Working to Make Edinburgh a Better Place Greens Say No to Privatisation
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Edinburgh GIVING YOU BACK YOUR CITY Greens pledge to put decision making in the Green News ›› page 4 hands of the people. The paper for green issues in Edinburgh, Spring 2012 www.edinburghgreens.org.uk MEANWHILEA CLEARER VIEW ON GREEN SPACES FIGHTING CUTS SUSTAINABLE INCOUNCIL STIRLING PROJECTS UNDER THREAT IN EDUCATION ENERGY OPTIONS Green councillors demand Greens put pupil interest first end to secrecy in project in council decisions. delivery. ›› page 3 ›› page 2 ›› page 4 ›› page 3 Working to Make Edinburgh a Better Place welfare cuts and ensure that Scotland’s Edinburgh is a fantastic capital energy economy is built on renewable city – but is has been let down badly resources. by poor leadership. The Greens in Since 2007, when Greens first sat Edinburgh have a fresh and exciting on Edinburgh’s Council, its three Green agenda for the city and look set Councillors have campaigned to keep to build on the support they have Council services publicly run. They maintained during 2011. They are have worked to protect the hearts of asking you to look at their record our communities by saving schools, and back them in the May 2012 local community centres and green spaces. government elections. Edinburgh Green MSP Alison Johnstone represents Lothians in the They have won measures that keep our In the Holyrood elections, Greens Scottish Parliament, and is a leading figure in Green campaigns in the city. streets safer and less polluting, and our were the only opposition party to neighbourhoods thriving places we’re CREATE more green jobs and and retain a local facility that helps hold their ground, and not lose any proud to live in. support Edinburgh’s local businesses children and families stay active and seats. Green MSPs Patrick Harvie and Greens now pledge to: and high streets; healthy. Edinburgh’s Alison Johnstone (pictured) GIVE Edinburgh back to its citizens, PRIORITISE SPENDING to prevent It’s time for a fresh, new Council in continue to represent Green values of involving our communities more in problems before they require more Edinburgh - voting Green this May will fairness, caring and sustainability in the decisions that affect them; costly solutions; for example by help ensure the Council puts giving Scottish Parliament. They have fought continuing to support campaigns like power back to its citizens, sustainable to protect Scotland from Westminster Splashback! to save Leith Waterworld jobs, well-being and fairness first. Greens Say No To Privatisation The Liberal Democrat-SNP led developing proposals to allow big Privatisation would mean services administration wasted £3m on a Council in Edinburgh has pushed businesses to profit running everyday being run to suit the contractors, not process that was always going to fail. forward plans to privatise a wide range public services. residents. We are clear that public “We will continue to oppose the of local services. The scheme is called The first set of proposals, for services must be protected. They Liberal Democrat-SNP plans to hand “Alternative Business Model” and it emptying your bins and cleaning the should be run for the public good - not services over to profit-motivated is being vehemently opposed by the streets, were rejected by the Council private profit. big business. The Council needs to Edinburgh Greens. in November. Green Councillors Green Councillor Maggie Chapman focus on how to support residents in Everything from waste collection were among the few who opposed said: “This proposal to allow big dealing with the cuts being forced on to providing school meals has been privatisation from the start. business into the Council was always it by the Westminster and Holyrood targeted. The Liberal Democrats and Greens reject such plans because deeply flawed. With huge pressure governments. It should not be wasting the SNP have spent around £3million we want citizens to have their say on Council budgets it is unforgivable time and money on exotic PFI-style of council tax payers’ money on in how their services are delivered. that the Liberal Democrat-SNP schemes.” www.edinburghgreens.org.uk Edinburgh Green News the paper for green issues in Edinburgh, Spring 2012 PROTECTING OUR GREEN SPACES Edinburgh Greens believe we must be the custodians of our green spaces and protect them from unwarranted encroachment. Councillor Alison Johnstone is delighted that the Save Inverleith Park campaign succeeded in its fight to stop the proposed sell-off of an integral part of the park. Members of the Green Party were active in the campaign and a petition of over 8,000 signatures was presented to the Lord Provost. Campaigners now want it designated as ‘open space’ to protect against future development. “PRESERVING PRECIOUS Cllr Alison Johnstone joins Nigel Bagshaw local community council chair and Green candidate GREEN SPACES