Selling council generated renewable electricity to the grid, implementing a workplace parking levy and higher rates of Council Tax for top band properties will help protect essential services from cuts says Exeter Green Party.
The Green Party in Exeter, which is fielding a candidate in all 13 wards up for election on Thursday, September 9, says that the priority for any elected Green councilors will be to fight to protect essential services from the cuts being demanded by the Conservative-Lib Dem Government.
The Green Party says that environmental and social justice cannot be realised by making such savage cuts to council expenditure.
Andrew Bell, Exeter Green Party policy officer and candidate for Alphington told the PRSD: “The city council is currently looking at how to shave £1 million pounds off its annual budget. We believe that the council needs to resist making cuts to essential services, cuts that will inevitably affect the poorest and most vulnerable in our community.
“What we need instead is bold, innovative and positive ways of increasing revenue to protect essential services while at the same time addressing environmental concerns. This is why we propose selling council generated renewable electricity to the grid and implementing a workplace parking levy. Raising revenue to protect essential services while addressing climate change and pollution and improving the health of the community – that’s social and environmental justice.”
Exeter Green Party’s manifesto also calls for the council to adopt a raft of other positive initiatives such as city-wide referendum style polls on important decisions affecting all residents in Exeter, like the recent failed Unitary status bid; lower council tax for the lowest band properties; subsidised bus fares for children and families and a Living Wage for City Council employees to narrow the pay gap between the highest and lowest-paid workers.
Audaye Elesedy, the chair of Exeter Green Party and candidate for Topsham said: “This manifesto is a beginning of an ongoing commitment from the Exeter Green Party to present positive and transformational ideas on how we can ensure social and environmental justice in Exeter.
“As a democratic party we are engaging the people of Exeter in what’s needed for creating a fairer and healthier city with a sustainable environment and local economy. In this election the people of Exeter get to see a party with strong conviction about the politics that matter. If the electorate choose to elect their first Green councillors on September 9 they’ll see us bringing this about.”
(from a press release)
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