GREEN PARTY MANIFESTO
THE Green Party is standing in 88 per cent of seats in the Essex County Council (ECC) area.
Many voters are looking for a good alternative to the "main three" parties.
In 2009 the Greens were second in Witham Northern and are well placed to win this time.
Other parties may want to talk about national or even European issues. But this is a local election. ECC deals with social care, education, highways and other local services.
ECC is seen by many as a remote organisation.
There has been widespread criticism of slowness in dealing with potholes and damaged paths.
When ECC consults over major planning issues, such as the Rivenhall Airfield waste site and proposed quarries in Braintree District, its default position appears to be to ignore local views.
Yet this is an authority that prevents the public from even asking questions at most of its meetings and pays senior councillors the highest allowances in East Anglia - in excess of £50,000 each.
Priorities for Green County Councillors will be to get a better service for taxpayers and to reform County Hall.
Greens will work across party lines to achieve a 5 point plan of reform:
Cut the perks – corporate credit cards, chauffeur driven cars, no more 'trips' abroad.
Reduce excessive allowances – capped at average full time wage.
Become more accountable – open up all meetings to public participation.
Work with local communities, not against them – no waste incinerator at Rivenhall Airfield.
Get back to basics – fix potholes, sort out parking problems. Listen to local communities.
