Andrew Cooper | Sheffield Green Party

Green councillors are demanding a firm commitment to action on air pollution.

The call comes as Labour councillors are threatening further delay to the millions in grants ready for taxi drivers and local businesses to help improve the poor air quality across Sheffield.

Cllr Christine Gilligan Kubo, deputy chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Committee, said,

“Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to health in the UK, with between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure – that’s 500 early deaths a year just in Sheffield, through coronary heart disease, strokes, respiratory disease, lung cancer and asthma.

“The Green Party has long campaigned to improve air quality in Sheffield. We are fully behind the implementation of Clean Air Zones. Thanks to long-running national campaigns on air pollution, these are now a legal requirement in cities like Sheffield, to improve the quality of life for residents in the shortest possible time.

“Removing polluting vehicles from the inner ring road will have a positive impact on the health of residents across the whole city. It will also save the hard-pressed and under-funded NHS from treating people with chronic respiratory conditions.

“Millions of pounds in grant funding have sat in the council’s bank account due to prevarication. We want this money to be allocated without further delay to taxi and van drivers so that we are meeting our legal commitments on air quality and getting important cash to local businesses.”

Cllr Douglas Johnson added,

“As the former Executive Member responsible for promoting the Clean Air Zone, I was very pleased when the Labour–Green Executive approved the CAZ in October 2021 and accepted £24 million of government money to offer grants to upgrade taxis, buses and vans to cleaner vehicles. It is disappointing that these grants to small businesses are now being delayed again after sitting in the council’s bank account since 2020.”

NOTES

1. The council’s executive approved the Clean Air Plan on 26 October 2021

2. Sheffield City Councill approved a Class C Clean Air Zone. This does not involve charging private cars. Sheffield Green Party secures Clean Air Zone – 15/11/21

3. Green Party response to Clean Air Zone Consultation 26th August 2019 Sheffield Green Party response to the Clean Air Zone consultation | Sheffield Green Party

4. Inner Ring Road plans will worsen air pollution 29th November 2017 Inner Ring Road plans will worsen air pollution | Sheffield Green Party

Greens on Sheffield City Council have called for the full Council to have the final say on whether Sheffield participates in Investment Zones (1), a controversial Tory Government proposal that strips away planning rules and environmental protections from certain development sites. A range of Environment Organisations including the National Trust and the RSPB have written an open letter to the Government expressing concern about proposals like this that weaken the planning process and drop protections for nature and wildlife. (2)

In the Sheffield area, South Yorkshire Combined Authority has submitted a list of sites to the Government for Investment Zone status, with support from the four council leaders in South Yorkshire and the MPs. Expression of Interest do not commit the authority to the project at this stage.

Councillor Douglas Johnson, Leader of the Green Group on the Council said,

“We have significant concerns over the Government proposals for Investment Zones. They threaten to ride rough-shod over agreed local planning priorities, further damage the environment and nature, and reduce commitments to affordable homes and community facilities. Some Councils have already informed the Government that they will not participate in Investment Zones for these reasons, (3) and Sheffield should follow suit.

“This is a landowners’ charter, which will mean local communities lose their rights to resist unsustainable development and allow developers to by-pass local objections entirely. The big winners will be the big estates that own large areas of urban land.

“The Government wants to remove current legal requirements which protect nature during the planning process. Even worse, it suggests Investment Zones could be allowed in National Parks like the Peak District, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and other protected environments.The legal requirement to achieve Net Zero has also been completely ignored.

“Although landowners and developers could make more money, it is not clear what the benefit to the council or the public is, nor how much it would cost them.

“If we are to set aside planning rules in the Sheffield Local Plan, which have to be decided by the Full Council, then it should be the Full Council that decides if we proceed with Investment Zones or not.”

References

Green activists have been out posting timetables on bus stops for altered services. Passengers have had no information at the bus stops from Travel South Yorkshire more than a week after massive changes took place on October 2nd.

