15 February 2015
City councillors have called for more tree planting and drain clearing – and a range of measures including a new officer to help tackle the city’s growing crisis of mental ill health among homeless people – as part of a Green approach to Norwich’s budget.
Green councillors are tabling the amendment to this year’s City Council budget. The proposal, which will be voted on by all councillors on 17th February, also seeks to look ahead and asks business to pay its way where development is concerned.
The proposals will partly be paid for by saving up to £65,000 by cutting grass in a more nature-friendly way and partly (£50,000) from reserves, which are currently at healthy levels.
Green group leader Andrew Boswell said: “We condemn the government’s continued unfair cuts which mean the Council has a hard job balancing its books. We have had a long and careful look at the City Council’s transformation programme and it makes depressing reading. Many services are being cut back to the bone.”
“In these difficult times it is more important than ever that the Council helps those most in need. We are calling on the Cabinet to pursue joint funding to establish a mental health officer to work with the homeless to address the mental health crisis on the streets of the city. “
“Many Norwich residents help the homeless as volunteers. Volunteer groups have identified the need for a better mental health care for homeless people where they may not be qualified to deal with the complex needs themselves. This is a concrete proposal for how the Council could act and help.”
“We are also recommending Cabinet find alternative funding for a new charge of £25,000 for the Greater Norwich Growth Board office. We propose that the New Anglia Local Economic Partnership – which currently contributes nothing financially to this arrangement – as well as businesses – should pay rather than Norwich people.”
His group also want Cabinet to set up a working group to review strategy and options for future capital investment projects: “Banks won’t lend, and the Council is being asked to. But the Council needs a sound, transparent, democratic process for allocating such funding to ensure good investments are made.”
The proposals also suggest a community outreach officer to work to implement the city’s new environmental strategy, a student community outreach officer potentially part-funded by the UEA, and a separate budget for community centres to ring-fence their repairs and maintenance.
Norwich South Green Party Parliamentary candidate, Lesley Grahame said “Central government has no mandate to continue cutting local services. Green Party councillors are making sensible proposals on dealing with the difficult hand dealt to Councils, and will continue challenging austerity at every level of government.”
