23rd July 2007

The Association of Green Councillors started its annual conference at Local Government House, Smith Square, on Friday 20th July.

The event, hosted by the Local Government Association Independent Group, signals the growing influence of Green councillors in local government. See video here: http://www.public.tv/GreenParty

The local elections this May saw the number of Green principal authority councillors rise to three figures for the first time ever. There are now 110 Green councillors on English local authorities, up from 93 the previous year, in addition to a growing number of Town and Parish councillors.

Three Stroud District Council Green party councillors were among those attending. Cllr Martin Whiteside said: "We have heard many exciting examples of Green party action in local authorities. The Green party in Kirklees, for example, negotiated a £21 million funding from various sources to provide free cavity wall and loft insulation to 40,000 properties. This is just the sort of scheme that makes sense: it cuts householder bills by an average £150 each year, an estimated £4.5 million will annually go back into the community rather than to power companies, a jobs boost for the local economy, it tackles fuel poverty and will be the largest carbon saving project in the country. It would be great to see Stroud and the rest of the country follow this lead."

Cllr Philip Booth who got delayed many hours on his return trip to Stroud by train due to the floods, said: "Ironically one of the issues we were discussing at the conference was the failure by many councils to resist building on flood plains and the lack of a serious commitment nationally to Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems which are now mandatory in countries like Scotland and Ireland. Let us hope the recent disasters make people listen more closely to the solutions we need to put in place."

Chair of the Association of Green Councillors, Cllr Darren Johnson, said, "Greens are a growing force in local government. A number of Green Groups are now in pivotal positions on hung authorities, able to influence spending patterns and council priorities in order to deliver solid green achievements on social justice and the environment. This conference brought together Green councillors from around the country to showcase our successes and exchange best practice and ideas."

Conference Highlights

10:30- 11.30 LGA Chief Executive, Paul Coen, welcomes delegates and gives the opening speech.

11:45-13:45 Panel: Climate Change and Local Authorities: Green MEP - Jean Lambert, Green London Assembly Member - Cllr Jenny Jones AM and Cllr Andy Cooper - Kirklees. Followed by Q and A.

14.45-15.30 Plenary: Local Government Reforms: implications for Greens -Presentation by Paul Wheeler, Leadership Centre for Local Government. Followed by discussion

Workshop sessions include: Green approaches to crime, Influencing Local Development Frameworks, Making best use of Scrutiny, and Working with the major parties.


Notes:

(i) Cllr Darren Johnson is Leader of the six-strong Green Group in the London Borough of Lewisham and a London Assembly Member. He can be contacted on 07887 737 276.