26th January 2008

Greens comment at Full Council on the budget discussed on Thursday night and call for more urgency on Climate Change. 

Cllr Sarah Lunnon, Leader of the Green group of District councillors said: "The Green group recognises and congratulates the administration that this is a balanced budget with only small increases in Council Tax. However it is a business-as-usual budget that does not engage robustly enough with the environmental agenda - the huge needs relating to flooding and the fact that most scientists say we have less than 10 years to tackle climate change. There is no sense of urgency in this budget."

Cllr Martin Whiteside, Parliamentary spokesperson for Stroud Green party said: "The Green group recognises and welcomes the moves towards cutting carbon. However it is clear there is a lack of urgency: we need to spend to save. Kirklees for example have brought in funds from elsewhere to be able to offer free insulation to all households - this means tackling fuel poverty - cutting CO2 and cutting fuel bills by an average of £150 per year and more money circulating locally."

Later in the debate Cllr Sarah Lunnon robustly challenged the Cabinet member for Regeneration on the inaction on Stroud Interchange, saying: "We have already waited 7 years, how much longer do we need to wait?"