for Inverleith, and members of the Save Inverleith campaign outside the City Chambers. IN OUR CITY IS ESSENTIAL...” Despite this particular success, Cllr Johnstone warned that green Our Enterprising City spaces in Edinburgh continue to be under threat. Alison said: “We cannot afford to be complacent. The new development at Craighouse Campus Needs More Green Jobs continues to concern local residents Greens are pledging to stimulate Edinburgh Greens pledge to create UPGRADING boilers to the most who value this historic beauty spot as Edinburgh’s economy while protecting green jobs while addressing other energy-efficient models, making a place to meet, walk and play.” the environment and creating more issues facing the city by: savings for householders on their The developers propose green jobs. But just what makes a job INSULATING every home in the energy bills. building new houses on the green? city, helping to improve the energy BUILDING more social housing site and converting the existing The United Nations defines a efficiency of homes and taking people on Edinburgh’s many brownfield historic buildings into homes. green job as one that, “contributes out of fuel poverty. sites, instead of developing executive Alison Johnstone said: “I share substantially to preserving or restoring INSTALLING solar panels on every housing on green belt land far from any local residents’ concerns that this environmental quality.” This means that Council-owned property, helping the amenities. development will restrict access if your work involves ways in which you Council to generate much needed There’s no secret to green jobs: to this well-used landscape and help society to become more energy funds and helping tenants reduce their they are the welders and plumbers, increase traffic across the site. efficient, to improve the quality of the power bills. engineers and builders that are already Preserving precious green spaces in housing stock, to generate renewable MAKING more public transport living next door to you. Greens want our city is essential for the health of electricity or to reduce householder’s options available; making it easier to more of them working across the city our environment and the health of heating bills, then you already have a move around the city as well as get in to make a fairer, greener Edinburgh. everyone.” green job. and out. Greens: No Council Contracts for Tax Dodgers Currently Vodafone, who allegedly avoided £4.8bn There is a great deal of accumulated wealth in the country. But there are far of tax on a merger deal, provide the Council’s mobile phone too many people, from large corporate firms to the local ‘black economy’, who contract. She said: “Vodafone can’t have their cake and eat it. Either they avoid are dodging paying taxation. Without tax, our schools, hospitals and public tax and we boycott them or they pay their tax and win public contracts. I’m fed services will grind to a halt. up with profiteering private companies dodging tax when they make money on Greens have demanded an end to Council contracts for companies that the back of services we all pay for. Such companies should never be considered dodge tax. Currently in the UK around £70bn a year in tax is illegally evaded for public contracts. Edinburgh’s share of the Vodafone £4.8bn could help us and another £50bn is avoided or not paid in time according to the Tax Justice avoid cuts to vital local services.” Network. That amounts to nearly a billion pounds every year for Edinburgh. Green MP Caroline Lucas is proposing a bill at Westminster to make it Greens believe that avoiding tax – and this includes everyday taxes - is more difficult for companies to avoid tax. The bill will make it easier to recover wrong and even worse when the Council is being forced to make cuts by the billions of pounds of lost tax by forcing companies to be more transparent in Westminster and Holyrood Governments. their accounting. Caroline Lucas said: “The first aim of this Bill is to tackle the Green Councillor Maggie Chapman (pictured) has demanded the Council scandalous reality that around 500,000 companies every year appear not to be stop using companies that avoid tax and so stop supporting tax avoidance. paying tax in the UK.” Edinburgh Green News the paper for green issues in Edinburgh, Spring 2012 www.edinburghgreens.org.uk EDINBURGH MUST ADOPT FIVE WAYS TO FIVE-POINT WELL-BEING PLAN WELL-BEING 1. Connect with the people around you, with family, friends, FOR A FULLER LIFE colleagues and neighbours. Many in Edinburgh enjoy a very Green Councillor Steve Burgess Invest time in developing these high quality of life – but we need (pictured) said: “Feeling secure relationships as the corner to make this possible for everyone. economically is crucial for your well- stones of your life. Green Councillors have called for being, for instance having a secure job 2. Be active. Exercise makes Edinburgh to “go beyond money” in and a pension.