Green Party Councillors Demand Energy Action In County Hall Budget

19th February - The Green Party group on Norfolk County Council have today released their alternative budget that introduces an energy efficiency programme to help tackle climate change, re-introduces transport support to vulnerable groups, whilst saving the tax payer a quarter of a percent of Council tax.

Green councillors propose the following:

• The establishment of a Climate Change Mitigation fund. This would be 0.5% of the Council budget for 2007-8 rising to 1% annually from 2009-9 onwards. This would raise £2.4million this year and over £5million in future years. The money would be used to invest in energy efficiency measures throughout the County's buildings and activities, and to create an Energy Services Company to provide self-generated, low carbon energy to the Council. This package is expected to save between £6million and £10million per year in energy costs in the future and insulate Norfolk council tax payers from massive fuel price fluctuations that are expected.
• The council tax is set at 4.5% - a quarter of a percent less than the ruling Conservative administration is setting.
• The establishment of a Road Safety programme. This will review how road safety is delivered and ensure that roads are maintained to safe standards. It will also deliver soft measures improve road safety including a high-profile education campaign for young male drivers. This initiative will save £1.737million in this year's budget.
• Re-instate a cut of £183,000 for transport for Looked After children, and re-instate 75% of the budget for transport for post-16 students in further education.
• Abandon the Northern Distributor Road project. Green councillors argue that this road has no secure funding and that it will increase rather than reduce congestion. Spending £1million a year on design dreams for a road that may never be built is a wasteful drain on Council resources that can no longer be justified.
• Save £300,000 of street lighting by investigating turning lights off in the early hours in certain areas.

Councillor Andrew Boswell says "This is an innovative Green budget. We have looked at the best way the Council can make a serious contribution to tackling dangerous climate change – by a strong energy efficiency programme and the founding of an Energy Services company to make the Council self-sufficient in Green energy. This is an up and running system in at least two other Councils at Woking and Kirklees - it would be perfectly feasible for Norfolk to adopt such a scheme. This will protect the Council for rising and fluctuating energy costs in the future enabling the Council to continue to deliver high quality services in the decades to come. We show this can be done whilst giving the Council tax payer a reduction in charges."

Councillor Chris Hull says "We have been amazed that the ruling Conservatives have made no provision for tackling Climate Change. After the Stern report said it would cost 1% of GDP, the onus on all Local Auhtorities is to deliver mitigation programmes. Council tax payers will be left high and dry if the Council doesn't invest now to make savings later when massive cost changes to the energy markets are expected. Our budget will protect Council taxpayers and the environment".