Ecclesall Green Party candidate Peter Gilbert who updated around 50 bus stops said,

“There was nothing at all to alert people to the changed 6 or cancelled 83 services. I contacted Travel South Yorkshire to complain and have called on South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to hold them to account. They claimed they hadn’t got the resources, so I decided to do their job for them.”

While posting up the new timetables to inform the community Peter met 81-year-old Johanna Lattimer of High Storrs Drive. She said,

“The thing that I find so bad is that they didn’t let us know. It was only sort of rumour. I was standing here waiting for the bus to go to the theatre the other week and a lady came past and she said, ‘you know they’ve taken the bus off don’t you?’ And I said, no I didn’t know. So I didn’t know it was being taken off nor did I know whether we were going to have a bus at all. And there are a lot of people in this area much older and less able than I am that are reliant on the bus even to get down the road to the shops.”

Peter Gilbert continues,

“It’s one thing for the bus companies to reduce our vital services, but so much distress could be prevented if Travel South Yorkshire put updates at affected bus stops. The private bus companies and Travel South Yorkshire are failing passengers.”

Hillsborough Green Party activist Eamonn Ward, who has also been posting timetables said,

“The vital 52A is no longer running past Hillsborough Interchange to Wisewood and Loxley. It has been replaced by the inferior 31 but you would have no idea looking at unchanged information at bus stops. The Wisewood Estate now has no bus service on Sundays and no direct service to Hallamshire Hospital. It means people cannot get to work and inevitable isolation for older people.”

Councillor Christine Gilligan, deputy chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee said:

“The Green Party campaigns to bring public transport back under public control with proper government funding to protect routes and services. But local leaders at the Mayoral Combined Authority also need to stop prioritising private car use over public transport and build a far more ambitious aim for South Yorkshire’s public transport network. Sheffield Green Party have a vision for transport in Sheffield and South Yorkshire called Get Sheffield Moving. Find it at www.getsheffieldmoving.org”

Notes

Information from the Green Party about the changes to bus timetables is here. https://sheffieldgreenparty.org.uk/2022/09/30/hillsborough-bus-changes-from-october-2nd/

Peter Gilbert’s call on South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to hold TSY to account.

https://twitter.com/petergilbertuk/status/1577310467822845952?s=46&t=Sm4eZKCtEsLhMyrlGu7aNw

Travel South Yorkshire’s response.

https://twitter.com/tsyalerts/status/1577550462743724033?s=46&t=G1ff4FSvfWlXmcuFRYrbKg

Green Councillor Marieanne Elliot has called on the Council to give a commitment to incorporate green technologies like solar energy and air sourced heat pumps in new leisure and swimming developments.
Speaking after the Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee on the Council’s Sports and Leisure Strategy, Councillor Elliot said,
“ I have investigated the use of renewable energy in swimming pools and have found at least 8 other Councils that have used solar and other low carbon technologies to lower their energy costs. This is exactly the sort of thing we need to be doing to ensure our leisure facilities stay open for the public. Moving away from our reliance on fossil fuels is the most financially viable way forwards.”

“Exeter City Council have recently opened one of the most energy-efficient leisure centres in the world, building to the internationally recognised Passivhaus standard (1). They are reporting energy savings of 70% compared to a building constructed to current building regulation standards. This is the approach we need in Sheffield. I have had assurances from Council officers that they are looking at these standards in proposals for Springs, Concord and Hillsborough Leisure Centres. I will be looking closely at how the council proceeds with these and other construction projects.”

References
1. “How we created the UK’s first Passivhaus Standard Leisure Centre” – Local Government Chronicle – January 2022

Green Party Councillors have called on Conservative MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge Miriam Cates to disown the government’s ‘attack on nature.’ The Greens have described plans to downgrade environmental protections as a ‘three-pronged assault on nature.’

