Supreme Court rules: Illegal city pollution MUST be tackled

St Albans Greens have been campaigning since 2009 for action on air pollution in the centre of St Albans, particularly at the Peahen and Watson's Walk junctions (see picture above from 2009). It's also one of the issues I've been pursuing since I became a councillor in 2011.

But it's been hard work. Greens got district council agreement for signs to encourage queuing drivers to switch off their engines while they wait for the lights. But the County Council refuses to play ball. And I'm continually asking why bus and taxi drivers are free to leave their engines idling for hours on end while they park up in the city centre. It should be a condition of their business that they do not do this.

Today, the UK Supreme Court has ruled that the government has failed in its duty to protect people from air pollution, and opened the way to heavy fines from Europe. In what has been described as "a landmark decision", drastic action may now be needed to avoid penalties - action which could affect the movement of cars and heavy goods vehicles.

The problems in our region were specifically included in the case to the Supreme Court, along with those in large cities like London and Glasgow.

It's not clear how St Albans itself will be affected, or who'd have to pay any fines. But by the time we find out, it could be too late to take action. Local government needs to act NOW to protect residents' health and reduce the threat of heavy fines.

Green Party leader launches St Albans manifesto

From the Herts Ad today:

Stop hospital parking charges for disabled drivers

UPDATE: St Albans Council agreed my proposal below, and will also be calling the Board of the Hospital Trust to appear before a Council committee in April. In the meantime, we've started a petition on this. Please sign here.

To the shock and surprise of many, the West Herts Hospitals Trust has announced plans to start charging disabled drivers (at least £4 per visit) to park at their hospitals (St Albans, Watford and Hemel). At the same time, they are axing the staff bus service between the hospitals.

Some people think this is a decision by St Albans Council. It isn't, but the council should be actively opposing it. So I will be proposing the following motion at the next council meeting on February 26:

This Council:

(i) notes figures from the Papworth Trust showing that, compared to people without disabilities, people with disabilities are more likely to need to visit a hospital, more likely to be unemployed, more likely to be on a low income, and have higher day-to-day living costs

(ii) notes a national survey by the Papworth Trust that reports that "86% of disabled people will have to cut back on everyday essentials, like food or transport", if their Disability Living Allowance payments are reduced or stopped this April

(iii) notes with regret West Herts Hospitals Trust's decision to start charging disabled patients for parking at its hospitals and to simultaneously remove the bus service that takes staff between sites

(iv) in the light of (i) and (ii) above, disputes the Trust board’s statement that their decision “will create fairness and equality for everyone needing to use the hospital car parks”

(v) asks the Chief Executive to write to the Trust's board asking them to reverse this decision.

At the same council meeting, we'll be debating the budget again, because the Conservatives have decided not to accept the amendments we all voted on last time. Hopefully, the opposition parties will be able to back the amended budget once again.

Some great improvements to the Conservatives' budget

I'm happy to report that I had another successful budget night at St Albans Council on Wednesday.

Each year I have the opportunity to ask for changes to the budget and Corporate Plan, as do the other opposition parties.

I proposed an amendment that included 12 new measures, from exploring ways to boost local businesses, to informing residents when local trees are to be felled. One of them, which tried to oppose expansion at Luton Airport, was voted down by the Tories and some Labour councillors. But the others succeeded.

As a result, they now become part of the budget, and the list of priorities for the Council for the coming year.

My measures are:

1. investing up to £500,000 in new renewable energy projects in Council buildings
2. investing up to £50,000 in quick-win energy and water efficiencies in Council buildings
3. exploring ways to create a new Youth Centre
4. getting the Council to use more local businesses as suppliers
5. creating a cycling action plan
6. using more social media to improve customer service
7. informing residents when there's an application to chop down a local tree
8. helping schools to set up solar power projects
9. providing a £20,000 'community planting' budget that local groups can apply for
10. setting up a climate change action group on the Council
11. examining the business case for a self-financing energy efficiency officer

I was also happy to support measures from the other parties that kept council house rent rises down to 3.1% (the rate of inflation), and maintained council tax support for the least well off. The Conservatives had wanted rents to go up 5.2%, and to hugely reduce council tax support - described nationally as a potential new poll tax on the poor.

At the same meeting I proposed a motion for the Council to do more about fuel poverty. The motion was keenly debated, and additions were made by other parties. In the end the motion was agreed, and a committee will immediately start looking at what can be done in this area.

12 things I want the Council to do on Wednesday

On Wednesday, I'm looking to take advantage of the District Council's budget process for the second time, to introduce a raft of changes and ideas.

I'm proposing an amendment at the Full Council meeting, at which the year's budget and Corporate Plan will be debated and voted on. The amendment includes 12 separate changes and new measures, from exploring ways to boost local businesses, to informing residents when local trees are to be felled.

Last year I pushed through a similar amendment. Some of those measures have already taken shape, such as expanding the size of St Albans' Farmers Market, and investing in solar panels for Council-owned buildings.

