The Green Party view
The big story at this election could be that Norwich people elect the Greens to be the largest party on the city council. That would be a first in this country. It’s not an unrealistic aim because we are already the main opposition at the city council, and only two seats behind Labour.
Norwich Greens think that more of what the city council does should be done in the open, and that information about work the council does, whether it’s cutting back hedges or replacing windows, should be publicly available. We’d like to involve more members of the community in decision making and to make the way the council works less secretive.
We also think it’s important to help people install insulation and renewable energy in their homes. Even when the government is taking money away from cities like Norwich, we can find ways to fund insulation and solar panel schemes which could provide long-term income for the council and reduce energy bills for hundreds of households where they are fitted.
Green councillors want to help local businesses. During tough financial times, small businesses need the support of the council and they deserve the council’s help as money spent with local businesses tends to stay in the local area.
To read all the details about how we think the city council should be run, you can find our document “A Manifesto for the City 2010″. Our election video can be seen here.
A Green vote at this election helps to elect a hard-working councillor committed to bringing fairness and openness to City Hall. We won’t be able to change things overnight, but Green councillors want Norwich City Council to be a council the whole city can be proud of.
Claire Stephenson, Green, former leader of Green Party on Norwich City Council
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