Last Friday’s ‘mini-budget’ included plans for ‘investment zones’ which would make it easier to get planning permission. The government has also published plans for a ‘sunset clause’ on environmental protections introduced when the UK was in the EU. In addition, reports have suggested that the planned Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) is to be scrapped. This would have paid farmers to improve nature on their land.

Cllr Douglas Johnson, Green group leader, said

“Our local conservative MP represents many rural voters, and people who enjoy our local countryside, who will be up in arms about the government proposals. They should not feel duty-bound to back the government over plans that are almost the direct opposite of manifesto promises and have never been put to the British people. We need all our local politicians, whichever party they come from, to stand up for nature, and to make plain that we can have robust local economies whilst also helping nature to recover. Our local Tory MP has a special responsibility to say NO to her new leaders, on behalf of our community.”

There is widespread anger in response to government plans to remove fundamental legal protections for our environment. Opposition has come from many organisations ranging from the RSPB and National Trust through to the Wildlife Trusts and Friends of the Earth.

In a three-pronged assault on nature, Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng plan to;

• Scrap planning rules that protect nature in new ‘investment zones’ covering huge areas of the country.[1] [2]
• Rip up environmental protections introduced by the EU, without plans for replacement.[3]
• Withdraw plans to help farmers to protect nature [4], with reports suggesting the ‘Environmental Land Management Scheme’ (ELMS) has been ‘put on hold’ whilst a return to a Common Agricultural Policy type per acre payment is expected, which will break a specific manifesto pledge [5].

Councillor Johnson said

“Of course just before these announcements we also saw Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg open the door to environmentally damaging fracking, a policy that is widely opposed, will do nothing to reduce energy bills and which the founder of Cuadrilla himself says is unviable [6].
The responses from those who care for nature have been overwhelming. Joan Edwards, director of policy for The Wildlife Trusts, says these policies will mean “polluters can get away with poisoning our rivers and countryside – even more than they are doing already.” [7] Hilary McGrady of the National Trust says, “environmental protections are dismissed as ‘burdens’, while investment and growth are pitted against nature and climate action.”

These proposals come as part of a ‘dash for growth’ package which is also spooking markets and ruining government finances. There is no mandate for these measures: they actually reverse the direction of travel on the environment in your 2019 manifesto and have never been put to the British people. Locally we have large parts of the Peak District National Park within Sheffield City Council’s boundaries. This is used for recreation, farming for local food and as a habitat for local wildlife. These are all threatened by these Government proposals.

Yet we know people’s livelihoods and local economies can be put on a sound footing with a three pronged approach to investment: in nature recovery, in renewable energy and in home insulation to reduce energy bills. Research has shown that “Protection and use of environmental assets is key to evening out economic imbalances between metropolitan and rural areas”[8]. In other words, the recovery of nature and the revival of local living standards should and can go hand-in hand.
We call on Conservatives to make plain to your party leaders that these policies must be reversed. We ask for a public statement from Miriam Cates MP on these policies.

There is no case for staying silent, and every reason to stand up for your communities and for your local environment by making it plain that you will not support the tearing up of environmental protection and the reversal of attempts to help nature thrive.”

________________________________________
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-growth-plan-2022-factsheet-on-investment-zones/the-growth-plan-2022-investment-zones-factsheet
[2] Map of investment zones: https://twitter.com/RSPBEngland/status/1573366828222808064
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/23/uk-environment-laws-under-threat-in-deregulatory-free-for-all
[4] https://www.edie.net/reports-defra-set-to-scrap-plans-to-pay-farmers-for-nature-restoration-and-creation/
[5] ““in return for funding, [farmers] must farm in a way that protects and enhances our natural environment” https://www.conservatives.com/our-plan/conservative-party-manifesto-2019
[6] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/21/fracking-wont-work-uk-founder-chris-cornelius-cuadrilla
[7] https://www.birdguides.com/news/uk-government-launches-all-out-assault-on-environment/

[8] https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_918714_en.htm

The Green Party has expressed dismay and disappointment after the Labour Co-Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Chair Committee blocked a project to make local streets safer.

