Green & Independent Group
Update on local issues #35
- Braintree District Council sets its Budget for 2023/24 – some changes proposed by the G&I Group are secured
- Braintree Conservative’s Green Bin Tax decision paused for review
- More planning appeals go the way of developers
- G&I Group raising your issues at BDC
- G&I Group announces more candidates for May local elections
BDC sets its Budget for 2023/24 – some changes proposed by the G&I Group are secured
At the BDC Budget setting meeting held on 20th February, the G&I Group submitted 5 amendments. They were all voted down by the Conservatives but one of them received support from the other opposition groups – which was to not allocate £200,000 towards “preparing for” charging for green bins in 2024.
However, 2 of the G&I Budget proposals were delivered by the administration although they did not acknowledge our input – those were:
(1) to reverse the proposed cut to parish council street cleaning grant (although for 1 year only)
(2) remove ringfencing on the £2.5 million allocated for the A120 Millennium Way slip roads.
However, none of the released funding was put towards the G&I suggestions of cycling projects and investment in rural communities.
On the other 2 G&I proposals, unfortunately we did not manage to stop recycling calendars being scrapped and BDC’s share of council tax will rise by 2.5%, instead of the 1% G&I proposed, but for 23/24 only there is a £25 rebate.
Braintree Conservative’s Green Bin Tax decision paused for review
It had been expected that the decision to go ahead with charging for Green Bins would be made at the March BDC Cabinet meeting.
However, instead, a pause is being proposed to review the recycling agreements with Essex County Council.
The G&I Group firmly opposes plans to charge for Green Bins from spring 2024.m We believe that residents already pay for the service through their council taxes – and have done so for many years.
There is growing concern about the cumulative impacts of charging for Green Bin collections, scrapping recycling calendars and Essex County Council’s decision to require residents to book to use the Witham and Braintree Recycling Centres from 13th March. Will this result in lower levels of recycling and more fly-tipping ?
The BDC administration has already admitted that charging for Green Bins will likely result in a fall in green waste recycling.
Currently 88% of properties in the district use the service.
More planning appeals go the way of developers
3 more major planning Appeals have been decided in favour of developers - at Rivenhall, Kelvedon and Silver Endm - and all since the New Year.
This is despite BDC having its Local Plan adopted as recently as July 2022 with more than the legally required amount of housing allocated in it (the Local Plan includes sites for over 15,000 new houses between 2013 and 2033).
A further major site was recently granted detailed planning permission at Cressing following an earlier Appeal decision.
In total these 4 sites, which are all currently farmland, will add another 870 houses to those villages, on top of all the other sites already under construction.
G&I Group raising your issues at BDC
The G&I Group of councillors has been busy at BDC over recent months raising the issues that matter to residents.
At the BDC Full Council meeting on 3rd January the G&I Group submitted 2 Motions for Debate. The first, on Housing Land Supply, called for further requests to be made to the Government to end the ridiculous situation where councils such as BDC which have up-to-date Local Plans are still having major unallocated greenfield development sites forced upon them in Appeal decisions.
The second G&I Motion was on Cost-of-Living pressures, supporting the measures being taken by the council and calling for further support, such as maintaining services and avoiding adding extra costs to residents.
A Scrutiny Review into combating litter has recently concluded, which followed a request from G&I councillors for the topic to be reviewed and new measures agreed.
At a recent G&I Group meeting, it was agreed to ask BDC to review its decision not to allow the SWAP group (Stop Wethersfield Airfield Prison) to ask any more questions at council meetings.
SWAP is concerned about proposals from the MoJ for 2 new large prisons at Wethersfield Airfield and it seems undemocratic to prevent their legitimate questions.
The G&I Group also agreed to continue to support local communities fighting to save the Finchingfield Bridge.
G&I Group announces more candidates for May local elections
The District Council elections will be held on 4th May.
The G&I Group has to date selected 32 candidates made up of 21 Greens and 11 Independents.
We are standing at least 1 candidate in every ward except in Halstead and in Stour Valley South ward.
We are busy on the doorstep, delivering newsletters and listening to resident's views and engaging in local issues that matter most to you.
If you would like to support G&I candidates for the local elections by delivering leaflets or displaying a poster, please get in touch.
* Due to new Government rules, voters who wish to vote at polling stations will this year be required to show photographic ID such as a passport, drivers’ license or older person’s bus pass.
Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate via the
GOV.UK website.
You can also apply for a Voter Authority Certificate using a paper application form. To request one or for any other help applying for ID, please contact Braintree District Council’s electoral services team:
by email elections@braintree.gov.uk
by phone 01376 552525.
** If you want to vote by post, an application form can be downloaded from the Braintree District Council website. The postal vote application deadline is 5pm Tuesday 18th April.
Thank you - to local residents and local businesses for your support and for taking the time to read and circulate the G&I Updates.
In 2019, with your votes, the G&I Group became the main opposition at Braintree District Council.
At the 2021 Essex County Council elections the G&I Group secured the second largest total of votes across Braintree District.
The Non-Aligned Group (made up of Independents and Residents and a Green councillor) is now the main opposition at County Hall.
The G&I Group also has councillors who sit on Witham Town Council.
Our ambition is to grow the number of Green and Independent Councillors.
Your support really matters and means we can be a stronger voice for residents. G&I is growing - if you like what we say and do, join us !
Follow the G&I Group on our new twitter feed @GIGroup111
Contact us via facebook, by e-mail (details available for all councillors on the BDC website) or via the details listed below:
Cllr James Abbott (Group Leader) Green Party
james.abbott@greenparty.org.uk
tel 01376 584576
Cllr Paul Thorogood (Deputy Leader) Green Party
Cllr Jo Beavis Independent
Cllr Stevie Hicks Green Party
Cllr Jenny Sandum Green Party
Cllr Tom Walsh Independent
Cllr Michelle Weeks Green Party
Cllr Bob Wright Green Party
Cllr Dennis Abram Independent
Witham and Braintree Green Party RSS Feed