All
26th March 2024 by andrewbell
Green Party councillors in St David’s ward in Exeter have described the planned conversion of council flats into ‘New York style luxury flats’ [1] as a ‘disgrace.’ Concord House on South Street had 28 flats that were let as social housing, but tenants were moved out last year due to concerns over the safety of […]
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Climate action Net Zero Recycling
16th March 2024 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
The Progressive Group on Exeter City Council have welcomed the announcement to propose £8m investment in the Material Reclamation Facility (MRF) – which will update machinery and include increased capacity to receive city-wide food waste [1] – and have challenged the Labour-led Council to achieve at least a 65% recycling rate within three years. Co-leader […]
20th February 2024 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
The Progressive Group on Exeter City Council will present amendments to the Labour administration’s proposed budget at the Full Council meeting on Tuesday which they say will focus on improving services for residents [1]. The proposals by the official opposition group of Green and Liberal Democrat Councillors on the City Council include investment in street […]
Local economy
18th February 2024 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Green Party councillor Tess Read is to put forward a motion calling on Exeter City Council to back moves to end ‘box shifting’ – a loophole used by businesses to avoid paying business rates [1]. The practice involves landlords exploiting business rate relief they receive from having an empty commercial space. Instead of finding new […]
Cost of Living Crisis Green Spaces
12th February 2024 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Green councillors have written to Labour-led Exeter City Council asking them to restart their consultation on almost doubling allotment fees for the city’s 1,533 allotment holders. Greens say the consultation ignores the Council’s own consultation standards on making changes to council services and charges. St David’s Councillor, Diana Moore, said: “The Council have lost the plot […]
Community safety
4th February 2024 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Green Party councillors are calling for a new city centre Police office to be based in South Street to address crime and antisocial behaviour in the area. The call comes after Alison Hernandez, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, confirmed a new enquiry office in the heart of the city. Cllr Diana Moore, […]
Air quality Traffic
2nd February 2024 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Exeter Green Party has revealed that Exeter City Council acknowledge there are serious issues to address in relation to crossings around the Paris St roundabout, something they had previously denied. Green Councillors Andy Ketchin and Carol Bennett raised the issue of dangerous crossings around the Paris St roundabout […]
Green Spaces
19th January 2024 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
The Green Party in Exeter are calling on Devon County Council to halt the sale of a portion of land within the grounds of County Hall [1] and for a strategic rethink about the whole site. Andy Ketchin, Green Councillor for Newtown & St Leonard’s, is supporting local residents who claim the council has not […]
18th January 2024 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
The Green Party have called on councillors to resist the suspension of the Active Streets trial in Heavitree and Whipton. The scheme was due to run for 18 months. However, a report from the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport at Devon County Council to the HATOC committee recommends that, if on or after […]
12th December 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Green councillors will propose a motion to Exeter’s Full Council meeting on Tuesday urging councillors to back a motion which calls on the UK government to press for an “urgent permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Israel and the rest of Palestine.” It also commits councillors to “explore how the Council can better support and facilitate events […]
Climate action Local economy
2nd December 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Exeter Green Party is using Small Business Saturday to press the government for a support package to help local firms thrive. Exeter Green Party Parliamentary candidate, Andrew Bell [1], said: “Exeter has a large range of small and independent businesses, helping to make our city vibrant and distinctive. But they need government to get behind […]
All Elections
1st December 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
The Green Party has announced that Andrew Bell has been chosen by local members to fight the Exeter parliamentary seat at the next general election. Andrew Bell has lived in Exeter for over 20 years; his children were born in the city and attended local schools. He is a former teacher and previously worked as […]
15th November 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Ahead of an SNP motion being put to MPs in parliament today calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Palestine war, Green Party councillors in Exeter have written to Ben Bradshaw urging him to back a ceasefire. 15th November 2023 Dear Mr Bradshaw, URGENT: Palestine and Israel conflict – amendments to the King’s speech We write […]
Air quality Climate action Traffic
3rd November 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
The following letter on the government’s U-turn on plans to close all railway station ticket offices in Exeter and Devon is from Councillor Catherine Rees. The screeching halt to the closure of railway ticket offices is a huge victory for people power. Across the country, including in Exeter, people have protested, signed petitions and responded […]
Recycling
31st October 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
The Progressive Group of Councillors has accused the Labour led Council of making ‘puffed up’ claims that Exeter produces less waste than any other district in Devon, while its recycling rate remains the lowest in the County by a long way [1]. Green Party Councillor and co-leader of the Progressive Group, Diana Moore, said: “Exeter […]
17th October 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Labour councillors have refused to back a Green Party motion brought to Full Council calling for an anti-idling campaign for Exeter [1]. Greens say idling vehicles increase exhaust fumes in the air and that the resulting pollution is linked to a range of health problems. They urged Exeter City Council to adopt a range of […]
Climate action Cost of Living Crisis Green Spaces Housing Development
16th October 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
A Green Party Councillor has written to Council leader Phil Bialyk seeking assurances about the Clifton Hill site ahead of a full Council meeting next Tuesday, when the future of the site will be discussed [1]. Cllr Andy Ketchin is demanding that at least 35% of the homes built at the site are affordable, that […]
Climate action Cost of Living Crisis Housing Development Net Zero
9th October 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Exeter Labour’s plans to tackle the housing crisis and climate emergency are in “total disarray”, say the Progressive Group of councillors on Exeter City Council. The claim comes following plans by the Labour-run Executive to wind down activity by the Council’s own housing developer, Exeter City Living (ECL). The company was due to build hundreds […]
All Cost of Living Crisis Housing Development
30th August 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Progressive Group councillors have raised alarm at the outcome of a planning inspection of new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) rates proposed by Exeter’s Labour-run Council. The Progressive Group of Green and Liberal Democrat Councillors on Exeter City Council put forward strong objections to Labour’s proposed CIL rates which, they say, won’t fund the infrastructure needed to […]
Net Zero Traffic
26th August 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
With exactly a week left to respond to the consultation on proposed railway station ticket office closures [1], Green Party councillors are urging passengers to press Great Western Railway (GWR) to keep ticket offices open at Exeter Central and Exeter St David’s stations. In a letter to Transport Focus [2], which is coordinating the consultation, […]
Air quality Climate action Cost of Living Crisis Traffic
7th August 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
As the government orders a review into Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) schemes, Exeter Green Party councillors are urging Devon County Council to ‘hold its nerve’ and continue to deliver trials of LTNs ‘with confidence’. Heavitree councillor Catherine Rees said: “In their desperation for votes, the Conservative government is fueling culture wars by ordering a review […]
Air quality Climate action Cost of Living Crisis Net Zero Traffic
26th July 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Green Party co-leader of the opposition in Exeter, Diana Moore, has criticised Exeter City Council for failing to meet with local enterprise Co-Cars to discuss what support they might need to rework their business model and continue operation in the city. Co-Cars, including Co-Bikes, ceased trading last week citing financial difficulties brought on by the […]
22nd June 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
Green Party Councillor Diana Moore has written to Exeter City Council auditors asking them to urgently review the funding and oversight of a significant project designed to put Council assets into a property development fund. The so-called Exeter Development Fund was proposed by Labour-led Exeter City Council and a company it set up, Exeter City […]
18th May 2023 / 19th March 2024 by andrewbell
The Progressive Group on Exeter City Council have accused the Labour administration of avoiding proper scrutiny by appointing Labour chairs to the Council’s key scrutiny committees [1]. They say Labour are ignoring ‘good democratic practice’ by not appointing opposition councillors to chair the key Strategic and Customer Focus committees. This contrasts with Devon County Council […]