In the Committee meeting on Wednesday, Labour Councillor Mazher Iqbal called for the Crookes and Walkley Active Travel scheme to be halted. The scheme wasn’t on the meeting’s Agenda and no papers had been provided giving details of the scheme or recommendations. This lead to confusion during the meeting about what exactly Councillors were being asked to vote on.

Green Councillor Ruth Mersereau, a member of the Committee said

“There was no need to pause the scheme. It’s really important to give the schemes sufficient time to bed in, and to properly trial the interventions. Also, as officers advised that they would be continuing to accept comments and feedback, pausing for further consultation was unnecessary. Sheffield City Council is aiming for zero carbon by 2030, but there is very little recognition by the committee of the urgency to make decisions that address transport’s contribution to emissions. Making streets safer, cleaner and quieter, and easier for people to walk and cycle in should be the priority of a committee which includes climate change in its remit.”

Councillor Mersereau said that the decision wasn’t based on evidence:

“Details of the impact of the road safety measures were due to be provided next month, but Cllr Iqbal wasn’t prepared to wait a few weeks to see the data, and instead insisted on pausing the scheme. With these type of schemes, people who initially opposed Low traffic neighbourhoods often come to appreciate quieter, safer roads. We were also told by a Council Transport Officer that measures which were initially opposed by residents often become accepted after a few months.”

Dear Mayor Oliver Coppard,

The loss of this vital service is devastating to our communities, it reduces the already diminished bus service to the people of Gleadless Valley where many people have already lost the 11 and 11a services.

The loss of the number 10/10a service is a particular problem and it will affect people all over Sheffield, as it’s a circular. Most importantly it stops at the Hallamshire Hospital so it means not only those in need of the essential health services they provide, but also those who provide those essential services won’t be able to get there, unless they have alternate means of transport or take multiple buses.

Most of the services that Powells ran have been picked up by other companies but the number 10/10a is one of the few that remain without a provider.

This is yet another blow to public transport and not only reduces access to travel but reduces our impact on tackling the climate emergency and air pollution. For many, the only alternative to time consuming bus hopping or taxis will mean more car journeys, if people are fortunate enough to own one.

The key challenge now for the Mayor of South Yorkshire is to get a fresh tender out there to invite other bus operators to serve this vital lifeline, or even better, set up a publicly owned bus company to operate these services. Either way, this needs dealing with urgently.

Please sign and share the petition in support of reinstating the number 10/10a bus service here:-

https://chng.it/GC57hb7jGt

Yours,

Sally Pedley – GV TARA Chair
Cllr Alexi Dimond
Cllr Paul Turpin
Cllr Marieanne Elliot

Greens on Sheffield City Council have proposed a big boost for renewable energy for the city.

In a motion to Sheffield City Council, Green Councillors have submitted a number of proposals to increase the amount of energy produced in Sheffield from renewable technologies such as solar, wind and heat pumps.

Councillor Christine Gilligan, Deputy Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee said,

“The energy crisis has brought home to many people the fact that we are very dependent on fossil fuels and at the mercy of undemocratic countries like Putin’s Russia and regimes like Saudi Arabia that have no respect for human rights. The ongoing climate crisis is reason enough to invest in renewable energy over expensive, slow to deliver and risky nuclear energy. Statements by the new Prime Minister Liz Truss about reintroducing fracking and expanding domestic fossil fuels is dangerous folly. It will have no impact on energy bills and UK greenhouse gases are just as dangerous as those from overseas. Renewable Energy with Energy Storage offers the best option to produce clean energy with stable prices.”

The Green motion calls on the Council to assess which of its land and buildings has the most potential to generate energy from solar and wind, to incorporate solar during construction of all Council new build projects and to adopt planning policies that encourage developers to incorporate renewable energy production in their developments.

