How we are delivering on green jobs

Councillor David Martin, the Council’s member champion for energy and climate change and Councillor for Bathwick, writes:

Local Liberal Democrat action and investment is helping to create green jobs and support local businesses in B&NES.

Some of the inititiatives of the Liberal Democrat administration include: developing the Energy@Home scheme; supporting community energy initiatives such as with Bath & West Community Energy; and the ‘Green Skills Academy’.

We want to make sure that residents and the local economy gain the maximum benefit from the growing green economy. This sector has the potential to deliver hundreds of additional jobs locally – for example the Green Deal could deliver 120 additional jobs in home insulation alone – as well as helping residents to reduce fuel costs and reduce their carbon emissions. The Council’s ‘Energy@Home’ scheme, now in an advanced stage of development, aims to make it easier for residents to access grants for insulation and other home improvement projects, and to promote local providers of these services.

One initial barrier was the need for training and accreditation for local tradespeople. So we have invested in skills and training to bridge that gap. We have supplied funding for a Green Skills Academy through local Colleges and we will be investing further in accreditation and training for local businesses – particularly focusing on retrofitting for heritage buildings.

Our actions to support local businesses to enter the home energy efficiency and retrofitting market and to encourage local residents to take up the offer could help boost the local economy by £10-20M annually and help keep jobs and money in the local economy.

Whilst retrofitting provides a great opportunity for local employment, there are also opportunities with renewable energy.  Local jobs in specifying, installing and maintaining renewable energy will be important. The work we are doing to promote green jobs and access to home energy efficiency improvements for residents demonstrates our twin commitments to the environment and to localism. Liberal Democrats are working together locally and nationally to deliver a stronger economy and a fairer society.

If you would like to read more about the work we are doing to promote green jobs, please have a look at this report which was considered by the Council's 'Economic and Community Development' committee this week: "Green Jobs in B&NES Update".

Praise for local Liberal Democrat achievements

B&NES Council's Liberal Democrat administration has been singled out for praise by Nick Clegg for their achievements in environmental issues.

Speaking at the launch of the Liberal Democrat local election campaign, the party Leader highlighted how Liberal Democrat-run councils are delivering for residents compared to councils run by other parties. Some of our achievements which the DPM noted include:

• Installing LED street lighting;
• Extending and improving the cycle network;
• Creating a cycle hire scheme for council staff;
• Working hard on the Green Deal;
• Introducing a community energy strategy that tackles fuel poverty;
• Investing in local bus services when so many other councils are cutting theirs;
• Leading the way on re-opening two railway stations;
• Improving recycling – less than a third of our waste now goes to landfill.

Nick Clegg said:

“The Liberal Democrats stand for something. We stand for fairer taxes. We stand for an economic rescue plan that isn’t just built on cuts, but where we invest in roads, rail, business and all the things our communities need to thrive. We stand for protecting our environment and fighting climate change, even when our opponents seem to have given up. We stand for keeping Britain an open and outward facing nation where we do what we work with others and lead on the world stage.”

Councillor David Martin, the Council’s member champion for energy and climate change, commented:

“Environmental issues underpin everything we do as a Liberal Democrat administration. We are working hard to help residents reduce fuel costs, eliminate fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions. When our office reorganisation project is complete, not only will we be making annual savings of £3.5M, but we will have reduced our own carbon footprint by 70%. We have also frozen Council Tax since coming into office as well as investing in jobs and growth, and protecting the services that our residents care about the most.”

If you would like to read the full speech by Nick Clegg, please see this page: libdems.org.uk

Bath Lib Dems Select Steve Bradley for 2015

Liberal Democrats in Bath have selected local campaigner Steve Bradley to take over from Don Foster MP as their next General Election candidate for Bath.

On Saturday evening it was standing room only at The Salvation Army Citadel as a candidate to replace Don Foster MP was selected by more than 180 local members. Don has represented Bath as an MP in Westminster since 1992, and his term in office will continue until May 2015.

Upon receiving the nomination Steve said : "I am immensely proud and humbled to have been selected by local Liberal Democrat members as their candidate for the 2015 General Election. Don Foster has been a tremendous champion for this city for 22 years. I look forward to working closely with him in his remaining year as our MP. And I hope the people of Bath will place their faith in me to continue Don's hard work in parliament on their behalf."

Steve first moved to Bath in 1991, to study at the University of Bath. On graduation he spent two years as elected President of the Students' Union where he campaigned on a variety of issues including public transport. Steve has in the past worked for major multinational companies like Procter & Gamble and Walt Disney. More recently he has run his own business as an Environmental Consultant, whilst campaigning with a variety of community groups.

Following the announcement of the new Lib Dem candidate, Don Foster said: "I am delighted for Steve. He is a hard-working, energetic and determined individual who I am convinced will be an exceptional candidate, especially given his local links and campaigning experience.

"I look forward to working closely with Steve and wish him success in the future. I have every confidence that, if elected, Steve would be a fantastic MP for Bath."

Steve has already expressed his desire to continue campaigning & meeting local residents,  starting this Sunday. Local Party Chairman Shaun McGall welcomed the news of Steve's selection by saying "It was a well fought campaign between excellent candidates, all of whom I believe would have been a great choice for Bath.

What tonight has shown is that Steve is the local members' choice and that is what our Party stands for. We're a grassroots party, run for and by our members."

You will be able to meet Steve on May 19 when he will be out campaigning with Sir Graham Watson MEP as part of the party's European Election Campaign.