Our plan for Real Change
Wakefield District Green Party were delighted to be joined by Green Party of England and Wales leader Zack Polanski for the launch of our local manifesto at Wakefield WX on Saturday 17th January.
Real Change For the Wakefield district
Wakefield District Green Party want Real Change for Ordinary People, Real Change for Our Places and Environment, Real Change for the Voluntary and Community Sector, Real Change for Local Businesses and Town Centres, and Real Change for Public Sector Workers.
Across the Wakefield district: Labour has failed, the Tories are gone, and Reform offers nothing but division and chaos.
For real hope and real change – vote Green!
Wakefield District Green Party is here to work with local people and communities across the district; local voluntary and community groups; health, police, and other agencies; and other political parties – but only where they meet our values and ambitions for the district.
We are here to take on prejudice and hate, corporate greed, and anyone who damages our environment or exploits local people.
Real Change For Ordinary People
No more “The Council Knows Best”
End fake public consultations. Council meetings in the evenings so working people can attend. Citizens’ Juries on all important issues, including the council budget.
On the renters' side
Compulsory licensing of private landlords. Push Vico and other social housing providers to build more homes in the district. Establish a council-run private lettings agency.
Bring back local youth clubs
More things for young people to do and places for them to go.
Fix the buses
Wakefield district to be the front of the queue for bus franchising in West Yorkshire. Lobby the mayor for better, more reliable and more frequent services. Better public transport for all.
A helping hand for local people
More support to help people claim the essential help they are entitled to. Lending council equipment and vehicles to community groups. Promoting volunteering for council workers (esp. with key skills) to help out charities and community groups. More early intervention in social care.
Real Change for Our Places and Environment
Protecting our environment
Make the planning system defend our environment. Listen to the views of local people around planning and development.
Protecting and celebrating our heritage
No more selling off heritage buildings and assets to private companies. Bring them back into use for the benefit of everyone.
Promoting clean and renewable energy
Supporting urban solar and renewable power generation for communities and places.
Meeting the climate crisis
Take the risks from heat, flooding and other climate change effects seriously. Put climate awareness into everything the council does.
Green jobs for local people
Attract businesses to provide new jobs to the district. Promote and support housing retrofit. Support apprenticeships and training in new, well paid jobs in the Green and clean energy sectors.
Real Change for the Voluntary and Community Sector
Partner of first choice
Revising procurement rules to increase score for being a district VCS organisation. Making procurement and bidding processes much simpler.
A proper voice for the third sector
Refresh the third sector assembly by taking it seriously. Regular open meeting for VCS with council leadership. Guaranteed VCS representation on all council scrutiny committees.
Modernising the sector
Support to develop IT and digital presences.
A new approach to support
Co-location of VCS groups and council teams. Secondments between council and VCS staff.
Strengthening what already exists
Invest in existing organisations. Support VCS and cultural sector leaders through training and development.
Real Change for local businesses and town centres
Buying local
Revising public procurement rules to increase score for being a Wakefield district based/owned business. Making procurement and bidding processes much simpler.
Bringing back high streets
Invest in high streets. Make them safer. Make them more welcoming. Support a better retail offer.
Tackling empty shops
Compulsory tenant auctions for empty high street properties.
High streets for public services
Locate more public facilities in high streets across the district.
Town centres as living places
More affordable good quality housing and flats in town centres.
Real Change for Public Sector Workers
No More outsourcing
Privatisation, outsourcing, and ‘public private-partnerships’ in Wakefield Council to end.
A proper voice for workers
Worker representation on all key projects. No more false consultations.
No rolling back on homeworking
Continuing hybrid working policies for appropriate staff.
Bus Passes for Key Workers
Support the needs of low paid workers in non-hybrid jobs with bus passes as per the existing West Yorkshire Combined Authority policy. End staff parking charges on works car parks.
Healthier places to work
Promote anti-bullying in the workplace. Make working for the Wakefield district a welcoming experience for all communities of the district.
There is no easy way forwards – but the only way starts with building our communities.
There is nothing wrong with being proud of where we live – in fact it should fill us all with pride.
Caring for our local parks, building friendships with our neighbours, organising with fellow tenants, celebrating our differences.
Those are the deep roots that really matter.
To find out more about what the Green Party stands for on the national level you can visit the Green Party of England and Wales website and read the manifesto we fought the General Election in 2024 on.
If you are looking for more detail about specific policy areas please contact us reach out to one of our people.