As the Council's ruling group remains a minority, I have the opportunity again this year to make a significant contribution to the Council's programme for the coming months. I have consulted widely on what measures I could realistically include, especially in the current climate of cuts. Some of my proposals cost nothing, some of them are cheap, and some actually make money for the Council.

Our Green/Independent group amendment includes exploring ways to create a new Youth Centre, and for the Council to use more local businesses as suppliers. It also calls for a cycling action plan, more use of social media to improve customer service, and for residents to be informed when there's an application to fell a local tree.

We're also looking for more investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency, where such investment would pay back over time. We want help for schools to set up their own solar power investment projects, and a new Council group to address the challenge of climate change. We also propose a new community planting scheme, where local groups can apply for trees or shrubs to be planted in their local area.

Here are the details:

Changes to the Corporate Plan

(i) One change of wording as follows:

Under 'Planning for the future' Change 'Opposing the over-expansion of Luton Airport...' to 'Opposing the expansion of Luton Airport...'

(ii) One additional 'five year' project as follows:

Under 'Delivering for young people and families' Section: 'How we will deliver this over the next five years' Add: 'Working towards creating a Youth Centre in an area of St Albans identified as having a high concentration of young people.'

(iii) Six additional priority projects as follows:

Under 'Attracting and developing business and the visitor economy' Add: 'Explore ways to give more opportunities to local business in Council procurement, if necessary using the Sustainable Communities Act to ask for a change in the law. To report to Cabinet by November 2013.'

Under 'Enabling and delivering transport improvements' Add: 'Work with St Albans Cycle Campaign and other groups to review and update the council's cycling strategy and create an action plan to implement it.'

Under 'Keeping the District cleaner, greener, healthier and safer' Add: 'Work with the district's schools and their PTAs to set up solar power projects, to produce savings and electricity for the schools.'

Under 'Keeping the District cleaner, greener, healthier and safer' Add: 'Examine the business case for recruiting an energy efficiency manager, at least partly self-financing, working across Council departments and properties to manage projects and address issues such as billing and meters.'

Under 'Keeping the District cleaner, greener, healthier and safer' Add: 'Take action to address the challenge of climate change and to meet our carbon reduction targets within the Council and across the district, initially by setting up a task and finish group to identify and pursue suitable projects.'

Under 'Ensuring value for money and excellent customer service' Add: 'Develop Council's use of social media, to broaden access to our services, reduce our response times, and reduce our costs of letter-writing and phone calls.'

Changes to the budget

Energy/water efficiency Further insulation and other measures to reduce energy and water consumption in Council property, beyond the 2012 budget measures. Spend up to £50,000 to be paid back in 3 years or less.

Renewable energy Further investment in renewable electricity and renewable heat (biomass, solar thermal, air source, anaerobic digestion). Spend up to £500,000 to be paid back in 10 years or less.

Tree-felling information Revenue budget to inform residents in the immediate vicinity of a neighbour who applies to fell a tree, to give them a chance to object. Inform the neighbours who are most affected. Up to £3,000 from existing budgets or reserves.

Community planting A budget that community groups such as Residents Associations can apply for, to provide trees/shrubs/flowerbeds in their local area. Limited fund for a trial year. Up to £20,000 from existing budgets or reserves.

Getting Council to act on fuel poverty

Fuel poverty is in the news a lot at the moment. The problem of households having to spend over 10% of their income on heating is growing rapidly in this country. There are two main reasons: rising bills and poor insulation.

In the St Albans parliamentary constituency 5,261 households are fuel poor, which is 13.7%. In the Harpenden/Hitchin constituency 5,397 households are fuel poor, which is 13.4%. [Source]

The Energy Bill Revolution campaign has a great idea to deal with this problem - the Government should recycle revenues from carbon taxes into improving the energy efficiency of UK homes. The campaign is supported by over 100 organisations, including Age UK, Barnardo’s, Friends of the Earth, Macmillan Cancer Support, Save the Children and Shelter.

You can sign the petition and email your MP here.

I will be proposing the following motion to the District Council on 30th January:

This Council notes:

1. Approximately 13% of households in the district are in fuel poverty, meaning they need to spend more than 10% of their income on keeping their homes warm. The figure for the UK is 25%. The problem is likely to get worse, with 1 in 3 UK households projected to be in fuel poverty by 2016. 


2. The main reasons for this crisis are that energy bills are high, and the UK’s homes are some of the most energy inefficient in Europe – leaking heat from their doors, walls and windows. 


3. Cold homes are damaging the health of vulnerable members of society, including children, older people and people with disabilities. Diseases such as asthma are made worse, and people are more likely to have strokes and heart attacks. Illnesses caused by cold homes cost the NHS nearly one billion pounds each year. 
[Source]

4. Over the next 15 years the Government will raise an average of £4 billion every year in carbon taxes through the European Emissions Trading Scheme and the Carbon Floor Price. Recycling this revenue back into households could bring 9 out of 10 homes out of fuel poverty, lower people’s bills, cut carbon emissions and create jobs. 


