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Respark - a new approach

A scheme proposed by a Scottish Green Party councillor in Edinburgh has been agreed, reducing the annual permit costs for those with small 'greener' engines but increasing the charge for 'gas guzzlers'. York's Green councillors have secured the agreement of the Liberal Democrat ruling group to consult York's permit holders on the idea of introducing this in York. Currently it costs £90 pa for a permit in York except there is a 50% discount for very short vehicles (eg smart car) If the Edinburgh model were to be adopted it is hoped that it would work out cheaper for cars of 1400cc's or less. The scheme might also give an introductory free membership for use of the Whizz go car club, thus encouraging users to consider giving up their car if they only need it infrequently.

Green budget

York Green councillors have revealed some details of their budget amendment for the council meeting on Thursday, which they say would boost sustainable travel and enhance the councils response to climate change. The Greens would reinstate the 'smart travel' budget to promote green travel options and help individuals to plan journeys. They would create a specific transport planning post of Cycling and Walking Officer with a remit to work on bids for funds such as Cycling Demonstration Town as well as taking forward the city's cycling strategy. They would establish a Cycle Forum to enable the council to take account of the views of a cross section of the city's cyclists and they would block a planned 20 - 25 % increase in the charges for child cycle training in local schools. They would also earmark funding for taking forward the recommendations of the Traffic Congestion Scrutiny report which might include modelling of congestion charging and low emission zone options for the city. They would also set aside some additional money to provide a recycling collection service from Day 1 for all newly occupied flats in the city and for partnership working with the energy efficiency office to tackle insulation needs of older privately owned properties.  

 To pay for these measures the Greens would scrap the use of recruitment consultants saving £20,000pa and gain an extra £40,000 by including residents in 10p per hour increase in parking charges at standard stay car parks (due to be raised by 20p per hour for visitors, the first increase since 2004/05) and a further £30,000 would be raised by axing the council contribution to york.england.com . However the Greens would remove the proposed 2.3% increase in respark permit charges for the first car and cut the cost of a visitors permit from £1 to 50p. They would also bring in an annual charge for councillors free parking passes, although the councillors would be able to claim an element of this back when they were using their car on council business.

The Greens support measures proposed by the ruling group to address flooding, energy efficiency in council buildings and greater recycling but oppose the plans to use PFI partnerships with the private sector to maintain the Highways and build new waste treatment plants.   Cllr Andy D'Agorne for the Greens said "The budget situation is tight and is going to get tighter once we start paying for the waste plant, but we believe these measures are essential to tackle climate change, while at the same time trying to enhance the quality of life for people living in the City of York."  

Analysis of York 2007 results

Well this  should be on the local party site soon, but until then, here is a pretty map and analysis of how we fared in the local elections.

CIty_of_York_Results_-percent_and_maps_2007.pdf

 

Commission supports votes at 16

POWER Report backs Votes at 16

10.46.24am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 27th Feb 2006

The long-awaited report of the POWER Commission has been published today - and it backs lowering the voting age to 16. The Isle of Man has recently lowered the age to 16 and Gordon Brown has said he supports the idea. It has been Green Party Policy for many years.

The POWER Commission was independent of all parties and funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, a charity which takes a close interest in democracy. The Commission was chaired by Baroness Helena Kennedy.

In recommending a lower voting age, the Commission says that the move will help to connect young people with democracy. The Commission stresses that there is not a lack of interest in politics, simply a lack of faith that ordinary people have the power to change things.

The Votes at 16 Campaign has welcomed the report and urged the Government to take action on lowering the voting age. As someone who works in a college, it is obvious to me that if we want young people to engage with politics they need to be able to vote at 16, building on citizenship in schools and before they become cynical and disinterested in politics

You can read the POWER Commission report by going to http://www.powerinquiry.org/ 

 

International Indian Film Academy 2007 comes to Yorkshire

I hadnt heard of this event either, until I was invited to join the great and the good of our city at the Lord Mayor's Breakfast this week. However you need to know that the Indian Film industry is bigger than Hollywood, and their equivalent of the Oscars will be given out at the Sheffield Arena this year, with a worldwide audience of over 350 million!

Previous years events have been hosted in Singapore, Dubai, Amsterdam etc. A consortium of five Yorkshire cities will be in the spotlight this June, with a fringe festival and lots of business opportunities to make trading links with the fast growing Indian economy. The cities are Hull, York, Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield. Bradford is no stranger to events such as a Mela, but for the first time one will be held in Hull. York will be hosting a glitzy fashion show close to or in one of our key historic buildings.

And what about the breakfast? Well being veggie, I passed on the bacon or sausage buttie and opted to follow Radio York presenter Elli Fiorentini in having fruit salad and Longley Farm yoghurt. When we get the first Green Lord Mayor we will introduce Quorn sausages and 'cheating bacon' on brown bread to go with the muesli and fresh fruit! And of course we will ditch those aweful coffee machines in the committee rooms that use a sachet of plastic every time you have a drink to end up swelling our landfill sites. (reminds me must start taking a flask again)

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