GREEN PARTY SUCCESSES

Kirklees Green Party Successes

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What The Green Party Achieved for You

The following 'successes' are just a sample of the issues addressed and achievements made since you voted for Green Councillors to represent you in Kirklees.

Click on the titles below to read more.

RE-Charge helps fund renewable energy schemes in the home

Thousands of Homes to be Insulated in free scheme - a UK first

National recognition that Kirklees Council area is the greenest of them all

Savings on gas and electricity budgets.

Support for Voluntary Bus Services during Christmas holidays.

£143 million for Investment in Kirklees' 27,000 Council Homes.

Genuine Planning Application Noticeboards.

The Renewable Energy Fund Established

£13,000 Saving in the Council's own Waste Budget

Reducing Pollution from Kirklees Vehicles with introduction of Biodiesel

Footpath Signs That State Where They Are Going

More Help for Rural Areas

Waste Bins That Actually Work

Click on the bullet point descriptions to read more.

RE-Charge helps fund renewable energy schemes in the home

RE-Charge scheme is a revolutionary new scheme that lets people install renewable energy in their home and pay for it when they sell their property. There are no up front costs so you can get the benefit of solar panels and other clean energy technology immediately without having to pay monthly repayments or interest charges. As energy prices continue to rise so will the value of the renewable energy you generate.  This initiative, promoted by the Green Group, is due to be launched by Kirklees Council in April 2008.
For more details contact Kirklees Environment Unit on 01484 223618

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Who is the greenest of them all? Kirklees Greens gain national recognition.

On 25th Nov 2005 the Green Party set trailblazing standards for new public buildings in Kirklees leading the UK on renewable energy policy. Kirklees Council will ensure that by 2011 at least 30% of energy consumption is renewably sourced from solar panels, wind turbines, and biomass boiler plants burning non-fossil fuels like wood pellets and vegetable oil.

All new public buildings will have their energy needs met from 10% renewable energy sources rising by 5% per year until 2011 when the 30% target will be met. New residential homes and schools are already incorporating wind turbines and solar panels.

The groundbreaking policy has already gained national significance, elevating the profile of Kirklees Council which has been described by an article in The Guardian as "the Greenest of them all".

Kirklees has set its own version of the Building Regulations. Every residential home, every children's centre and school building promotes a standard of excellence for our future and this future is Green. As conventional fuel prices for gas and oil continue to rise, and our emissions continue to damage our atmosphere, Kirklees promises energy sources which are cost-effective and ecologically friendly.

Investment in renewablables is good news for Council taxpayers today and security for generations to come. The Green Party resolves to have 40% of energy coming from renewable resources by 2020, and to reduce domestic energy demand through promoting higher standards in house construction. Councils such as York have already expressed an interest in following the Green examples set by Kirklees and others will follow.

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Savings on gas and electricity budgets

Thousands of pounds have been saved from the Council's budget due to electricity, gas and fuel budget reductions. Green Party proposals to reduce budgets for gas and electricity have ensured that plans have been made to insulate buildings and that work practices to reduce electricity use have been more widely used.
Before Green Party amendments there were no effective measures for Council spending on gas and electricity. (Green Party amendments to Kirklees Budget 2000, 2001 and 2002)

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Support for Voluntary Bus Services during Christmas holidays.

On Christmas Eve Night, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve Night and New Year's Day bus service are withdrawn across Kirklees. There is now a small fund available, for organisations operating voluntary bus services in Kirklees, to cover vehicle hire and fuel costs. This has ensured that thousands have had access to Public Transport enabling people get about, avoiding high taxi fares and reducing the risk of people drink driving. (Green Party amendment to Kirklees Budget 2000)

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£143 million for Investment in Kirklees' 27,000 Council Homes.
The Green Party has had Kirklees Cabinet responsibility for Housing Policy for the last five years. Options for investment in the Council housing stock were assessed and it was agreed, in partnership with tenants, to establish an Arm's Length Management Organisation. This enabled Kirklees to access £143 million of government money to improve Council properties and bring them up to a decent standard, with full central heating and double glazing throughout. This programme of work is now underway at no additional cost on the Council Tax. (In 2002 the Green Party Cabinet lead for Housing recommended that Kirklees be part of the first wave of bids to Government for Arm's Length Management Organisation finance.)

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Planning Application Noticeboards

A Green Party amendment to the Kirklees Budget in 2000 ensured that high visibility, yellow boards stating 'Planning Application', were used instead of the usual anonymous bit of paper, put on a lamp post with sellotape. Under the same budget amendment, 'near neighbours' are now informed by letter of planning applications that affect them. This has helped make the planning process more transparent and enabled people, who may have otherwise not found out about proposed housing developments until it was too late, to protest. (Green Party Amendment to Kirklees Budget 2000)

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Renewable Energy Fund
The Green Party established a Renewable Energy Fund in Kirklees to invest in technology which reduces the Council's fuel bills and protects the Environment. This was at no additional cost to the Council Tax Payer. When a Carbon Tax was put on all non-domestic gas and electricity bills, large employers benefited by lower National Insurance contributions. Kirklees was a net beneficiary of the Carbon Tax. Instead of just losing this saving forever in the Council's budget process the Green Party identified it and established the Renewable Energy Fund. For more about renewable technologies in Kirklees access the Kirklees Renewables Booklet here (PDF 1.92mb)

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£13,000 Saving in the Council's own Waste Budget
Kirklees is always asking householders to reduce and recycle the amount of waste they produce, yet Kirklees had no strategy for reducing its own waste. The Green Party proposed a reduction to the Council's budget for waste to ensure the Council carried out more recycling of its own waste. (Green Party amendment to Kirklees budget 2003)

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Reducing Pollution from Kirklees Vehicles

Biodiesel is a fuel made from waste vegetable oils. It is less polluting than normal diesel, gives better miles per gallon and is better for vehicle engines. As a result of a Green Party initiative every diesel vehicle in the Kirklees Council Vehicle Fleet now runs on biodiesel, resulting in thousands of pounds worth of savings in fuel and maintenance costs. (Initiative by Green Party Cabinet Member 2003)

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Footpath Signs That State Where They Are Going

Imagine the public outcry if road signs didn't state where the road was going to. This is exactly the case with Public Footpath signs. Green proposals will ensure that more and more signs indicate where the paths are heading to and the distance to the destination.(Green Party input to Kirklees Budget 2004)

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More Help for Rural Areas
A Green Party amendment to the Council's budget has ensured there will be someone with responsibility for drawing in the millions of pounds worth of external funding that is available for rural communities.
(Green Party input to Kirklees Budget 2004)

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Waste Bins That Actually Work
How many times have you seen waste bins overturned, in rivers, with inners missing, being used as jumps for BMX bikes? The Green Party proposed that all new bins have lockable inners and are fixed to the pavement. This will commence with those bins identified as most at risk in 2004 and should save the Council money on renewing 'trashed' waste bins.
(Green Party input to Kirklees Budget 2004)

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Thousands of Homes Insulated
Thousands of pensioners on fixed incomes in Kirklees, do not qualify for national Government schemes to insulate their homes, even though they may be on low incomes. A Green Party initiative will now ensure that a scheme exists for private householders over 60 to have draught proofing, loft insulation and cavity wall insulation, installed free of charge.
This will help reduce their fuel bills, make their home warmer and reduce household greenhouse gas emissions. The scheme will also attract thousands of pounds worth of additional funding from energy companies that support schemes like these as part of their obligations to improve energy efficiency. (Green Party Amendment to Kirklees Housing Capital Plan 2004)

For more information ring Kirklees Energy Services on 01484 351550.

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