NORTH HERTFORDSHIRE GREEN PARTY District Manifesto – May 2010 Final version Contents 1 Introduction 2 Core Principles 3 Our District Priorities 3.1 Planning Development Policy 3.2 Insulating Existing Buildings 3.3 Working with the Community 3.4 Transition Towns 3.5 Working with Business 3.6 Taxation 3.7 Waste Management 3.8 Transport 3.9 The Operation of the Council 4 Working with Other Parties 5 What You Can Expect from a Green Councillor Appendices A Future Updates and Wider Policies B Core Principles - 1 – This document was published on a website that is promoted by Phil Oddy on behalf of the North Hertfordshire and Stevenage Green Party, both of 149 Green Drift, Royston, SG8 5BL 1 Introduction Welcome to our manifesto for the May 2010 district council elections. For a number of years we believe we have been the only political party contesting elections in North Hertfordshire to have produced and made a manifesto readily available. We hope it gives you a good idea of our policies and priorities. We welcome feedback (or ideas for next year) which you can e- mail to us at [email protected] or send to the Green Party candidate standing in your ward. This year the North Hertfordshire Green Party is again contesting every ward in the district - every voter can vote for a Green Party candidate. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible, in particular the 190 people - many of whom have no connection with the Green Party - who were willing to propose, second or assent to our candidates’ nominations to allow them to stand. So why vote for a Green Party candidate? The details are to be found in this document, but in summary the Green Party wants to move much faster than other parties in taking meaningful measures to help us live within our means (having regards to population and resources), to reduce our dependence on oil, to treat all people fairly and to develop a thriving and participatory community spirit. Other parties talk about prosperity, but the Green Party’s policies are focused on well-being and happiness. This document summarises the policies that our candidates have agreed to pursue were they to be elected to North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC). It takes account of the powers and responsibilities of NHDC. Even a minority of Greens on the council will make a positive difference for people living and working in the area. For information on future updates to this manifesto and on county and national policies, see Appendix A . 2 Core Principles Green Party councillors are united behind the Core Principles of the Green Party – principles that promote worldwide sustainable and peaceful existence and social justice. Our policies are intended to be consistent with these. If a matter arises that is not specifically covered by this manifesto (or if developments occur which affect the appropriateness of anything stated within), then account will be taken of the Core Principles when formulating or re-formulating policy. The Core Principles are set out in Appendix B . - 2 – This document was published on a website that is promoted by Phil Oddy on behalf of the North Hertfordshire and Stevenage Green Party, both of 149 Green Drift, Royston, SG8 5BL 3 Our District Policies 3.1 Planning Development Policy NHDC’s powers are limited. We believe the most important direct contribution it can make to combat climate change is to ensure that all new build is constructed to the highest environmental standards. We believe that publicity given to, and consultations in respect of, the Local Development Framework have not been as good as they should have been. As a priority we would divert resource to improve this in future and to accelerate progress. With regards to development policies, our long-term ideal would be to ensure that all new development (either new build or conversion) will be required to demonstrate that it does not add any net CO 2 emissions over the life-cycle of its operation. Developers could adopt a range of technical approaches to achieve this objective. It would be for the developer to decide which approach is the most appropriate to deliver a zero net carbon standard in their specific proposal. The applicant would have to demonstrate, through a development appraisal, if the adoption of such an approach resulted in an undue burden on the viability of the scheme. In addition, there would be a presumption against any development which results in a significant net increase in carbon dioxide emissions. However, we recognise it will take time for builders to develop expertise in low carbon technology and there are cost and supply chain issues. We would like to see NHDC working with other councils and central government to keep pushing for high standards so that builders have to develop such expertise. In practice in the short term we envisage the need to: • adopt a phased approach whereby NHDC’s development policies set dates on which new minimum standards under the Sustainable Construction Code for residential housing will be phased in; and • set a minimum code rating to apply to all developments with higher code standards being required at named locations (where land values or the strategic value of the sites can be used to justify the requirement given current technical abilities and supply chain issues). This would have the effect of improving the water and energy efficiency and the proportion of on-site energy generation in a realistic manner. This policy is based on ‘Code for Sustainable Homes: a step change in sustainable home building practice’ published by Department for Communities and Local Government in December 2006 and which came into force on 1 May 2008. We would want developers to contribute to a fund administered by NHDC when new build does not meet Sustainable Homes level 6 (zero-carbon). This would fund the construction of strategic low or zero carbon energy generation facilities in the district. For commercial properties we would seek to set similar stringent targets. - 3 – This document was published on a website that is promoted by Phil Oddy on behalf of the North Hertfordshire and Stevenage Green Party, both of 149 Green Drift, Royston, SG8 5BL We will endeavour to find practical and legal incentives which the council can provide to encourage developments which meet higher environmental standards earlier than planning policy requires. We believe it is important that the Local Development Framework has an adaption strategy. For example, new developments would need to be modelled against projected potential temperatures for 2050 to show that they would meet the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers temperature standards for habitable rooms (the number of times a living room or bedroom should exceed a certain temperature each year). We need to plan for the outdoor environment too – providing solar respite and cooler areas. On brownfield sites we would require a presumption against demolition and in favour of refurbishment, unless either the new build attains Sustainable Homes Level 6 or it attains Sustainable Homes Level 5 with acceptable justification being provided as to both why a higher Sustainable Homes Level is not achievable and why refurbishment is not appropriate. This is because of the energy embodied in the existing buildings and in order for the building industry to start to face up to the challenge of retrofitting the existing housing stock to high energy efficiencies. We are in principle strongly against greenfield site development. However, where it proves necessary we believe that it is important that any such developments should be subject to exceptionally high standards designed to promote a sustainable lifestyle. We want to see strong policies in the Local Development Framework protecting and developing local employment and green spaces to reduce the need to travel for work and recreation. We believe current planning policies have resulted in an inappropriate mix of new build in our towns which doesn’t help families. The Local Development Framework needs to have strong policies on affordable housing in the context of developments that will create a community spirit and meet the needs of a wide range of people in the community. Planning Decisions Whenever a Green Party councillor is called to make a judgement on a planning application, then the application will be considered on its merits, and the councillor will form their own independent judgement, having regard to the realistic consequences of any decision taken. 3.2 Insulating Existing Buildings Another way we can make big inroads into reducing our carbon emissions is by local and national government working together to offer free insulation to all residences. National government (or other agencies) would need to provide the funding and local authorities would organise the work. The proposal would cover loft insulation, cavity wall insulation or where that is not appropriate internal cladding, hot water tank insulation and draught-proofing. The programme would be rolled out street-by-street in each local authority area, starting with the least insulated properties. Every householder would be offered advice, including advice on potential fuel savings, and free insulation appropriate to their home. Householders would be free to refuse the offer, but the decision will rest with the occupier, not, if there is one, the landlord. - 4 – This document was published on a website that is promoted by Phil Oddy on behalf of the North Hertfordshire and Stevenage Green Party, both of 149 Green Drift, Royston, SG8 5BL The aim of this is to reduce by 25% domestic carbon emissions, which made up 21% of total emissions in 2005. • The average householder can save up to half of their domestic fuel costs by improving insulation.