increases for the coming financial year, with options at 3%, 5% and 7% being considered. In their letter to the Secretary of State, the councillors say:  “In our view, a government-imposed cap on social rents is not the way to address the cost of living without equivalent action on private rents. We are living through a housing crisis, with private sector rents becoming increasingly unaffordable in many parts of the country. To cap social rents while taking no action in the private sector and failing to provide local authorities with additional funding would undermine local authorities’ ability to build or purchase affordable homes, just when they are most needed to house those least able to afford inflated private sector rents.”  Councillor Douglas Johnson, who is Chair of Housing Policy Committee on Sheffield City Council, said: “Without extra funding, the cost of any social rent cap will be borne by local councils and their tenants. This would mean less money for councils to spend on crucial services and maintenance; less support available to those in serious hardship and reductions in essential insulation work to reduce tenants’ bills. We need a guarantee that the government will stump up the extra cash needed to fund a rent freeze and a guarantee that councils will not be out of pocket.”  

Councillor Douglas Johnson

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Hundreds of Green Party councillors have sent an open letter to local Conservative councillors in their area, calling on them to disown the government’s ‘attack on nature.’ Greens have decried Kwasi Kwarteng’s recent ‘mini-budget’ as a ‘three-pronged assault”. As the Conservative Party begins its conference in Birmingham, Green councillors are urging local Conservative councillors to say ‘no’ to their new leaders and stand up for their community and local environment.    Government plans include ‘investment zones’ which would make it easier to get planning permission; a ‘sunset clause’ on EU environmental protections; and scrapping the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS), which would have paid farmers to improve nature on their land, with plans to replace this with a payment-by acre not linked to any environmental measures. Councillor Ellie Chowns, a cabinet member on Herefordshire Council, said: “Conservative councillors represent many rural voters who will be up in arms about the government proposals. They should show courage and do the right thing by opposing these hugely damaging plans, which are almost the direct opposite of Conservative manifesto promises and have never been put to the British people.  “We need all our local politicians, whichever party they come from, to stand up for nature. We can have robust local economies whilst also helping nature to recover and thrive. Local Tories have a special responsibility to say no to their new leaders and defend the natural environment on behalf of our communities.”

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The Green Party of England and Wales is celebrating another round of record breaking local elections, with at least 542 councillors now sitting on 164 local authorities. The party has so far made a net gain of 75, gaining seats from Labour and Conservatives in areas as far ranging as Burnley, Hastings, Hackney, Somerset, Plymouth and South Tyneside. The party also saw an historic eight wins in Wales including in Newport, Monmouthshire and Neath Port Talbot. Greens are now the second largest party on many more councils, including Exeter, South Tyneside, Reading, St Helens and Reigate & Banstead. The Greens may also play “kingmaker” in a number of authorities with no overall control, such as Hastings and Worcester. This builds on a long history of Greens working in partnership with other parties in local government authority administrations. Speaking on the results, Green Party co-leader, Carla Denyer, said: “The Green Party has proved itself as a major political force, with more than 540 hard working councillors elected to 164 local authorities in England and Wales. Year on year, we continue to increase our number of councillors, as voters yearn for greener, fairer communities and strong local advocates. “We’ve taken seats from Labour, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats because we have a positive vision, clear policies, and dedicated local councillors. We are building a strong platform to win more MPs at the next General Election, as more and more communities see that voting Green gets you hard-working, honest representatives.” Wales Green Party leader Anthony Slaughter said: “This is a breakthrough moment for Greens in Wales, with seven councils now having Greens in the room, including Conwy, Newport and Monmouthshire. “Our councillors and activists will continue to build on this electoral success by delivering for their communities and proving that Greens offer genuine change from the status quo parties.”

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This article, by Councillor Robin Bennett, Leader of South Oxfordshire Council’s Green Group – where the Greens share power with the Lib Dems – was published in GreenWorld on 29th March 2022

South Oxfordshire is a large rural district stretching from Oxford to Henley and the edge of Reading, taking in the market towns of Wallingford and Thame and the much-expanded railway town of Didcot – now designated a ‘Garden Town’. Much of South Oxfordshire is wealthy and affluent, but it also has real pockets of deprivation and challenges of inequality; I see this in my own ward, which contains both opulent manor houses and draughty social housing, in some cases with five children sharing one bedroom. The district is also under immense development pressure with high housing targets affecting the rural character of our area and its infrastructure.