This Council therefore resolves to:

1.  Support the Energy Bill Revolution campaign calling for the Government to recycle revenues from carbon taxes into improving the energy efficiency of UK homes. 


2. Notify local Members of Parliament of its support for the campaign and urge them to sign Early Day Motion 47 – ‘Reducing Fuel Bills through Energy Efficiency’.

2013: The Year of Benefits Battles

2013 looks like being the year when benefits really start to bite. Locally we are about to see big changes to housing and council tax benefits. Nationally the government's benefits crackdown looks set to affect millions of households.

Despite what we're told, these are not simply 'skivers'. According to a report just out from the Children's Society, half a million key workers will be affected, including soldiers, nurses and teachers.

We've already begun to see sweeping changes to disability benefits, affecting some of the most vulnerable people in the country.

Here's a list of some shocking stories on this issue, compiled by a contributor to the Guardian's news pages:

Benefit bureaucrats Atos killed my father, says 13-year-old boy - link

Blinded, half-paralysed man dies day after Atos stop his benefits - link

A CYSTIC fibrosis sufferer ­recovering from a double lung transplant has had her benefits cut by 85 per cent - link

DAVID Cameron has been urged to look again at disability benefit changes after a Northumberland man committed suicide when told he would lose all support - link

Get ready for work: what woman who needs constant care was told - link

Atos Disability Benefits Row: Epileptic Colin Traynor's Death Blamed On Stress Of Being Found 'Fit For Work - link

Man with terminal brain cancer told he's 'fit for work' - link

Ex-RAF serviceman from Lincoln kept alive by portable machine has benefits stopped - link

Atos scandal: Benefits bosses admit over half of people ruled fit to work ended up destitute - link

New GP survey shows Government welfare test is pushing vulnerable people to the brink - link

MSPs hear UK welfare reforms 'force blind man to beg' - link

Birmingham dad dies of heart condition after being ruled 'fit for work' - link

Benefits appeal woman Cecilia Burns from Strabane has died - link

Fury as Tory welfare police order kidney dialysis patient Paul Mickleburgh back to work - link

Demand for fairer benefits tests as two die - link

Another push for more affordable housing in St Albans

St Albans Council debates the Strategic Local Plan tomorrow night - the plan that will set the scene for future development in the district.

See my previous post on the plan here.

It promises to be a lively evening, but my concern is whether the right kind of housing is going to be built for people in the district. I have previously pushed for measures to increase the amount of 'affordable' housing (which just means priced at below market rates) in the district.

I'll be taking the opportunity again tomorrow night, by proposing this motion:

This Council:

1. recognises that some of the greatest housing need in the district is for affordable housing;

2. agrees that, as a result, the Strategic Local Plan will meet more of our true housing need if it demands a high proportion of affordable housing;

3. notes the Planning Inspectorate's recent modification of Woking Borough Council's Core Strategy, which now states that "All new residential development on Greenfield land and land in public ownership will be required to provide 50% of dwellings to be affordable, irrespective of the site size or number of dwellings proposed";

4. would welcome any efforts at the public examination stage of the SLP to increase the affordable proportion of new residential development in the Green Belt above 40%;

5. asks officers to re-examine the SLP's evidence base in advance of the examination stage, to establish if such an increase might be viable.

Westminster Lodge: clean, but could do better

The new Westminster Lodge leisure centre opened at the weekend, and I took my first dip in the pool today.

As a twice-a-week visitor to the old pool, I've been looking forward to this new one opening, and watched with interest as it rose from the muddy building site (now the old centre is a building site - see picture).

It's all up and running (except the spa - teething problems apparently) and everything smells of fresh paint. But the first thing to say is, IT'S CLEAN. Thank goodness. The old Lodge became increasingly decrepit and filthy over the last few years, so much so that you could hardly bear to look at the bottom of the pool as you swam along. The new one is very clean, at least for now. Let's hope they keep it that way.

The swimming experience, at least today, was a bit disappointing however. The pool was split in half width-ways, with an exercise class at the shallow end, which later turned in to a general swim area. In the 'deep' end (which is only 2 metres), four lanes were marked out with ropes, but these too were strung width-ways, so the lane swimmers were doing widths instead of lengths.

For most swimmers that means you're only going for a few seconds before you have to turn round. It also means you have no points of reference as you swim along - you are crossing over the length-ways lane markings instead of swimming with them - so people kept wandering out of line and crashing in to other swimmers.

Just as annoyingly, the lanes were not wide enough. There was barely enough room for swimmers to pass each other up and down the lane, and definitely no overtaking.

As a result, the whole experience felt extremely cramped. That's pretty ironic, after the long campaign to get a 10-lane pool built instead of the original 8-lane plan.

There's no indication on the published timetable as to when lane swimming is available, or what orientation the lanes will be.

I'll be directing these comments to the management, in the hope that they make some adjustments and improve the experience for what I'm sure they hope will become their regular swimmers. After all, they're the ones that are going to keep this place 'afloat'.