We have today (12 March) launched our local election Manifesto with an event at Platform 9’s new event space at Hove Town Hall.
In the document, Greens set out their plans for the city ahead of May 2nd’s council elections. The pledges include:
- Developing 1500 new homes on brownfield land, including 600 new council-owned properties.
- Delivering a waste and recycling service that works, starting by revisiting the council’s private finance initiative (PFI) waste contract with Veoila.
- Reducing homelessness by trebling the impact of the ‘Housing First’ programme that provides unconditional support to homeless people failed by traditional approaches.
Further plans outlined in the 12-page document include:
- Creating a council-run not-for-profit lettings agency to help tenants renting from private landlords get a fairer deal.
- Tackling the climate emergency by making the city carbon neutral by 2030
- Expanding clean air zones to help the city’s residents breathe – and supporting the rollout of electric vehicles, as well as better walking and cycling infrastructure.
Speakers at the launch event included Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, Convenor of the Green Group of Councillors, and Jonathan Bartley, Co-Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales.
Councillor Mac Cafferty said:
“Greens will not stand by as austerity continues to hammer our city. For Brighton and Hove to thrive, we know our residents need bold plans and real action on housing, waste, transport and the environment.
“If you want to know what Green Councillors stand for look at what we have done in the last few weeks – we put £12.5m back into the council budget, reversing some of the worst cuts, and investing in homeless support and tackling climate change. It was Green Councillors who stopped the Tory takeover of the council, following Labour councillor resignations and defections.
“Ahead of the local elections on May 2nd, I am proud to share our vision for the city in the Green Party manifesto. With Labour divided and the Conservatives plunging us head-first into Brexit, it is the Greens who will stand up for Brighton and Hove.”