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Lambeth Green PartyLocal Election Manifesto 2010

On 6th May 2010, the Green Party has an opportunity to get six councillors electedto Lambeth Council. We also have a chance to become the second most popularparty in the whole borough.

In 2006, almost 1400 people in Herne Hill ward voted for Becca Thackray to becomeLambeths first Green Party councillor. In May, we hope to take the next step and getGreens elected to all six seats in Herne Hill and Brixton Hill wards.

Can the Greens really win?

Yes! In Herne Hill ward in 2006 we missed electing three Green Party councillors by just163 votes. We are the only party who can seriously challenge Labour.

In Brixton Hill ward, we need just 492 more votes to overtake Labour and get Greenselected as councillors there too. We achieved this in Herne Hill in 2006 we can dothe same in Brixton Hill in 2010.

Support for the Green Party is rapidly growing in Lambeth. Lambeth residents arealready represented by one Green councillor (Becca Thackray, Herne Hill ward), twoGreen London Assembly members (Darren Johnson and Jenny Jones) and LondonsGreen MEP (Jean Lambert).

We came 2nd in five wards in 2006 and a close third in many other areas. In the 2009European elections Lambeth received the third highest Green vote in London and we fellshort of second place across the borough by just 1.6%. In the 2010 local elections wehope to double our overall vote, making us the second most popular party inLambeth after Labour.

GRN36.7%

LAB37.3%

CON16%

LIB10%

2006 local election results, Herne Hill

GRN23%

LAB46%

LIB17%

CON13%

2006 local election results, Brixton Hill

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Why the Greens?

The Greens stand for something different. We don't base our policies on what we thinkpeople want to hear or what wealthy groups will fund; we base them on science and thevalues we believe in: people, planet and peace.

The inconvenient truths of climate change and peak oil mean we cannot continue with

business as usual. We need to move to a new form of politics, one that focuses onsustainability rather than expansion, that cares for the most vulnerable in society and thatempowers people to make positive changes within their own communities.

Already, having one Green councillor has shifted the mindset of the Council, makingthem focus more on the environment and pay more attention to the views of local people.

Six Green councillors would make an even bigger difference.

We would provide a strong Green voice locally and across the borough. We wouldscrutinise the Executive, demanding transparency and holding them to account on their

promises. And we would radically increase the ability of local people to get involved inthe decisions that affect their lives.

Green achievements so far

Since being elected for Herne Hill ward in 2006, Councillor Thackray has:

Pushed for food waste to be collected from local shops and businesses Negotiated on better cycle and bus provision in the area Worked with local residents and police to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour,

including measures to control dangerous dogs and reduce noise pollution Co-authored a Climate Change action plan for the council Worked with the Herne Hill Project Board to improve the area outside the station Persuaded the Council to explore the possibility of acquiring additional green

space for Brockwell Park Committed the Council to paying the London Living Wage for all its staff Defended council-house tenants over rent rises and spoken out against the sale

and privatisation of housing stock Resisted cuts in social care for the Lambeths most vulnerable residents Pushed for an ethical investment policy for Lambeth Councils pensions

Mediated between Council Tax payers and the Council to reach reasonablesettlements where residents' earnings have reduced Persuaded Lambeth Council to waive the fees for hosting the Urban Green Fair Represented the views and needs of local residents

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Our priorities from 2010

1. Make Lambeth a green beacon among London's boroughs, fit for the 21stCentury - we want to set and meet ambitious targets for waste reduction, energyefficiency and sustainable building design, save money through greeninvestments, introduce borough-wide commercial recycling and kitchen wastecollections, protect green space and provide support for residents to make their

homes more environmentally-friendly

2. Promote local businesses, jobs and sustainable regeneration - we willpromote local shopping, defend market traders, push for more resources forvocational training in sustainable jobs, and demand serious investment andcommunity-led regeneration for Loughborough Junction, an area that has beenneglected for far too long

3. Protect public services and support the most vulnerable, including theelderly and people living with disabilities - we will resist the sell-off of vitalpublic services such as libraries and leisure facilities, encourage take-up of

statutory entitlements (e.g. housing benefit, insulation grants and the disabilityliving allowance) and promote measures to improve the local environment forpeople living with disabilities

4. Invest in green transport - we will press for safer and cleaner pavements, morecycle lanes, cheaper and more frequent public transport, a 20mph speed limit onall residential streets and an end to unfair parking policies

5. Provide opportunities for children and young people - we will press for asolution to Lambeth's chronic lack of school places and promote safe leisureactivities for children and teenagers

6. Manage Lambeth's council housing effectively - we will defend council tenantsfrom unfair rent rises, demand improvements in Lambeth's housing stock, resistprivatisation and follow the example of Greens in Yorkshire by pushing for aborough-wide insulation programme

7. Tackle crime and antisocial behaviour- we will work with Safer NeighbourhoodTeams and local groups, businesses and residents to tackle crime, push for properinvestigations into domestic violence, and work with schools to promote healthy,non-aggressive attitudes among young people

8. Empower local people - we will support community groups, set up street-levelemail lists, rejuvenate local notice-boards, promote neighbourhood activities suchas car-free street parties and demand that the Council actively communicateswith, and listens to, all local people

9. Take an ethical approach - we want to extend the London Living Wage to allcouncil contractors, introduce a right to part-time work and establish an ethicalpolicy for council pension funds; we will insist on full accountability fromcouncillors and officials so that corruption and mismanagement are identified androoted out

10.Remember the bigger picture - the Green Party will continue to be one of thestrongest voices calling for an end to the war in Afghanistan and a halt to Trident,defending civil liberties and pressing for a Green New Deal to end the recessionand lay the foundations for a fairer, happier and more sustainable society