Councillor Douglas Johnson said,

“The Renewable Energy Strategy, proposed by the Green Group will help people and businesses reduce their fuel bills and use renewable energy in their own homes and buildings. Another benefit is that it will help create secure skilled jobs for local people. We want all new council housing to incorporate solar panels but we also want the Council to establish an offer for private householders where they can install solar panels at no upfront cost by releasing some of the equity they have in their property, as has been done by other Councils .”

Motion to Sheffield City Council – (This motion will no longer be heard on 14/9/22 and will go forward to a future Council meeting after the Queens Funeral)

A Renewable Energy Strategy for Sheffield

Proposed by Cllr Christine Gilligan Kubo; seconded by Cllr Douglas Johnson

This Council believes

a. That, if Sheffield is to play its part in achieving the Paris Climate targets, meet its net zero target by 2030 and address the cost of living crisis, we need to reduce energy demand through energy efficiency measures such as retrofitting homes and other buildings; and to significantly raise the amount of energy we produce from renewable sources.

b. Having more of our energy produced from renewable sources helps us control costs by having secure forms of energy generated locally. Energy security means that the UK is less at the mercy of dubious and undemocratic regimes with poor human rights records that are often the suppliers of fossil fuels.

This Council resolves

c. to ask the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee to:

i) Conduct an audit of the potential for renewable energy installations and energy efficiency measures on all Council land and property, draw up a priority list for installations based on the most potential to save energy and generate clean energy, and present it to the committee within 6 months.

ii) Install solar photovoltaics on all new build Council owned buildings where technically feasible, recognising that integrated roof systems are cheaper to install than retrofitting solar systems after construction.

iii) Create a Local Area Energy Plan for Sheffield that has the buy-in of the wider community and lead a local area energy planning process that involves both the network operators and other key stakeholders, including developers, energy experts and community energy groups

iv) Investigate establishing strategic partnerships with renewable and energy efficiency installers to help ensure certainty on cost and delivery of measures and report back to the Strategy and Resources Committee within 6 months.

v) Encourage the establishment of partnerships with local Community Renewables organisations to enable low cost/no cost installations funded through citizens’ investments.

vi) Maximise external funding to finance installations using Government, SYMCA and any ethical sources.

vii) Use funding available for solar installations from Cooperatives on Council Buildings and encourage take up of this funding by large commercial organisations.

viii) Encourage wider community investment in local renewable energy projects through a range of measures including but not limited to Community Share Offers and Municipal Bonds.

ix) Develop a compelling offer for private householders and Landlords to support the installation of solar photovoltaics and high cost energy efficiency measures.

x) Encourage best practice in Planning to support renewable energy installations by developers and to create a low carbon energy supply;

xi) Encourage renewable and energy efficiency skills by establishing links and relationships between our partners in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency sectors with appropriate local training and education providers.

xii) Ensure training opportunities and new skills are included in all projects and contracts related to energy efficiency and renewables should include commitments from contractors on providing training opportunities and new skills for local people.

xiii) The Council should require new energy generation projects of 5MW or above to have at least 5% local ownership.

Sheffield Green Party has launched a petition calling on the Council to introduce an Employers Workplace Parking Levy to help fund public transport and active travel initiatives across the city. (1)

A similar levy in Nottingham raised £64 million in its first seven years and the city has benefited from increased inward investment, as businesses have recognised the value of good quality public transport and an active travel network.(2)

Only larger employers would be affected. For example, a levy planned to be introduced in Leicester this year will only apply to employers who have 10 or more parking spaces and does not apply to spaces for blue badge holders or to parking spaces for emergency services employees.
Cllr Christine Gilligan, says:

“We can, and will, put pressure on the Conservative Government to properly fund public transport but the Workplace Parking Levy is something Sheffield City Council can do themselves to draw in funds to support buses, trams, trains and cycling and walking. If it can be done by Councils in Nottingham and Leicester why not in Sheffield? ”

References

(1) The Petition link here

(2) Why Nottingham’s levy has been such a success: video here

Frequently asked questions on the Employers Workplace Parking Levy
Employers Workplace Parking Levy – Frequently Asked Questions | Sheffield Green Party

Nottingham have extended their tram network using the Workplace Parking Levy.

