AVGP policy for Bucks councillors

Buckinghamshire Council election 2021

Press for Buckinghamshire Council to strengthen the climate change commitments in their Climate Strategy. This should include:

a vision of what Buckinghamshire will be like when we reach net-zero carbon;
a 2030 target for net zero carbon for the council's own activities;
a section on the emissions of the whole county and how the council will influence change;
mention of the Greatmoor incinerator with renegotiation of the contract and increased incentives for recycling;
detail about the public transport systems that will be needed;
detail about how to engage residents in all these activities.
creating an organisational structure that will enable and lead the way in tackling climate change, liaising with other organisations to this end.

Continue to oppose HS2. Work in the Council to ensure that mitigation processes by both HS2 and E-W Rail are timely and will provide the protections needed by local people, farmers and businesses.

Make the case for 20 mph where people live and an integrated transport structure (public transport timetables to link rail and bus effectively) that enables people to travel between settlements in Buckinghamshire without the use of private vehicles.

Lobby the government, through the Council, to give greater control to local councils for planning, building regulations and other issues that are currently over-managed from Westminster. Lobby to prevent further centralisation by government of the services that local communities depend upon.

Ensure that social care, including children's services, receives the funding it needs and that there is transparent information about how well Buckinghamshire is performing.

Work towards making food banks a thing of the past rather than an accepted part of local infrastructure.

Make the case at Council to assess the impact of COVID locally and implement services that will avoid serious risks in the future.

Work to ensure that the Green Party is seen as a party for local businesses. Make the case at Council for supporting community-based co-operatives and businesses.

Negotiate on behalf of residents to ensure that targets for affordable, rented and supported accommodation are met in all new housing developments and that energy efficiency is given the priority it needs, lowering the cost of household bills.

Monitor planning applications to ensure that all towns and villages have a balance of green space within their boundaries as well as outside them.

Hold the Council to account on the Aylesbury Garden Town project and ensure that it is delivered as promoted, with good access for residents to green space and adequate wildlife corridors.

Negotiate with the Council with the objective that parents can send their children to the school closest to home in order to avoid, wherever possible, the need for long journeys to school. Press for greener school transport.

Continuously look for savings in council activities, structures and procedures and use the money saved for the activities above.

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