The Conservatives kept council tax artificially low for years, reducing the council’s reserves – gained from the previous sale of its housing stock to a housing association – by millions of pounds per year. They had also outsourced many core services. While the promised ‘savings’ looked good on paper, they soon evaporated and stripped the council’s internal capacity and expertise. So, while we could take some quick steps to bring Green policies into the council, there was a lot to unpick and fix first. We also picked a major planning fight with Robert Jenrick, but that’s another story.

All residents deserve warm homes, good quality community facilities, accessible parks and green spaces, as well as a stable climate and thriving natural world around them. As a council, we don’t have all the tools we need to provide these things, but we do have some, and it’s right to use them to challenge some of these inequalities that exist within our district.

In late 2020, we created a member-led ‘corporate plan’, a key strategic document establishing the core projects and principles the council would work on for the next four years across all departments. This work was led by Green councillor and cabinet member for Corporate Services and Policy Andrea Powell. We are now into year two of this plan, which is monitored on a quarterly basis with published performance reports. We have also just signed off the council’s Climate Action Plan, in which Green councillor Sam Casey-Rerhaye has played a key role as chair of the Climate and Ecological Emergencies Committee.

Last month we delivered a budget representing a step-change in how the council invests in our communities and collective priorities. If our first budget responded to the council’s poor financial position, and the second to the existential challenges of the pandemic, this third budget is the first fully realised expression of the projects in our corporate plan.

Our administration’s approach to bringing services back in house is a clear reversal of our Conservative predecessors’ policy, and has put us in a much stronger position both financially and practically. As a result, Heads of Service can manage costs more effectively, improving the long-term position and freeing up £500,000 for immediate additional investment. We have split these funds between three of our key priorities: Protect and Enhance Nature, Taking Action on Climate Change, and Community Wellbeing.

This will enable us, for example, to accelerate activity to support the retrofit of homes and development of green construction skills, run green business fairs in towns, and support car-sharing clubs.

Another Green councillor, Peter Dragonetti, is one of our Tree Champions. We are supporting tree and hedge planting by towns and parishes, including on council-owned land, and have just approved planting by community groups on two substantial council-owned sites in Wallingford.

There’s also funding to invest in access to green spaces and our rivers. Green councillor Jo Robb is the council’s River Thames Champion, and has campaigned to raise awareness and take action on sewage pollution in our river, which runs 47 miles along the length of the district.

We have also allocated funds to renovate our much-needed public toilets and support community litter picks and children’s activities.

As well as bringing services in house, we’re saving money by working on a joint local plan with our neighbouring Vale of the White Horse district. We are planning to move out of expensive rented offices (an arson attack destroyed our council offices in 2015), by making a substantial investment in the centre of Didcot Garden Town for a new civic building. We’re buying houses to use as temporary accommodation rather than paying for hotels.

We know these are tough financial times for many of our residents. Although South Oxfordshire has one of the lowest levels of council tax of any shire district, it’s vital that we deploy all the funding we can access, especially to support facilities used by our residents, whatever their income level. By introducing new action and policies on developer funding contributions, we have improved the council’s ability to spend them more quickly, and as a result, we are able to make substantial investments. In this budget, we have released nearly £2 million to support community leisure and wellbeing facilities, as well as in some cases supporting a specific need, such as improved access to the Thames for wheelchair users.

Also included are some innovative ideas such as a partnership project with Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment, allowing local organisations to bid for a share of £50,000 for local nature projects, and £25,000 for a pilot site for a Tiny Forest.

In my role as cabinet member for development and regeneration, I am leading on a £5 million investment over two years, using affordable housing funds from developers to enable the council to purchase and invest in its own council housing, another vital step toward reinstating the council as a provider of housing for those most in need. This follows major commitments last year to Henley and District Housing Trust and for our own Didcot Broadway development of new low-carbon council housing.

Having a group of Green councillors has made a clear and positive difference to these plans. Alongside our Lib Dem partners, with welcome support from other groups on the council, we are showing that there’s a different way to do things, putting communities, climate and nature first, while also improving the council’s long term financial resilience.

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