What is the Employers Workplace Parking Levy?

A workplace parking levy (WPL) is a charge made by a local authority on larger employers for the number of parking spaces provided for employees. All money raised from a WPL must be ring-fenced for investment in local transport improvements. It is not a tax on spaces in public car parks.

Why is it needed?

Funding for public transport is under pressure. Costs for fuel and wages are rising which threatens services and drives up costs for passengers. It is right to ask the Government for more funding but introducing a Workplace Parking Levy in Sheffield is something the Council has the power to do. Other Councils have or are planning to introduce it, why not Sheffield?

What improvements could it pay for?

In Nottingham where the Levy was first introduced it has paid for improvements and extensions to tram services, improved bus services and better cycling and walking infrastructure. It has also helped support the introduction of an electric taxi fleet, over 200 electric charging points and reduced congestion and air pollution. In Nottingham the funding from the levy has helped draw in matched funding from other sources,

How much will it cost the employer?

In Leicester where the Levy will be introduced this year, it will cost £550/ parking space, so just over £10/week/space. It is generally larger employers who will be affected, The levy in Leicester only applies to larger employers who have 10 or more spaces and doesn’t apply to spaces for blue badge holders or to parking spaces for emergency services employees.

How much does congestion cost Sheffield?

In 2018 it was calculated that congestion was costing £1101 for every driver in Sheffield. More recently in 2021 TomTom’s Traffic index worked out that Sheffield drivers spend an additional 82 hours (3 days and 2 hours) stuck in traffic. A better public transport and active travel network would cut this frustrating and unproductive time for Sheffield’s commuters.

What benefits does it bring to business?

Businesses will be able to apply for grant funding from the proceeds of the levy to improve their facilities for public and active travel: e.g. bike storage, real time transport info boards etc. EV points can also be funded through the levy.

Will employers pass on the cost to workers?

They don’t have to. That would be a decision for the employer and if they did that cost would be in the region of £2/day.

When would it come in?/timescales

The time needed to establish an Employers Workplace Parking Levy scheme is around 2 years in preparation once the decision to proceed has been made. So it would not add to the impact of the immediate Cost of Living crisis.

Why can’t the council get money for transport from central government?

In theory the money needed could come from the Government but experience shows us that getting the funding needed is very difficult and funding for public services is under immense pressure. It is right to ask the government for funding but introducing a Workplace Parking Levy is a power that local councils already have. It would be wrong to ignore a source of funding when it could be used to help local people.

What other benefits are there?

There are other benefits as well as improved public transport and better facilities and infrastructure for walkers and cyclists. Having a new funding source to support transport initiatives eases pressure on public funds and frees up more funding for things like adult social care and childrens’ services which are constantly under threat of cuts.

Everyone benefits from better air quality, better road safety, better use of land, less pressure on green belt, better use of the city centre’s land space. A more compact city is easier for public transport to serve and easier for active travel.

Nottingham has benefited from increased inward investment, as businesses have recognised the value of a good quality public transport network.

Sign the Petition for an Employers Workplace Parking Levy HERE

Author: Andrew Cooper

Green councillors call for action on Clean Air Zone grants

Greens call for controversial Investment Zones to be rejected

Greens post bus stop timetables as passengers are left in the dark

Greens call for solar powered swimming pools to lower council costs

Sheffield Green Councillors call on MP to disown government attack on nature.

Greens dismay at Labour & LibDem attacks on walking and cycling improvements.

Open Letter calling for number 10/10a bus service to be restored from Gleadless Valley Green Councillors and Gleadless Valley TARA

Greens propose a Renewable Energy Strategy for Sheffield

Petition calls for employer workplace parking levy to help fund public transport

Employers Workplace Parking Levy – Frequently Asked Questions