In this issue

Greens become second party on City Council
Safer neighbourhoods update
Spaces at local youth clubs
20mph plan approved!
Whitlingham walk
Resident's Associations
Greens propose all-party executive

Greens become second party on City Council

In the local elections on 1st May Norwich Green Party gained three additional seats and became the second largest party on the City Council. The Greens are now just two seats behind Labour. The enlarged group of Green Councillors is pushing for Greener policies for the city. Norwich City Council once again has the largest group of Green Party Councillors in the country.

In your area (University Ward) Green Party Candidate Amandine Stone finished a strong second, with 708 votes (29 per cent). Amandine said: "I would like to thank everyone who voted for me. I will continue to work hard as a Green Party campaigner in the area."

University Ward result 2008

Brenda Arthur (Labour): 1,052 (43%)
Amandine Stone (Green): 708 (29%)
Paul Wells (Con): 333 (14%)
Andrew Wright (LibDem): 332 (14%)

New political make-up of Norwich City Council

Labour: 15 seats (no change)
Green Party: 13 seats (up 3)
LibDems: 6 seats (down 5)
Conservatives: 5 seats (up 2)

Number of Councillors by party on Norwich City Council

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Safer neighbourhoods update

The latest meeting of the local Safer Neighbourhoods Action Panel for University and Eaton Wards decided that the following local problems should be the community policing priorities: criminal damage and rowdy behaviour in the Corie Road and Kinghorn Road areas; anti-social behaviour around North Park Avenue; violent crime and anti-social behaviour around UEA and Bluebell Road. To report other community safety issues or incidents relating to the problems listed above please call the Police on 0845 456 4567.

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Spaces at local youth clubs

Places are available for high school age children at the youth club at Earlham High School. The club runs every Wednesday evening and costs 75p per session. There is also a club for the school holidays. Details are available from 251180.

There are also some places available for over 12s at the youth club at Jessopp Road United Reformed Church. The club runs each Thursday evening in school term time. For more information please call Margaret Dann on 458702.

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20mph plan approved!

Photo: Amandine Stone on Cunningham Road,
where residents are calling for a 20mph speed limit.

The Norwich Highways Agency Committee has approved a proposal from Green Party Councillors for a 20mph speed limit to be introduced across residential roads in the city. Parts of the city already have a 20mph speed limit but the local Councils have up until now been taking a piecemeal approach to extending the zone and rejecting most local requests for a 20mph limit in particular areas.

The 20mph speed limit will be mainly based around speed signs, rather than speed bumps. However, Green Councillors have asked Council officers to look at how the new limit can best be enforced. The officers are also drawing up proposals on when and how the limit should be introduced.

Councillor Rupert Read, Norwich Green Party transport spokesperson, said: "A 20mph limit will mean safer streets across the city. Lower speeds will help people feel more confident to walk and cycle. I'm delighted that Norwich is taking this positive step for improved road safety."

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Whitlingham walk

Green Party Councillors will be leading a walk from Norwich City Football Club to Whitlingham Country Park on Saturday 21st June. The walk is a social event but is also part of the campaign for improved pedestrian and cycle links from the city to Whitlingham. The walk will begin at 12noon, starting by Carrow Road bridge. For more information please call Councillor Bob Gledhill on (01603) 621980.

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Resident's Associations

Amandine Stone and the Green Councillors are always willing to attend meetings of local residents' groups. If you belong to a group and would like us to attend a meeting or you have an issue to raise please get in touch.

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Greens propose all-party executive

Following the elections the Green Party proposed that the seats on the City Council's ruling Executive be divided up between the four parties in proportion to the number of seats held on the Council as a whole. This proposal was rejected by the other three parties. Instead Labour, as the largest party, is continuing to run a minority administration.

Councillor Adrian Ramsay, Co-ordinator of the Green Party Group on Norwich City Council, said: "Having won more seats we wanted to secure more influence over the day-to-day running of the Council by taking on Executive posts. We felt that votes and decisions in a shared Executive would better reflect the make-up of the Council than an Executive made up of councillors from a single party. However, we will make the best of the situation. We will work on getting more Green policies adopted by the full Council and other committees. As the official opposition, we will also hold the Labour administration to account."

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Published by Tom Dylan on behalf of Norwich Green Party,
both at 27 Clarendon Road, Norwich, NR2 2PN