LGH. Local Government and Housing
LGH1. Currently we are seeing a disturbing decline in turnout in elections for all levels of government. The reasons for this are two fold. Firstly governments are seen as being impotent in the face of demands from multinational corporations. Secondly where there is political decision-making is it seen as being increasingly remote from those affected by it.
LGH2. The creation of strong self-reliant local economies is essential for democracy to flourish. Additionally the current system by which local councils are elected is undemocratic and in need of reform.
LGH3. We advocate implementation of the main recommendations of the Sunderland Inquiry into Local Government Electoral Reform in Wales, namely:
adoption of Single Transferable Vote in multimember constituencies for the selection of local councils in time for the 2008 Wales local elections
lowering the voting age in elections to 16
adoption of measures to promote public understanding of local government, improve turnout and encourage more and a greater variety of candidates to stand.
LGH4. Housing is a basic human need. Homes should be affordable, dry and warm, and suitable for the needs of different people at different stages of their lives. Greater control for tenants and owners over their homes and their neighbourhoods is a building block of a more participative society. Currently lack of funds is forcing councils to transfer their housing stock to housing associations and the private sector.
LGH5. Greens want:
councils to be able to opt out of the 'right to buy' scheme.
to increase the rate of spending of 'right to buy' capital receipts and to spread the cost of new council homes over thirty years in Public Sector Borrowing Requirement (PSBR) accounts, not just one as at present.
Councils to maintain registers of empty houses and to have the powers to ensure they are brought back into use.
non-domestic rates and the Council Tax to be replaced by a local Land Value Tax (LVT). The rate of LVT would be related to a plot's rental value and varied locally according to the social and environmental desirability of the land use. Renovation and brown-field development should be taxed less than green-field development. Empty properties and vacant sites would attract high rates to discourage speculative land ownership.
democratic tenant participation schemes, housing co-ops, self-build schemes and co-housing projects that will increase community involvement in housing management.
tighter building regulations to ensure the highest standards of accessibility and energy efficiency in the housing stock.
